A qualifying L-2 spouse has employment authorization incident to status. The spouse still needs appropriate evidence for the employer's hiring checks; USCIS describes an unexpired I-94 marked L-2S as evidence of employment authorization.
Check the spouse's own admission record
After entry, review the spouse's record for the admission class, personal details and authorized dates. If something appears wrong, seek correction guidance instead of asking an employer to rely on the principal worker's approval. Keep the relationship documentation available where needed. Children admitted as L-2 dependents do not receive the spouse's work permission simply because the family travelled together. Plan children's school arrangements separately from the spouse's hiring paperwork. Dependent eligibility concerns an eligible spouse and unmarried children under 21; assess the individual status and authorized period.
Keep future changes on the household checklist: a child ageing out, a passport renewal, a school transfer, or a spouse’s new professional requirement may need action before travel. Where a spouse expects to work, discuss their position specifically rather than assuming it follows from the principal's case, and avoid long leases or resignations agreed before the structure is settled.