Do not assume a long principal assignment preserves child eligibility. An L dependent child must remain unmarried and under 21; assess any approaching change before relying on the full business horizon.
Give family eligibility its own calendar
School commitments do not extend dependent status. The spouse’s employment benefit requires valid L dependent status and appropriate spouse-specific I-94 evidence; it is not available to an unmarried L dependent child under 21 simply because the parent has a multiyear role.
Qualifying L spouses are employment authorized incident to status, while L dependent children do not receive work permission solely on that basis. A child who reaches 21 during the posting falls outside the derivative definition, which is a date worth putting in the calendar at the outset. Reaching the age threshold that ends dependent eligibility is only one way a child can fall outside the definition; marrying before that point removes eligibility just as completely, regardless of age. School enrollment, a favorite activity or an upcoming milestone does not pause either count, so track both facts on their own calendar rather than assuming a long assignment gives extra room. Ask what evidence would be needed to show the child's marital status and age at the relevant filing date, since that evidence differs from what supports the parent's own case. Revisit the calculation whenever a filing is renewed rather than relying on an earlier estimate.