Read the general life across the border overview
Identify the relationship and documents for each proposed accompanying person. A household description is useful context, but dependent eligibility depends on the applicable category and the individual facts. Raise any uncertainty about names, relationships or records early instead of assuming every person in the household can use the same dependent route. Make a person-by-person matrix before assuming a shared plan. For every family member, note the relationship record, age, nationality, current status, intended activity, and the principal’s route. That matrix exposes whether a dependent classification is available and whether a timing decision has to be made before work, school, or travel commitments.
Describe the relationships accurately
Hypothetical example: a Côte Saint-Luc household has documents issued under different surnames and in different countries. Prepare a simple account of who would accompany whom and identify the records explaining the relationships. Do not alter a relationship label to make the forms seem simpler; ask for assessment of the actual circumstances. Hypothetical example: a pipe-organ conservator accepts a temporary professional role while a spouse expects local employment and a 20-year-old child plans full-time study. The decision is not whether the household travels together, but which status supports each activity. For a TN household, TD classification can permit study but cannot authorize the spouse’s employment; the child also needs an age review.
Keep translation and missing evidence separate
List which original documents exist, which require retrieval and which may require translation for the selected process. A translation explains a record; it does not supply a missing legal event or resolve uncertain dependent eligibility. Ask which records matter before ordering services, and retain the original documents alongside the translations. Request records in the order that resolves uncertainty: civil record, certified translation when needed, then any document connecting variant names. If a birth or marriage record is unavailable, identify the issuing authority and expected retrieval time rather than filling the gap with an affidavit that does not prove the event. A review should distinguish unavailable evidence from untranslated evidence.
Review activities once the relationships are clear
Describe each person’s work or study objectives and relevant age or status dates. Dependent eligibility and permission for a particular activity are separate questions. TD does not authorize employment, while qualifying E/L spouses have different work rules. Ask for the individual assessment before treating school, housing or employment commitments as a settled family plan. Set calendar reminders for each person’s separate status and age milestones. An unmarried child ordinarily must qualify before turning 21, and a dependent’s school plan does not extend a permission that has ended. When a spouse may have work authorization in an E or L dependent category, verify the person’s admission record and the particular activity before accepting employment.
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.