It's my suspicion (which is to say, educated guess) that the kiosks do not 'flag' anything on their own, but primarily - possibly only - search the system for existing flags or database matches (like terrorism watchlists, criminality).
And by existing flags I mean (at least for RO or other things cbsa/ircc would put) flags that are manually entered by an officer, not some calculation. Plus obviously some basic things like whether the PR card is actually expired or otherwise invalid.
This and rest of post is a good observation, although the scope of screening criteria is likely at least a little broader than the "
basic things like whether the PR card is actually expired or otherwise invalid." I too do not know just what criteria is employed attendant kiosk screening, although I have read that they have at minimum experimented with sensors at the kiosks evaluating things like the traveler's physical characteristics. No great powers of prophecy necessary to forecast that facial identification technology will be utilized sooner than later.
Some additional clarification is nonetheless warranted.
I used the kiosk last year when I arrived in Canada and I was in breach of RO. It didn't flag anything. Printed a receipt
All this illuminates with certainty is that ONE time, ONE PR in breach of the RO was not referred to Secondary after checking in via the kiosk.
To some extent, employing inductive logic, since what happens once tends to indicate the same can and will happen again, it suggests that other PRs in breach of the RO checking in via the kiosk
MIGHT similarly be, in effect, waived through without a Secondary referral. This does NOT warrant extending that to suggest there is a low risk of Secondary questioning just by using a kiosk. It absolutely does not indicate there is very little or no risk.
In contrast, there is no doubt that any PR arriving at a Port-of-Entry who is not in compliance with the PR Residency Obligation is at risk of a referral to Secondary and potentially suffering Inadmissibility proceedings leading to the loss of PR status. At the least, as
@Ponga observed, there is always some risk of a random referral to Secondary.
Beyond that who, when, and why some PRs encounter Secondary examination including questions about RO compliance is a big subject in regards to which much, if not most of the methods and means employed by CBSA, is behind the secret/confidential curtain. Whether the PR is arriving at a major airport and using the kiosk, or arriving at a busy land border crossing with the U.S., or arriving at one of the less busy smaller entry points along the U.S. border, there is little (if any) doubt that PRs in breach of the RO are at some risk of Secondary examination regarding RO compliance EVEN though they are carrying and presenting a valid PR card. Sure, as I have often noted, consistent with many other comments and with what is reported by various individuals, the PR presenting a valid PR card upon arrival has substantially better odds of being allowed entry without Secondary questioning about RO compliance. But it demands repeating, with some emphasis, there is little (if any) doubt that PRs in breach of the RO are at some risk of Secondary examination regarding RO compliance EVEN though they are carrying and presenting a valid PR card and using the kiosk upon arrival.
