IMI Logo Black

Canada Deploys AI Immigration Screening Framework. Could RCBI Programs Follow?

Could Canada's implementation of AI screening in immigration be a prelude to RCBI doing the same? Experts have their say.

Ahmad Abbas

IMI
• Amman

Canada has rolled out artificial intelligence screening tools across its border control and immigration processing systems, marking one of the most expansive applications of automated decision-making in the country’s migration infrastructure.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has introduced the Travel Compliance Indicator (TCI) at six undisclosed land ports of entry. The system assigns travelers a “compliance score” through predictive analytics, drawing on five years of CBSA data to analyze travel history, vehicle details, identification type, and other factors in real time. The algorithm may refer travelers it flags for secondary examination.

Canada has begun implementing its AI screening framework at its borders

CBSA officials describe the TCI as a method to reduce false positives, ease processing delays, and improve traveler experience while strengthening border security. The agency emphasizes that the tool supports decision-making rather than replacing it, leaving final authority with human officers.

The government plans to expand the TCI to all land ports by late 2027, followed by deployment at air and sea entry points. The initiative received over CAD 15 million in funding and forms part of CBSA’s broader modernization strategy to manage increasing travel volumes without proportional staff increases.

Immigration Application Processing Faces a Similar Transformation

Parallel to border screening, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has deployed advanced analytics tools to sort and process applications. These systems rely on machine learning to identify patterns in past decisions, automating routine cases in categories including spousal sponsorships and temporary resident visas.

Webinar banner

An IRCC spokesperson confirmed that “no final decisions are made by artificial intelligence” and that the tools do not refuse or recommend refusing applications. The department maintains that immigration officers conduct all final assessments.

Patrick McCarthy, Director of Residency Programs at ClientReferrals, views the integration of artificial intelligence as inevitable. As long as decision-making authority isn’t handed over completely.

He considers it a positive development that “can only help officers in reviewing complex financial and business information, and in the process, hopefully make processing more efficient.”

He says the need for such tools has become acute in programs like the Startup Visa, which now faces a noteworthy ten-year processing delay. McCarthy notes that the system has become bogged down with applications from individuals who lack genuine entrepreneurial intentions.

Patrick McCarthy

He argues that AI can play an important role in finding patterns in those applications and weeding them out so genuine applicants can advance.

events banner

The agency describes its tools as continuously reviewed by employees who ensure results align with applications receiving full human review. IRCC’s website notes that “identifying and mitigating potential bias or discriminatory impacts is always a critical focus as we design, develop, and implement technologies.”

Fraud Detection and Priority Processing Applications

David Lesperance, Managing Director of Lesperance & Associates, argues that AI screening would prove useful for triaging priorities but should never replace the final human decision. He points out that AI misses nuances and would probably face judicial review on appeal under most countries’ administrative law provisions.

He says a practical application would involve using AI to prioritize Start Up Visa or Express Entry applicants who have clearly met and exceeded the stated criteria. He describes this as separating the wheat from the chaff for priority processing.

Lesperance identifies fraud detection as another promising use case for Canadian immigration. The largest fraud in Canadian immigration history continued for years until a whistleblower tip uncovered it. He believes AI would have uncovered this type of fraud quickly.

Afshin Sarhangpour, Director of Canada at Beyond Global Partners, argues that AI can rapidly analyze data to flag fraud and security risks, improving program integrity.

He says the technology helps detect inconsistencies in financial and personal documents while automating routine tasks, freeing experts to focus on complex cases.

He also argues that smart triage allows systems to identify low-risk applications for faster review while flagging high-risk ones for deeper scrutiny.

Afshin Sarhangpour (left) at IMI Connect Rome

The use of AI in immigration processing first drew public attention when Access to Information requests revealed that IRCC had introduced a tool called Chinook without prior disclosure or public consultation.

The department later clarified in a 2022 statement that Chinook extracts information from applications to create a standardized format for officers.

Questions about the speed and thoroughness of automated processing have emerged in some cases. Reports indicate instances where the system generated refusal reasons at the same timestamp as application processing, raising questions about the extent of human review in those determinations.

Balancing Efficiency Against Risk

Sarhangpour cautions that AI is neither inherently good nor bad in the investment migration sector. Its impact depends on whether it operates as administrative support or plays a role in substantive decision-making, making careful, human-centered governance essential.

He notes that the technology carries risks that merit attention. AI may replicate historical biases, leading to unfair outcomes for certain applicant groups. Lack of transparency can erode trust and complicate appeals when applicants cannot understand how decisions affecting their cases occurred.

He argues that the technology may miss nuances in complex financial or entrepreneurial cases that require human judgment.

He also warns that generative AI introduces additional concerns, as bad actors can misuse it to deceive investors with deepfakes or fabricated opportunities.

Global Investment Migration Sector and AI Integration

The Canadian initiatives reflect a broader shift in how countries approach migration processing. Rafael Cintron, Chief Executive Officer at Wealthy Expat, describes the development as a positive step, noting that AI has already transformed finance, compliance, and border management.

He expects rapid growth in tools for AI-based due diligence, client screening, backlog reduction, and even “AI program pickers” that match applicants to ideal programs. El Salvador already uses AI in due diligence for citizenship cases, and other smaller jurisdictions have followed suit.

Cintron anticipates that the Caribbean, the European Union, and major citizenship by investment (CBI) countries will start integrating AI in the near future. While AI won’t replace human judgment, he believes it will become a permanent part of the workflow.

Rafael Cintron (left) speaking on a panel at IMI Connect Rome

Lesperance notes that residence by investment (RBI) programs like Portugal’s Golden Visa and CBI programs worldwide could screen their backlog and prioritize obvious qualifying applicants while identifying complicated or suspicious cases, such as politically exposed persons.

He says AI would prove useful to many countries that take an exceedingly long time to determine if lineage citizenship applicants both qualify and have acceptable documentation, allowing systems to identify and quickly process straightforward cases while more difficult cases receive human attention where discretion is needed.

Transparency Concerns Persist

Canada’s implementation of these systems occurs against a backdrop of increasing reliance on private sector partnerships for automated immigration and border management tools. The contracts governing these partnerships remain largely undisclosed, limiting visibility into how the systems function and make assessments.

The deployment represents a test case for how developed nations balance efficiency gains from automation against requirements for procedural fairness and transparency in immigration systems.

David Lesperance

Canada processes hundreds of thousands of immigration applications annually, creating pressure to reduce backlogs while maintaining assessment standards.

The expansion of AI tools in Canadian immigration and border operations will likely influence how other countries approach similar technological adoptions.

The outcomes of Canada’s implementation, particularly regarding accuracy, fairness, and public trust, could provide data points for jurisdictions considering comparable systems.

IMI Pros who can help with Canadian residency

Want your profile featured in this list? Sign up for IMI Pro today


Subscribe to the IMI Newsletter

Get investment opportunities, policy updates, and high-signal news from directly in your inbox each week.

As a special gift, we’ll even send you a free copy of 13 Special Regimes for Low-Tax Living in High-Tax Europe.

13 Special Regimes for Low-Tax Living in High-Tax Europe
Subscribe and Get Access

Trusted by 300,000+ investors, professionals, and global citizens