We asked AI 10 immigration questions: here’s what it got wrong
Many foreign nationals are now going to AI for answers to their immigration questions, and risk receiving incorrect or misleading information.
We decided to put AI to the test by asking it a series of basic questions on Canadian immigration.
Here’s a look at the questions the CIC News team asked, the answers the bot provided, and what it got wrong.
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Can I get more CRS points through a labour market impact assessment?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
The bot responded, “Yes, you can receive CRS points for a valid job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), but certain conditions must be met.”
The bot then went on to explain that a job offer can contribute either 50 or 200 additional points under Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and provided further details on the criteria the job offer must meet.
Correct answer:
You cannot.
Express Entry candidates no longer get extra CRS points for having a valid job offer, as of the time of writing. This change was first announced in late 2024, and implemented on March 25, 2025.
The change was announced as “temporary,” but there has been no further information on when this measure will conclude.
What are the categories for category-based selection draws?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
The bot started by explaining what category-based selection draws are, then listed six categories that are eligible as of 2025:
Healthcare occupations.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) occupations.
Trade Occupations.
Transport Occupations.
Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations.
French-language proficiency.
Correct Answer
This response got three things wrong:
Transport occupations is no longer a category.
There is now an Education category.
What was formerly the “Healthcare” category is now “Healthcare and social services.”
These changes were made on February 27, 2025.
How many fields of study are eligible for Post Graduation Work Permits in Canada?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
The bot response stated that there isn’t a fixed “number of fields” universally applicable, because eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) depends on whether a program’s field (via a CIP code) is listed on the government’s eligible list.
It went on to say that as of the latest update on July 4, there are 920 fields of study recognized as eligible for the PGWP.
Correct answer
There are currently 1,107 PGWP-eligible educational programs.
The most recent update on PGWP-eligible fields of study took place in July when IRCC announced that the removal of some programs from the list would be delayed until “early 2026.”
Which provinces and territories have received an increase in nomination allocations so far?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
The bot listed the following provinces to have been allotted increases in their Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) allocations:
Alberta.
Saskatchewan.
Newfoundland and Labrador.
New Brunswick.
Correct answer
As of time of writing, in addition to those provinces the bot listed above, the following provinces and territories have also received increases:
British Columbia.
Saskatchewan.
Manitoba.
Yukon.
The Northwest Territories.
Can I currently apply for Canada’s Homecare Worker Immigration Pilots?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
The bot stated that it is possible to apply to the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, as they opened on March 31.
Bot added that “some application caps may already have been reached” for these streams, and that the “applicants not working in Canada stream is closed and will open at a later date.”
Correct answer
It is not currently possible to apply to either of the homecare worker pilots, as both hit their intake caps on the day of opening.
Furthermore, the claim that the applicants not working in Canada stream “will open at a later date” is incorrect, being based on out-of-date information.
On March 31, the government said that this stream would open at a later date, but on September 29, the stream was listed as closed without ever having opened. The current government website does not state that the stream will open at a later date.
You can find more details here.
How frequently does IRCC hold Express Entry general draws?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
The bot stated, “there is no fixed schedule mandated by law – IRCC holds general Express Entry draws at its discretion.”
It then goes on to say, “In practice, general draws have often been held about every two weeks.”
Correct answer
The bot’s answer is misleading, as IRCC has not held a general draw since April 23, 2024.
Draws are generally held every two weeks, but in recent practice they have been limited entirely to Canadian Experience Class draws, PNP draws, and category-based draws.
Which countries have a maximum eligible age of 30 for the International Experience Canada program?
AI Answer – Incorrect (Out-of-date information)
According to the bot, the following countries have an upper-age limit of 30 under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program:
Andorra.
Belgium.
Hong Kong.
Iceland.
Japan.
Luxembourg.
Netherlands.
Sweden.
Correct answer:
Luxembourg should not be listed.
Although Luxembourg did originally have a maximum participation age of 30 for the IEC, its age limit was raised to 35 as of July 26, 2024.
The other countries listed are correct.
I live in Quebec and would like to sponsor my spouse for PR. Are spousal sponsorship applications still being accepted?
Incorrect (out-of-date information):
The bot replied that you can currently apply to sponsor your spouse for permanent residence in Canada, “even if you are living in Quebec.”
Although the bot went on to mention that in 2024, Quebec imposed a cap on undertakings for family-sponsorship applications (including spousal sponsorship) for the periods of June 26, 2024, to June 25, 2026, the bot stated that “applications may still be accepted until the cap is reached,”
Correct answer:
The cap on spousal sponsorship applications was hit on July 9, 2025.
Any non-exempt applications for undertakings submitted through to July 25, 2026 will be returned without processing and the fees refunded.
What is the current processing time for a Start-Up Visa application?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
According to the bot, the processing time for an application submitted under the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program is approximately 53 months.
The bot then proceeded to state that processing times for SUV applications will vary depending on the applicant’s country of residence, among other factors.
Correct answer:
The current processing time for an SUV application is over 10 years, according to IRCC’s processing times tool, as of the time of writing.
Furthermore, unlike many temporary residence applications, the SUV processing times tool does not provide different processing times on the basis of country of residence.
How many PNP draws has Prince Edward Island conducted in 2025?
AI Answer – incorrect (out-of-date information)
In response to this question, the bot answered that the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held a total of seven draws in 2025 as of October 2025.
Correct answer:
The PEI PNP has held 10 draws as of October, 2025.
Methodology
We asked ChatGPT-4o the exact questions listed in our headers, and instructed the bot to keep its answers short and to-the-point.
We asked a total of 18 questions, and received incorrect, incomplete, or misleading answers for 11 of these questions.
Conversations with large language model-based chatbots are not deterministic; it is possible that users posing the same question(s) using ChatGPT-4o may receive different responses.
Why you may want to consult an immigration representative
When it comes to immigration information, chatbots often provide answers that are inconsistent at best, and incorrect or misleading at worst.
You should never make decisions solely on the basis of the output of a chatbot.
Prior to making any immigration decisions, always double check official government sources, and/or consult with a reputable, experienced immigration representative.
You are not required to use a representative, but if you choose to engage one, they may offer services such as
Advising you on the best pathways to permanent residence for your particular situation;
Proactively addressing any potential pitfalls that may jeopardize your application;
Reviewing your application to ensure that it is complete and correct;
Submitting the application on your behalf; and
Corresponding with IRCC on your behalf.
If you use a representative, you must declare your use of the representative.
Both paid and unpaid representatives must be declared to IRCC.
Paid representatives must be licensed by the appropriate governing body.
