A qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21 may seek L-2 classification, subject to the applicable process. The spouse's employment authorization rules differ from a child's and should not be assumed to be identical.
Check dependent status person by person
Prepare identity and relationship records well before travel, especially where names vary across documents. A spouse admitted in L-2 status may have employment authorization under the applicable federal framework, while children may study but do not gain a general right to work merely through dependent status. Review planned employment, schooling, travel gaps, and age-out concerns independently.
If a family member has a prior U.S. immigration matter, include it in the early fact review rather than leaving it until a trip is imminent. List every person who may seek a benefit, travel later, or be affected by the principal's plan.
Relationship evidence, age, marital status, citizenship, prior immigration history, and intended U.S. activity can each matter. Dependent status does not automatically give every relative the same employment or study permission.
A family plan is strongest when it gives each person a separate, accurate path rather than assuming the principal's classification answers all questions. Keep a contemporaneous record of the decision and the facts used to reach it. When a document is unavailable, identify the reason and consider whether another primary record can establish the point without creating a contradiction.
A later change in role, ownership, family circumstances, or planned activity may require a fresh review. Clear disclosure is more useful than an attempt to make facts appear simpler than they are.