They can. Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad are translated too, and inconsistent name spellings or document titles surface at the same time. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify for TD, with steps that depend on their own nationality.
Fix dependent records on their own track
Handle the family documents separately so they do not delay the principal's credential work. Check that names match across passports, the marriage certificate, and birth certificates, and have anything issued in another language translated by a competent translator. Note that TD permits study but does not authorize work, and proposed remote or unpaid activities require specific review, so a spouse's own credentials serve their plans rather than the TN file.
A TN household is often assembled from more than one nationality: children born in different countries, a spouse holding a different passport. If the spouse receives a genuine offer, examine the spouse’s own eligibility and authorization before work begins. Establish the spouse’s own lawful basis for any proposed employment. Make two separate activity records: one for the TN professional and another for the accompanying spouse. The spouse may study in TD status but may not work, and would need a visa at a consulate if not visa-exempt.