Denied entry to US, need to prove Canadian residency

I have been working in the US and have permanent residency. My parents visit me about once or twice a year for about 1-2 months per trip.

I have since purchased my place and added one my parents as co-owner (they loaned me money). For convenience, my parents also obtained a California ID, which we applied through the State of California (proper channels). This is so that they don't need to carry around their passport around with them.

At one crossing, the CBP officer denied my parents entry to the US. They searched and found the California ID my mom was carrying, and then did the whole record search thing and found she was co-owner of my place. They wanted proof of residency in Canada. I presented them the car insurance and the cell phone, which were the only things we had on hand. He didn't accept it, and said that next time we across again, just bring credit card bills, utility bills, etc; so I thought it was a one time deal, but this appears to have a more permanent record.

It has been over a year and they get hassled every time. In the trips that followed, the CBP officers eventually will let them pass, but they get waved in and interrogated. I asked the CBP officers if we can give up the California ID so we don't get harassed every time. He said there is nothing we can do, and they need some time to prove that my parents indeed reside in Canada. I asked how long they need, and they wouldn't give me an answer.

The issue is my parents do not speak too much English, and the whole experience with the CBP officers frighten them. My sister missed the plane once because it took so long.

I find this a little ridiculous because I can present them bills (proof of Canadian residency) for the last 20-30 years. What can I do?

Does anyone know how long we have to bear this? Is there anything we can do so that we don't flagged in every time? Is there a reset period after a denial of entry?

Nothing concrete, but I know this happens to couples that are going through the relationship visa process at times! it seems once they are flagged, for the most part after that, they get extra questioning and quite often taken back into secondary!! They just come to accept it until the visa process is over, which is different in ur case.

Consider this flag permanent and act accordingly.

Snowbirds are always advised to carry a "residency file" when the travel to US, which includes most recent utility bills, lease/deed papers, etc, which show they are merely visiting. This will speak for them, if that is a problem.

If they had carried this the initial time, there would not have been a flag. Now, they will simply have to keep doing what they should have from the beginning.

There is no problem with a Cdn owning property in US. The Cal ID thing does sound suspicious. But carrying the file each time they cross will blow all this away.

Thanks for the responses.

Here is a little update. So my father brought my nephew to visit me for the summer before school starts, and this time we prepared all the residency docs (bills, utilities, etc). They went to preclearance POE early in anticipation (dread) of being interrogated. This time the CBP officer let them pass with little/no hassle - didn't even ask for docs.

Were we simply unlucky to find a mean CBP officer the first time (he was with a trainee)? Or did we luck out with a nice officer this time? I don't anticipate there to be any difference between land crossing (previous entries) or airport POE. Any idea what the difference would be?

Having a doc file takes the luck out of the equation. You want to deal in luck, go to a casino. At the border, be professional and prepared.

One never knows with POE officers. One just has to be prepared at all times.

What documents should I take to prove I am a Canadian resident. I was denied a few weeks ago. I am a snowbird and own property in Florida. They never mentioned the overstay thing just I couldn't prove a tie. I have several rental properties and am a senior who lives in Canada. Like most snowbirds with property we tend to stay a little longer and this has never been a issue as a matter of fact I never thought the US had a problem I always worried about the Canadian Government having the issue after all we do is prop up the economy while in USA. I returned with the list of things they wanted two days latter and was allowed in. When I was at Tampa airport returning 10 days latter I was called and interviewed by homeland security at the gate. any more ideas on how to smooth this out going forward as I am planing on returning in a few weeks.

You need to carry current lease/mortgage/phone/utility for the HOME you live in in canada, not properties you rent out.

You need to have a full-fledged 100% available year-round residence in Canada; any documantation that proves this should be kept current and available for inspection each time you cross the border.