Yes, an L-2 spouse is authorized to work incident to status and does not need a separate employment authorization document to begin. Children in L-2 status may study but cannot work, and they lose status at 21.
The spouse's position is unusually clear; the children's is not
Among the categories relevant to Lac-Beauport households, L-2 is one of the more workable for a working spouse. Since the policy change confirmed in USCIS guidance, spouses in L-2 status are employment-authorized by virtue of the status itself, and an admission record annotated for the spouse serves as evidence for employers. A spouse who is a self-employed consultant, a nurse or an accountant can therefore pursue U.S.
work or clients without a second immigration case, although professional licensing remains a separate question. Children are different. An L-2 child may attend school at any level but may not work, including summer employment, and status ends on the 21st birthday.
For a household with a child who is 18 or 19 at the start of a multi-year assignment, plan the child's transition to a student classification or another route in advance. Also confirm that each family member's admission period matches the principal's, since a spouse admitted for a shorter period than the transferee can lose work authorization unexpectedly.