<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001016607</issuerCik><issuerName>WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLSN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001199398</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>VITALI CHERYL L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>216 GOODHILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>WESTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06883</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.0093</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>600</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/Cheryl L. Vitali</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

