Immigration Lawyers Warn IRCC Tech May Cause Unfair Visa Refusals

Immigration lawyers and applicants are raising alarms about Canada’s immigration system. Many people say they receive refusal letters that don’t make sense. They worry their files are not fully reviewed by a human officer. The complaints focus on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) growing use of computer-assisted tools.

Lawyers and consultants speak out

Toronto lawyer Mario Bellissimo says he saw cases where officers ignored key documents. He cited one refusal for a missing birth certificate, even though the document was included.
“It worries me as an applicant and as a lawyer for an applicant: what is actually being looked at?” Bellissimo said.

Former immigration officer and now consultant Annie Beaudoin agrees. “Refusals should never breach procedural fairness,” she said. “The officer must look at every single document. Lately, there is evidence that is not done.”

IRCC defends its system

IRCC admits it uses programs to sort and process applications faster. It denies those programs affect the depth of reviews. In a statement, IRCC said, “Decisions about whether an applicant meets these requirements are made by highly trained officers who assess each application against the relevant program criteria.”

The department stresses only human officers make final decisions. It says officers receive training to review applications “carefully and systematically.”

Why technology was introduced

IRCC has faced heavy pressure to reduce backlogs. As of July, more than 2.2 million applications were in the system, with over 900,000 delayed. To manage, IRCC turned to advanced data analytics in 2018. The system uses machine learning to identify patterns and help officers sort cases faster.

IRCC also introduced Chinook, a spreadsheet tool that lets officers process cases in bulk. The department insists Chinook doesn’t use artificial intelligence and doesn’t make decisions. But lawyers argue the tool risks rushed reviews.

Concerns over speed and bulk refusals

Bellissimo says he has seen files processed in just minutes. He believes that undermines trust in the system. Vancouver lawyer Will Tao warns officers can issue bulk refusals or approvals, sometimes up to 150 cases at once. “This bulk and blanket treatment of individuals definitely has had a negative impact on the system,” Tao said.

Impact on real families

The system has personal consequences. Montreal resident Chandni Ajwani married Indian citizen Jay Dave in 2023. Dave applied for a visitor visa while waiting for spousal sponsorship. An officer rejected his application, citing low funds and doubts about temporary stay.

Ajwani and Dave say they submitted proof of income. The refusal notes didn’t mention their marriage or sponsorship. After asking for reconsideration, Dave’s visitor visa was finally approved in March 2025.

Ajwani says the first refusal left her angry. “The sad part is I know that’s not how Canada functions. Our immigration system is quite fair,” she said.

Debate continues

Despite criticism, IRCC says technology will remain central. It calls these tools “essential to modernizing our immigration system.” Lawyers, however, continue to warn that speed should not replace fairness.