Read the general life across the border overview
A Candiac household may plan both U.S. schooling and a teenager’s first paid job. Do not treat those activities as the same immigration permission. The child’s actual dependent category and valid status matter. Hypothetical example: a dependent child is offered a museum internship that includes a stipend while the family plans school enrollment. The first decision is whether the activity is study, employment or both, because a school calendar does not answer the work-permission question.
Confirm who qualifies as a dependent
Assess the spouse and unmarried children under 21 using the relevant family evidence. A school acceptance does not itself establish TD, E or L dependent status. Review any impending age boundary individually rather than promising the child can remain because the school year is unfinished. Keep birth, marriage and status records together with the principal’s admission information. The family must decide whether each person still satisfies the age and marital conditions on the relevant date, rather than relying on a household assumption.
Separate study from employment
A child in valid TD status may study but is not authorized to work through TD. E and L dependent children likewise do not receive the qualifying spouse’s incident-to-status employment authorization. A paid placement or summer job deserves assessment before it starts; school participation alone is not a work permit. Obtain the placement agreement before participation and identify duties, pay, supervision and course credit. A dependent child cannot work merely because an activity is educational, brief or described as a stipend.
Use each person’s own status record
A qualifying E or L spouse may have incident-to-status employment authorization with appropriate spouse-specific I-94 evidence; that does not extend to the children. Check the actual admission record and authorized stay of each family member when planning school dates and travel. Compare every person’s I-94 classification and expiration with the proposed travel and school dates. A parent’s valid record does not repair a child’s separate admission error or extend a dependent stay automatically. Record the next required action for each person.
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.