Read the general life across the border overview
An unmarried partner is not a spouse for dependent status, and cohabitation alone does not change that. Where a marriage is planned, the sequence is what matters: what is true on the date of each step, not what has been booked for later. Write down who is legally married to whom today, then list every decision that would change if the wedding date moved by a season.
Describe the relationship as it stands today
TD status is for the spouse and for unmarried children under 21. An unmarried partner does not qualify merely by living in the same household. A joint lease, shared accounts, or a deposit paid to a reception venue describe a relationship; they do not create a marital one, and a signed contract with a caterer proves nothing about status. Hypothetical example: a Rosemère couple has lived together for six years and plans to marry after the assignment begins. Gather the current civil status of each adult, the ages and civil status of the children, and the documents that exist right now rather than the ones expected later.
Sequence the steps against the actual dates
Filing, visa issuance, petition approval, admission, and effective work authorization are separate events, each with its own date. Ask which of them would need to fall after the marriage for the dependent analysis, and which are unaffected by it. Do not assume faster handling can be obtained on request; treat any timing question as one to verify rather than one to plan around. Avoid commitments — a resignation, a lease, non-refundable travel — that only make sense if a date holds. Note who must be told if the date moves.
Record each person’s activities in the post-wedding plan
On TD status, study is permitted and employment is not; an unpaid activity calls for a specific review rather than a blanket assumption about volunteering. Qualifying E and L dependent spouses are employment-authorized incident to their valid status, with proper I-94 evidence, and the rule for children is not the same. So describe, person by person, the intended work, study or volunteering, and have each one assessed on its own facts. Keep preferences about schools and neighbourhoods on a separate line from the legal conditions, so neither quietly decides the other.
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.