A qualifying L spouse’s authorization arises incident to status with appropriate documentation, not from matching the principal’s knowledge.
Keep technical and family evidence separate
Children do not gain work permission solely through L dependent status. Review actual status and any separate requirements of the spouse’s intended occupation.
L-2 rules can permit a qualifying spouse to work under the governing federal framework, whereas a child does not obtain a comparable general employment privilege. Plan dependents individually, beginning with passports, relationship records, current status, intended travel, school plans, and possible work. If a spouse intends to work, ask for that route to be assessed on its own facts rather than treating employment authorisation as something the principal case delivers automatically. School enrolment is generally straightforward for dependants and is a separate matter from work authorization, though the two are often confused in the same conversation. Eligible spouses and unmarried children under twenty-one may seek dependent classification, and a child's eligibility depends on age and marital status at the relevant time, which makes tracking birthdays against the case timeline a practical necessity rather than an administrative nicety.