Read the general life across the border overview
Employer reimbursement, leave arrangements and school calendars can shape a Russell household’s move. None of them grants immigration status. List what each person proposes to do, then establish the permission and evidence needed for that activity.
Specify the intended employment
TD does not authorize work. Qualifying E and L spouses may work incident to the appropriate status with required evidence; dependent children do not receive that spouse permission. A pending application or unpaid arrangement should not be treated as automatic authorization.
Identify the immigrant entry sequence
For immigrant-visa derivatives, the principal must arrive before or with them. Petition approval is not itself residence or employment permission. Review the actual visa/admission or adjustment process and each family member’s relationship and eligibility.
Keep costs and eligibility separate
For Gold Card, each eligible joining spouse or unmarried child under 21 carries the published US$1 million gift and US$15,000 nonrefundable processing fee. Employer funding does not waive those requirements. Review child-age and CSPA questions individually rather than assuming payment or a petition universally freezes age. The additional family charges also apply in corporate cases.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.
- Official U.S. government Gold Card FAQ
- Department of State — Visa Bulletin
- USCIS — Child Status Protection Act
- USCIS — I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
- U.S. Department of Labor — PERM Permanent Labor Certification Program
- 8 CFR 214.6 — professional requirements
- 8 CFR 214.2(l) — intracompany transfer conditions
- Official Gold Card FAQ
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — full English translations
- Department of State — employment immigrant travel