A qualifying E-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status, though the specific documentation should be confirmed individually; dependent children do not receive employment authorization simply by holding E-2 status.
Plan the household's activities individually
Record each family member's citizenship, relationship evidence, age, and intended work or study plan. A spouse's own employment plans and a child's schooling and age-related deadlines are separate matters from the investor's ability to operate the enterprise, and should not be assumed to be resolved by the investment itself.
If a spouse relies on valid E spouse status, assess whether the ownership change affects the principal’s eligibility and therefore the derivative basis. Families in this position should ask what happens to the E registration if the business is sold, and should treat the answer as a household planning fact rather than an employment detail. Ask any adviser to state in writing whether dependent applications and post-arrival status questions are inside the quoted scope or billed separately. The principal investor and enterprise must possess treaty nationality, together with treaty-country nationals owning at least half of the enterprise; the principal must develop and direct through ownership or operational control.