Identify practical questions early, but keep commitments tied to the actual eligibility and status assessment. A broad appointment does not establish family permissions.
Review the household separately
Qualifying L spouses are employment authorized incident to status with appropriate documentation. Children do not gain work permission solely through L dependent status. Confirm intended work, study and authorized stays for each person.
A principal approval alone does not place the spouse or children in status. Since USCIS confirmed that L-2 spouses are employment-authorized incident to status, a spouse admitted in L-2 status with the correct annotation on the I-94 may start work without applying for a separate employment document. Company hiring authority and a family member’s immigration work permission are different matters. A qualifying L-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status, but an internal promotion or pending petition does not create that status; retain the admission record and other required evidence before work begins. Preserve civil relationship records, passports, prior status documents, and any school or work plans. A household in that position should be told early that the child will need an independent basis, whether a student route or something else, rather than discovering it during an extension.