A spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one may be included as derivatives and hold conditional permanent residence alongside the investor. Reaching twenty-one or marrying before residence is granted can end derivative eligibility, subject to the age calculation rules.
Conditional residence is real status with a deadline attached
Hypothetical example: the family includes a sixteen-year-old and a twenty-year-old. During conditional residence both hold permanent resident status with its rights, including the ability to study and work, and both are subject to the same two-year condition as the investor. The twenty-year-old's position needs attention because of the length of these cases: derivative eligibility depends on being unmarried and under twenty-one, and there are statutory provisions affecting how age is calculated that should be applied to the actual dates rather than assumed either way.
Marriage before residence is granted also ends eligibility. When the removal petition is filed, the derivatives are generally included with the principal, so the family's status moves together. Confirm each person's citizenship and current status separately at the outset.