Read the general life across the border overview
A business that uses outside support may also expect help from accompanying relatives. Identify the work itself and each person’s status rather than treating family assistance as automatically permitted.
Compare the relative’s task with the provider’s scope
If the business proposes replacing outside administration or delivery support with family help, retain the provider’s task description and write what the relative would actually do. Record location, age, relationship and intended status for that person. The intention to save a supplier expense does not itself authorize employment. Do not reduce a real business assignment to an informal family label or assume that not issuing the same invoice changes the underlying activity.
Apply dependent distinctions without relying on the staffing plan
TD does not authorize employment, including remote work performed while physically in the United States. Qualifying E and L spouses may be employment-authorized incident to status with appropriate documentation; an EAD is not universally required. Children do not gain employment permission solely through dependent status. TD, E and L dependents may study while maintaining applicable status, but study does not extend it. For TD, E and L child-dependent status, the child must be unmarried and under 21; immigrant CSPA protection does not extend those temporary child-dependent age limits.
Check records before cancelling the outside service
Before relying on a relative to fill the task, inspect their actual status and admission evidence. A staffing shortage is a business problem, not proof of immigration permission. For a possible immigrant case, establish the person’s derivative relationship and relevant dates, including visa availability and any CSPA analysis; filing is not an automatic age freeze. Keep the service contract and the immigration record separate so terminating a provider agreement is not treated as the event permitting the family member to start.
Respect the order of immigrant entry
For an immigrant-visa family, the principal applicant must enter before or together with derivative family members. A preferred staggered move should be planned around that rule and each person’s actual documentation, not treated as an unrestricted choice of arrival order.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.