Plan it as a separate track with its own eligibility, not as a shared date with the principal case. A legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany or follow. A shifting closing date guarantees nothing about when dependent appointments, processing or approvals will occur.
Confirm how the spouse's work authorization is evidenced
If the spouse plans to work, verify the status and evidence permitting it, including an E-2S I-94 where applicable. Another independent authorization may be relevant; marriage or a job offer alone is insufficient. Children gain no work permission from E dependent status. Delay in the principal case may affect derivative processing even where records and appointments differ.
The E-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status and may work in the family business, but guiding paying clients also requires whatever state guide licence applies. If the recovery budget assumes that a spouse will earn income, connect the proposed job start to lawful employment authorization. The family should assess the actual installation activity and authorization rather than treat a pending E-2 case as permission. A qualifying E spouse is generally employment-authorized incident to status with suitable evidence, but a pending E-2 application, equipment lease, or ownership agreement does not itself permit work.