{"version":"2026-07-01","name":"Immigration source-transparency benchmark","description":"Public benchmark of sampled immigration-information surfaces against source transparency, freshness, data-reuse and AI-retrieval criteria.","license":"CC BY 4.0","attribution":"Visa Atlas","methodology":"Manual public-surface sample as of 2026-07-01. A not-observed status means the feature was not visible in the sampled public pages, not that it cannot exist elsewhere.","count":6,"criteria":[{"id":"primary-source-proximity","label":"Primary-source proximity","description":"Rules, fees or thresholds visibly point readers back to the issuing government authority."},{"id":"record-level-dates","label":"Record-level dates","description":"Individual figures or claims carry their own review, verification or effective date."},{"id":"open-json-data","label":"Open JSON data","description":"A public, unauthenticated JSON endpoint exposes reusable immigration records."},{"id":"dataset-schema","label":"Dataset/DataDownload schema","description":"The public data surface uses schema.org Dataset or DataDownload metadata."},{"id":"change-feed","label":"Versioned change feed","description":"Rule, fee, threshold or processing-time movements are exposed as dated public feed records."},{"id":"ai-retrieval-contract","label":"AI retrieval contract","description":"There is a crawlable page or file telling AI systems which URLs, feeds and attribution rules to use."},{"id":"ungated-tools","label":"Ungated tools","description":"Calculators or route tools can be used without a lead form before showing useful output."},{"id":"no-outcome-promises","label":"No outcome promises","description":"The sampled public surface avoids approval-rate or guaranteed-visa framing."}],"samples":[{"id":"visaatlas","name":"Visa Atlas","archetype":"Open skilled-migration data layer","websiteUrl":"https://visaatlas.org","checkedOn":"2026-07-01","scope":"Primary-source-linked skilled-migration routes, figures, calculators, policy feeds, open JSON datasets and AI retrieval surfaces.","strengths":["Public JSON catalog, API reference, Dataset/DataDownload metadata and CC BY 4.0 reuse terms.","Fact-change, policy-claim, citation-pack, citation-benchmark and freshness feeds make the data layer reusable by crawlers and researchers.","Calculators and widgets are ungated, deterministic and source-provenance aware."],"observedGaps":["Brand authority and referring-domain footprint still need to compound through original research and external citation.","Some high-value live trackers, such as deeper category-specific Express Entry reporting, remain on the roadmap."],"evidenceUrls":["/data","/api","/api/public","/ai-agents","/freshness","/citation-packs","/citation-benchmark","/widgets"],"criteria":{"primary-source-proximity":"yes","record-level-dates":"yes","open-json-data":"yes","dataset-schema":"yes","change-feed":"yes","ai-retrieval-contract":"yes","ungated-tools":"yes","no-outcome-promises":"yes"},"score":16,"maxScore":16},{"id":"visaguide-world","name":"VisaGuide.World","archetype":"Broad visa/travel aggregator","websiteUrl":"https://visaguide.world/","checkedOn":"2026-07-01","scope":"Sampled homepage and visible navigation for worldwide country, travel-visa and visa-purpose coverage.","strengths":["Very broad country and visa-purpose navigation, with obvious travel-visa discovery coverage.","Editorial policy, disclaimer and about links are visible from the sampled public surface."],"observedGaps":["The sampled surface is editorial/travel-guide oriented rather than an open skilled-migration data layer.","No sampled public JSON catalog, versioned change feed or AI retrieval contract was observed."],"evidenceUrls":["https://visaguide.world/"],"criteria":{"primary-source-proximity":"partial","record-level-dates":"partial","open-json-data":"not-observed","dataset-schema":"not-observed","change-feed":"not-observed","ai-retrieval-contract":"not-observed","ungated-tools":"partial","no-outcome-promises":"yes"},"score":5,"maxScore":16},{"id":"moving2canada","name":"Moving2Canada","archetype":"Canada-focused migration