What office has the power of approval?
Another way to ask this question is: Once across the border (not boarder!!! - for some who continue to do this, but not here, right?) where and how does one check in? IIRC, their boat is US documented, legally imported into Canada and still flies the US flag. But crossing the border in and of itself, requires them to check in with US Customs, say at either Roche (nice) or Friday (horrible).
So, once we get the boat into their hands on the US side, what do THEY do?
I think that's the question
they have to answer.
Would seem that that "investigative work" would be something they could and should be doing, like with a telephone, from wherever they are.