Need Advice - Renewing Temp Work Permit at U.S. Border

[clay13]

Hi - Please help.
My wife and I are Australian but live and work in BC on Temp Work Visas. Im rated as Class B and renew every 2yrs with the help of my company (wife's permit is open). My current permit expired Apr 6 2011. I have just recieved my new LMO approval but they are 3/4 months behind in processing mailed in renewals. Problem: My wife is inbetween jobs and because we are at an 'implied' status (with no physical valid permit) she is not getting hired. We need our new permits now.
My question: can we take my LMO, application forms and payment down to the U.S. border and cross back into Canada to process the applications now and recieve new permits?
If its possible do I need any other forms? (eg. insurance, bank account details etc)

Thanks for your help and advice!!!!!

[clay13]

can anyone help me? i'm sure i'm not the 1st person to do this.

[pdo]

can anyone help me? i'm sure i'm not the 1st person to do this.

I was in this situation once and a lawyer working for my company told me that this was completely ok to do, BUT that there's always the off chance that the border agent will not approve the application for some odd reason. Generally speaking, if the LMO is approved you should be fine though. And then I think you can get a refund from CIC if you prove you paid twice.

[ae03yy]

you should be able to do it at the border or mail application to any Consultae in US. Just don't go to Buffalo Consulate, i read a post the other day saying they won't do WP unless it's mailed.

[JGK]

I did that in  2007 at Cornwall, ON. Pick a "quiet time" (I went on a Monday evening).

Unfortunately, I exited Canada and did not officially enter the US before returning to Canada. The paperwork that you fill in on the US side saying why you don't want to enter the US but wish to return to Canada to get your TWP somehow got entered into the US customs database as an official entry refusal. I only found this out recently when I had to go to the US on business.

I am currently going the DHS TRIP system to get it rectified.

[audrew]

clay13 if u decide to try this option, please let me know how it goes as i am in the same situation. thnx

[Leon]

The criteria to apply for a work permit at the border is that you are visa exempt and have an LMO, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible.asp#enter

I know a few people who have done this without a problem.  You also need to bring the work permit fee, $150 for each.