media and tools","websiteUrl":"https://moving2canada.com/","checkedOn":"2026-07-01","scope":"Sampled homepage, navigation and resource entry points for Canada immigration, work, study, planning, living and news.","strengths":["Strong Canada focus with visible free resources, jobs, guides and immigration update entry points.","Single-country depth is materially stronger than generic global aggregators for Canadian newcomers."],"observedGaps":["The sampled surface is Canada-only and does not expose a reusable multi-destination skilled-migration dataset.","No sampled public JSON catalog, versioned multi-country change feed or AI retrieval contract was observed."],"evidenceUrls":["https://moving2canada.com/"],"criteria":{"primary-source-proximity":"partial","record-level-dates":"partial","open-json-data":"not-observed","dataset-schema":"not-observed","change-feed":"partial","ai-retrieval-contract":"not-observed","ungated-tools":"partial","no-outcome-promises":"yes"},"score":6,"maxScore":16},{"id":"canadavisa","name":"CanadaVisa","archetype":"Canada law-firm, forum and tools network","websiteUrl":"https://www.canadavisa.com/","checkedOn":"2026-07-01","scope":"Sampled homepage sections for Canadian immigration pathways, latest news, tools, newsletter, forum and legal help.","strengths":["Very deep Canada surface with visible tools, forum/news network and route-specific navigation.","Strong legal-help and community footprint around Canadian immigration demand."],"observedGaps":["The sampled surface is Canada-only and mixes information, tools, forum/news and legal-help funnel paths.","No sampled public open-data catalog, Dataset/DataDownload feed or AI retrieval contract was observed."],"evidenceUrls":["https://www.canadavisa.com/"],"criteria":{"primary-source-proximity":"partial","record-level-dates":"partial","open-json-data":"not-observed","dataset-schema":"not-observed","change-feed":"partial","ai-retrieval-contract":"not-observed","ungated-tools":"partial","no-outcome-promises":"yes"},"score":6,"maxScore":16},{"id":"deel","name":"Deel","archetype":"Global HR, payroll and mobility platform","websiteUrl":"https://www.deel.com/","checkedOn":"2026-07-01","scope":"Sampled homepage and visible resource/platform navigation for global hiring, payroll, mobility, API and HR tooling.","strengths":["Strong enterprise trust, API/platform positioning and global mobility service coverage.","Clear commercial platform architecture around hiring, payroll, HR and visa services."],"observedGaps":["The sampled immigration surface is tied to an HR/EOR service platform, not an independent open skilled-migration reference dataset.","The visible API positioning is product/platform oriented rather than a public source-linked immigration data feed."],"evidenceUrls":["https://www.deel.com/"],"criteria":{"primary-source-proximity":"partial","record-level-dates":"partial","open-json-data":"not-observed","dataset-schema":"not-observed","change-feed":"not-observed","ai-retrieval-contract":"partial","ungated-tools":"partial","no-outcome-promises":"yes"},"score":6,"maxScore":16},{"id":"fragomen","name":"Fragomen","archetype":"Global immigration law/advisory firm","websiteUrl":"https://www.fragomen.com/","checkedOn":"2026-07-01","scope":"Sampled homepage, immigration alerts, reports, spotlights and advisory/service entry points.","strengths":["High-authority advisory brand with fresh immigration alerts, reports, events and country-specific updates.","Strong enterprise and professional-services trust signals around global mobility."],"observedGaps":["The sampled surface is an advisory/news library rather than an open JSON data layer.","No sampled public source-linked dataset catalog, versioned figure-change feed or AI retrieval contract was observed."],"evidenceUrls":["https://www.fragomen.com/"],"criteria":{"primary-source-proximity":"partial","record-level-dates":"yes","open-json-data":"not-observed","dataset-schema":"not-observed","change-feed":"partial","ai-retrieval-contract":"not-observed","ungated-tools":"not-applicable","no-outcome-promises":"yes"},"score":6,"maxScore":16}]}