Ask whether the accompanying spouse would hold any status carrying work authorisation. In this category dependants do not, so a working spouse needs an independent basis.
One authorised income, unless someone qualifies separately
Households often plan around two incomes because that is how life works here, and the dependent classification attached to this category does not carry employment authorisation. Dependants may generally attend school under the published guidance on which nonimmigrant classes may study, and that guidance is the right reference for a specific situation. A spouse who intends to work needs a route of their own, assessed on their own occupation and qualifications, which may be a separate professional request if their occupation is listed and they hold the qualification the entry names, or a different category entirely.
The question to ask before accepting anything is simply whether the household can function on one income for the length of the placement. Hypothetical example: a hospital dietitian plans to accept a temporary position while their partner operates an online design studio. The first review should produce a household income plan, the partner’s own immigration options, each child’s school timeline, and a list of commitments that cannot be supported on one income.
A written description of the partner’s proposed work settles whether a separate classification must be explored; a school’s enrollment requirements settle the immediate education step. Do that assessment before signing a lease or closing Canadian employment. The recurring mistake is assuming that a dependent label authorizes the same activity as the principal’s status.
It does not, so the household should price a period without the partner’s earnings rather than discover the restriction after arrival.