Each person needs appropriate identity and travel evidence, but E dependents do not have to become Canadian citizens or share the principal’s treaty nationality. Review the actual nationality, passport and relationship documents for the spouse and each unmarried child under 21. A pending Canadian naturalization or passport process does not automatically define their dependent route.
Check each person's documents on their own track
A spouse may use a different country’s identity documents, subject to the actual visa and travel requirements. Explain name variants and relationship evidence without assuming the principal’s certificate covers everyone. For any proposed United States job, verify a lawful work basis; qualifying E spouse status can provide authorization, while E dependent children cannot work on that basis. Family appointments and decisions need not occur together.
A business investment does not itself establish the spouse’s permission. If your staffing plan assumes a spouse covers early production shifts, treat that as a separate question with its own evidence, including proof acceptable to a payroll or benefits office. A pending case or ownership stake does not grant that status. An E-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status and may work for any employer, including the investor's enterprise. Unmarried children under 21 accompany as derivatives and may study but may not work.