An internal title does not determine family immigration rights. Review each person’s actual qualifying status and documentation.
Base family planning on status rather than rank
Qualifying L spouses are employment authorized incident to status with appropriate documentation. Children receive no work permission solely through L dependent status. The employer’s rank or benefits structure does not replace these individual rules.
Prepare two separate timelines: the transferee’s qualifying transfer and the spouse’s employment. A commercial closing certificate is not a family status document, and an anticipated filing should not be treated as an authorization already obtained. Unmarried children under twenty-one hold L-2 as dependants and may attend school, but their dependent status does not carry work authorization. The principal’s case independently requires a related qualifying organization, one continuous employment year abroad during the prior three, and primarily managerial or executive American duties. The common error is using a family calendar as the principal employment ledger. If the spouse holds Canadian permanent residence rather than citizenship, the consular process for L-2 will differ from a Canadian citizen's, so gather each passport early. Children under 21 hold derivative status that allows study but not work. Keep each family member's passport valid for the whole assignment.