A qualifying E-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status, though the individual's documentation should still be confirmed. Dependent children do not gain work authorization from E status on that basis alone.
Record the household's actual plans
List each family member's citizenship, relationship evidence, age and intended work or study plan. A shared business plan for the household does not by itself establish that everyone has the same permissions, so each person's situation needs its own review.
List family facts beside the business plan, not inside it. Record citizenship, relationship evidence, ages, proposed arrivals, and each person’s intended activity, then seek tailored advice where work is contemplated. Hypothetical example: a dog-grooming studio investor expects a spouse to manage online orders immediately, but the spouse’s status and authorization details have not been checked. The couple should decide who will perform each role only after confirming the appropriate rules. The principal E-2 case still turns on treaty nationality, qualifying ownership, capital placed at risk, and a real enterprise whose results are not limited to supporting the investor’s household.
Write down the chosen division of business roles and revise it if the planned activity changes.