Read the general life across the border overview
Age is not the only fact in the dependent-child definition. A married child should not be placed in the same dependent plan solely because they are under twenty-one or financially supported by a parent. Identify the relationship and marital-status facts before preparing the household’s documents. The first review should create a separate row for each proposed traveler: relationship, age, marital status, citizenship, current status, intended study or work and the document that establishes each fact. Hypothetical example: a nineteen-year-old apprentice harp-restorer plans to marry before joining a parent’s assignment and expects to keep studying after arrival. The decision is whether the changed marital status leaves any dependent classification available, rather than whether the family can continue to describe the person as a child.
Record marital status as well as age
Hypothetical example: a nineteen-year-old child has married but the parent’s relocation spreadsheet still lists every child under twenty-one as a dependent. TD eligibility concerns unmarried children under twenty-one, so the marriage is a material fact to raise with the reviewer. Financial dependence, living at home or being a student does not replace the unmarried condition. Do not omit the marriage from the planning record. Use civil records and the relevant date, not household assumptions, to answer the relationship question. If a marriage, divorce, adoption or age milestone is pending, record it as pending and obtain advice on the actual sequence. Do not let a travel booking decide the classification.
Assess an independent basis where needed
Ask what independent immigration basis, if any, fits the young adult’s actual citizenship and plans. A school offer is not itself a status, and the parent’s approved assignment does not automatically authorize the child’s stay. Keep each person’s study and work intentions explicit. TD permits study but not employment; qualifying E and L spouses have an incident-to-valid-status work rule with appropriate I-94 evidence that does not extend to children. Make a separate decision about the young adult’s work and study plans before choosing travel or admission steps. A dependent child’s ability to study does not create work authorization. The record that settles eligibility is the person’s own status and relationship evidence, not financial support from the parent.
Review consequences before commitments accumulate
Gather the relevant civil records and current immigration documents and identify the dates that require individual advice. Review any proposed unpaid activity on its facts. If someone already holds dependent status, ask about the consequences of changed circumstances rather than assuming a printed expiry controls everything. Keep housing, school and travel arrangements visible, but do not let those practical commitments decide the legal relationship. Sequence commitments after the immigration assessment: school enrollment, housing and travel can be planned, but they should not force an inaccurate representation of the relationship. Keep copies of the civil and status documents used for each person. A household plan is useful only when it preserves those individual differences.
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.