In May 2023, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) will implement AI (Artificial Intelligence) to enhance and expedite the processing of visa applications. This initiative is aimed at improving decision-making, speeding up processing times, and combating immigration fraud. Here’s how AI will be utilized:

• Automating Eligibility Determinations: AI will streamline the process by automatically determining if applicants meet the basic eligibility requirements.
• Application Distribution: Applications will be routed to the appropriate IRCC officers based on specific characteristics of the application.
• Fraud Detection: AI will help identify applications that may need further verification to detect potential fraud.
• Summarizing Client Information: AI will use "annotations" to summarize client information, reducing the need for officers to perform extensive searches in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).
• Email Assessment: AI will evaluate the urgency of client emails for quicker responses and provide information for general inquiries.
• Biometrics Assessment: AI will assist in analyzing biometric data.

Additionally, AI will be employed to track unregistered agents, agencies, and consultants who submit fraudulent documentation.

For more information on how AI is being used to tackle immigration fraud, read the Toronto Star’s report: How AI Will Catch Immigration Fraud.