IRCC will launch automated tools to improve PGWP processing and work permit extensions. The IRCC officers typically tackle two significant tasks. The first one is the assessment task to decide which applications are urgent (triage), and the second one is the evaluation of the eligibility of applications.
IRCC will launch automated tools to improve PGWP processing – the usage of these tools
The automated tools function through a triage system, which usually supervises the repetitive and clerical tasks associated with determining the priority application. This will permit immigration officers with more time to emphasize demanding functions such as approving application decisions.
The following categories will fall under urgent applications per IRCC:
- A foreign doctor treating patients;
- A foreign worker traveling for business purposes or death in the family.
Additionally, the new automated tools will enable them to understand the eligibility of applications. According to IRCC, these tools will decide if a case falls under the routine or not. These tools will also help evaluate an applicant’s eligibility for IRCCs on PGWP or Work Permit extension based on requirements outlined by the immigration officers.
As a result, these immigration officers will get a chance to automate the eligibility evaluation for such applications.
Furthermore, IRCC’s new tools will already have the urgency and eligibility of applications perfectly integrated within them. IRCC also states that these criteria will depend upon the frameworks of the “legislative and regulatory” under PGWP and work permit extension programs.
There will be a regular evaluation of these automated tools. This will help the department understand whether their decisions will consistently align with IRCC criteria and IRCC officers’ decisions.
Will these tools have the ability to refuse applications, and will human officers still have a role to play?
Fortunately, these tools have restrictions associated with their functions. The automated features in these tools have the authority to immediately accept eligible applications. Contrarily, these features will not permit the tools to either reject or refuse the applications. Also, if these tools don’t approve an application right away, the IRCC officer can still approve it manually. Furthermore, this implies that an IRCC officer will still have to evaluate and determine the final eligibility of an applicant. IRCC has always committed to delivering the best to its immigration clients through technology. Hence, this initiative of automated tools is significant for their benefit.
Besides this, these tools underwent a thorough assessment and several reviews. This indicates that the department first analyzed the impact of these tools on the processing of applications. The assessment was based on the algorithm. Such reviews will continue to take place in the future as well. These reviews will be related to possible discriminatory impacts and privacy and security operations.
The impact of these tools on the processing of applications
IRCC expects that these new tools will assist the department in expediting the application processing. However, to actually anticipate this impact is not possible as of now.
Earlier in 2023, former immigration minister Sean Fraser stated in a press conference about the ongoing usage of AI, advanced analytics, and automated tools within IRCC. He even acknowledged the human effort still being relevant in the final decision-making. However, he affirmed that productivity will increase massively, resulting in at least a 98 percent approval rate of applications.
