I went into Canada in 89 to "supervise" work done to a manufacturing line built by a US company. I got the third degree at customs because I declared a tool box. I said I was only to supervise and it was just a normal habit to carry my tool box, as I knew not where I may be going fom there. It ended up that I had to do actual hands on work, but as I was receiving my paycheck back in the States, the Immigration people had no documentation to clue them in. I don't know if they do random visits to check for unauthorized aliens doing work. I also went to Mainland China in 88 and 89 as a Start-Up Engineer on a busines type visa and did no hands on work. The Chinese workers will ensure no outsider does work there.
I have worked with a lot of foreigners (is that term still politically correct?)in the US and don't think they had to get work visas if they were employed and paid by companies in their home country. Some of them only supervised and some actually did hands on work.
Gerald Powell
