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SAINT-LAMBERT · L-1B FIELD GUIDE

Can all family members use the principal’s travel process?

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THE DIRECT ANSWER

Do not assume identical procedures. Review each person’s citizenship, relationship, status and intended activity, even when the household lives together in Canada.

Check permissions after the appropriate status step

Qualifying L spouses are employment authorized incident to status with appropriate documentation. Children do not receive work permission solely through L dependent status. A shared itinerary does not establish everyone’s immigration status or permitted activities.

Confirm the spouse’s valid L dependent status and appropriate spouse-specific I-94 evidence for work authorization. Every traveler in the household needs an individually valid travel document and current, matching status evidence, since a shared family booking confirms only that seats were purchased together for the same itinerary. Check the expiration date on each person's travel document separately, because a document expiring partway through the trip creates a problem for that traveler alone, regardless of what the rest of the household has already planned. An officer reviewing entry at the border evaluates each traveler's paperwork independently, so prepare a complete, individually organized folder for every family member rather than relying on a single shared set of documents. Confirm that the spouse's evidence of status matches the name, date of birth, and other identifying details on the travel document exactly, since even a minor discrepancy can prompt additional questions at the point of entry.