An eligible spouse and unmarried children under 21 may seek L-2 dependent status when joining an L-1 principal. The same L-2 dependent category can apply to families of L-1A and L-1B principals. Each person’s citizenship, documentation and intended activities still need to be considered.
Build one household plan with separate records
List who intends to move, their relationship to the principal applicant, their ages and citizenships, and whether they will travel together or later. Ask what each person needs for visa issuance and admission, rather than treating the principal’s approval as a complete family travel document.
Distinguish a spouse’s position from a child’s
A qualifying L-2 spouse can be employment-authorised incident to status. The actual admission record and appropriate employment-authorisation evidence matter. L-2 children do not receive work permission on that basis. Discuss plans for work or study for each family member.
Revisit the plan when circumstances change
Keep the household’s travel and status records together and ask how the principal’s proposed arrangements affect accompanying family members. Raise changes in employment, travel timing or a child’s age with the adviser before relying on the earlier plan.
Reviewed 7 September 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and procedures can change.