Using Machine-Learning to Triage Canada’s Temporary Resident Visa Applications (2021)

What is this research about?

This report defines several introductory concepts relating to artificial intelligence and machine learning and provides a review of existing literature that acknowledges efforts made to
establish clarity on how the Canadian government uses artificial intelligence to manage migration to date.

What did the researchers find?

The researcher provides a critical appraisal of the safeguards Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced in the development and deployment of Temporary Resident Visa
(TRV) application pilot, reviews the humans-in-the-loop component of the pilot and the effort to avoid using black-box algorithms and offers additional recommendations for the Canadian Government on the TRV pilot, assessing accountability, methods for monitoring data and trends, the importance of transparency, completing an Algorithmic Impact Assessment and being intentional in the development and use of technologies in migration management.\

Specifically:

• Strengthen Lines of Accountability
• Monitor Data and Trends to Ensure the Algorithm is Up-to-Date
• Be Transparent in the Face of the Paradox of Immigration Policy
• Complete the Government of Canada Algorithmic Impact Assessment
• Be intentional in the development and use of technologies in migration management