Read the general life across the border overview
A Richelieu household may use the word helping to describe work in a proposed U.S. business. Describe the real activity and each person’s status rather than assuming that a family connection removes work restrictions. Make an activity chart for every relative: work, study, travel, relationship evidence, principal status and expiry. The first review should distinguish activities that may start, those needing a separate authorization question, and those that must wait. Hypothetical example: a restoration carpenter accompanying an L-1 principal is asked to supervise a kitchen renovation for the family’s U.S. business. The household must determine whether that productive work is permitted under the person’s actual status before accepting it as informal help. The chart should name the factual record—passport, I-94, marriage certificate, or birth certificate—that resolves each proposed activity.
Identify the actual category for each relative
TD, E and L dependent planning generally concerns a qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21. Record actual citizenship and required documents individually. A place in the family business or a shared address does not itself establish the dependent relationship or authorization to work. Check names, dates and prior marriages in relationship records before counting someone as a dependent. A relationship document answers family eligibility; it does not establish whether the person may undertake a particular paid or unpaid task.
Apply work restrictions to the real activity
TD does not authorize employment. Qualifying E and L spouses may work incident to valid status with appropriate evidence; an EAD is not universally mandatory. E and L children do not gain that spouse benefit. Do not rely on a casual label for the proposed activity; have its actual duties and circumstances assessed before beginning work in the United States. Describe duties, location, pay, supervisor and output instead of relying on labels such as helping or training. The decision is whether the activity produces value for a U.S. business, not whether relatives describe it as a favour.
Keep school, age and stay separate from the business plan
Study while maintaining applicable dependent status does not extend that status. Track unmarried-under-21 eligibility and each person’s authorized period. Immigrant CSPA protection requires an individual analysis and does not generally freeze temporary TD, E or L age limits. The enterprise’s opening date does not replace those separate family conditions. Track each child’s age and marital status separately from school calendars and the enterprise opening date. Choose travel and school dates only after comparing each person's age and status record with the intended admission or extension date.
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.