Canadian moving to the US from the UK, TN-L1?

Hi,
I have a couple of questions regarding our move to the US. I am currently wanting to make a transfer from my current office in the UK to the office in Houston. We want to take the Queen Mary 2 when we move next year and need to book well in advance. We know we can apply for an L1B/L2 visa but are not sure if the processing time is going to be too long. We also have read that we can get the L1B/L2 visas at the Canadian/US border as I have done before for a TN visa.

Can we just pass through the US (NY-->Ottawa as we have relatives there) and then come back to the border and apply for our visas there?

Another thought that crossed our mind was getting TN/TD visas and then get our L1B/L2 visas later the next year. Does anyone know if this is even possible.

We just want to be sure we can book our travels and be sure that we get our visas in time... Any info on any of this will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Darcy & Cindy.

L1 are obtained instantly on entry into US by Cdns. No need (in fact no possibility) of a visa. So don't waste any time trying to get a visa appointment. It should be issued at any POE, not just one connected to Canada, but you could just transit to canada and then get L1 when you re-enter if you wish.

You could also get TN first, but the risk is that I believe you need to have worked abroad within the year of transfer, so if you stay too long on TN you lose right to L1. I feel L1 is a MUCH better status, as it allows L2 to work by getting EAD. TDs cannot work without their own profressional status.

Back when I got my L-1a my company applied for me ahead of time with an immigration lawyer - there is a premium processing option which guarantees a reply to the request within 15 days. So if your company is footing the bill, this may be a good option for you.

Thank you guys. We're not moving until next year but need to get ready and have started negotiating all the details with my employer.