6 minute read
SETTLEMENT
The increasing role of AI in visa processing
When people submit applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) they typically have spent significant time carefully completing forms and assembling documents. They expect that their applications will be processed by visa officers who carefully review the information before them. However, applicants need to understand that artificial intelligence is playing an increasing role in visa processing, as is the bulk processing of applications.
IRCC has not been forthcoming with how it uses technology to process applications, however, through a series of Access to Information Act requests as well as Federal Court of Canada litigation, the public is beginning to get a sense of measures being implemented.
Predicative learning
Automated processing of some categories of applications is not new. Since 2015, most visaexempt foreign nationals have had to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization before they could board a plane to travel to Canada. These applications were, for the most part, automated applications.
What is less known is that in 2017, IRCC successfully conducted a pilot in which automated systems based on predicative analytics triaged and automatically approved low-risk online temporary resident visa applications from China. Visa applications were sorted into tiers – the lowest risk for auto-approval, medium and high risk for officer review. This triage model was deployed for all applications from China in 2018, and in the same year was piloted in India. The goal appears to be for artificial intelligence to automatically approve low-risk applications, with officers only manually assessing those that have been flagged as medium to high risk. Chinook
In addition to automated triaging, IRCC has also introduced software so that officers can bulk process applications. The software tool is known as Chinook.
According to an affidavit that IRCC filed in Federal Court, Chinook is a standalone tool that streamlines administrative steps. Applicant information is extracted from their applications and presented in a spreadsheet. Visa officers are assigned a workload of applications through Chinook. They are able to see multiple applications at a time on a single spreadsheet. This allows them to review the contents of multiple applications on a single screen and allows them to complete administrative steps through batch processes. It also allows visa officers to create “risk indicators” and “local word flags” so that officers can identify possible applications in the processing queue of concern or priority.
According to the Federal Court affidavit, when visa officers enter Chinook, a message pops up that says, amongst other things, “The Chinook User Interface allows you to view multiple applications for review and initial assessment. It does not replace reviewing documents… and/or reviewing other information… The refusal notes generator is means to assist with general bona fide refusals. If the notes do not reflect your refusal reasons, please write an individual note.”
Concerns
There have been many concerns raised about the implementation of automated triaging and Chinook. These include the possibility that it is what has led to increased refusal rates, that individual care is not being given to applications, that applications are not being carefully reviewed and instead quickly bulk refused, that AI flagging a file as high-risk will lead to an officer wanting to simply affirm the AI’s finding, that refusal reasons are increasingly consisting of boiler plate templates which is not helpful for applicants, and that it may perpetuate systemic racism.
Because IRCC has not been transparent about the implementation of these systems and their results, it is difficult to confirm if these concerns are founded. Regardless, it is important that those submitting applications understand that Canada’s immigration system is no longer one in which human officers meticulously process individual applications in the order that they are received. I have previously written about how it is important for individuals with refused applications to obtain the internal reasons for refusal, or Global Case Management System (“GCMS”) notes. IRCC’s use of artificial intelligence and bulk refusal generators makes this even more important, as a review of the internal reasons or GCMS are often indicative of whether such software was used, and whether a refused applicant should either file a reconsideration request or seek judicial review to see if a human may reach a different conclusion.
Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver. Contact him at 604-681-9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com, or visit his blog at smeurrens.com.
A back-to-school safety checklist for parents
With the different types of child care options, cost, quality and the limited availability, newcomer families can feel overwhelmed. However, you can find child care that suits your needs with a bit of research. Here are some factors to consider.
Types of care: Child care options range from licensed or unlicensed, centre-based or home-based, multiage programs, early years programs, preschool, before and after school care or in-home care such as a nanny or au pair. You will have to choose depending on your family’s needs and what is available.
Cost of child care: Cost of child care varies depending on the type of program, full-time or part-time care, and the age and number of children. There are grants and funding available to support families who qualify, such as Canada Child Benefit, grants for children who qualify for the disability credit or other provincial initiatives. Age and number of children: The age and number of children can affect how challenging it can become to find available options. Spaces for infants and toddler care are limited and cost more. Families with multiple children might have more difficulty finding the spaces in the same facility as child care spots are limited.
Child care location: Getting to and from the child care program can add extra commute time. One of the factors to consider is if it is close to home or on your way to work. If you take public transit, check if it is accessible by transit.
Waitlist fees and procedures: Check the waitlist process before putting yourself on it. Check the waitlist fee, whether it is refundable, and whether you can apply the waitlist fee toward child care fees when being admitted.
Hours of service: Finding child care outside regular hours, such as overnight, weekend or occasional care can be more challenging as there are very limited programs offering after-hours care. Consider looking for in-home care, a live-in nanny or au pair for more flexible hours.
Quality of care: Inquire about the child care provider’s educational qualifications, philosophy and years of work experience. Above all, assess whether they have the qualities of a great educator and are patient, caring, compassionate, dedicated and detail oriented.
Programming: Find out about the programming such as the curriculum offered, languages spoken, whether healthy and/or hot lunches are provided and if there are any specialized programs. Learn about the centre’s philosophy, policy and procedures. Do not forget to check their COVID protocols and steps to keep children safe in the centre.
Your own in-home care: If you would like to start a career in this rewarding field while caring for your own child, you can consider starting your own in-home care. Check your provincial child care regulations and municipality rules for starting a child care business in your own home, to make sure it is feasible to do so.
In conclusion, selecting child care is a very personal choice and you should consider different factors to make the best decision for your family. Do your research by talking to other parents, doing reference checks and reading online reviews, and check licensing inspection reports; but most importantly, trust yourself! You know what is best for your child.
Cheryl Song, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 20 years’ experience of working in early learning and family programs. Contact her at cheryl@learnwithsong.com or visit her website at learnwithsong.com.
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