Individuals will fill in an online form and that information will be assessed by the automated system to determine if they meet the minimum entry criteria and can be admitted to the pool. That's all automated so there is no officer check at that stage. Only after an individual has been invited to apply and then submits an application for permanent residence will the information be verified.
Officers will be able to ensure that the information provided through the online form is backed up by the documentation and the proof necessary at the application for permanent residence stage. If an individual has been found to have misrepresented themselves, then the general IRPA provisions related to misrepresentation would apply. Those are fairly significant and can result in an individual being barred from reapplying for permanent residence for a period of five years.
It will be important for us to be very clear as we design and build the system that individuals are aware of the consequences of providing false information up front on the EOI online tool, because it will be verified at the application for permanent residence stage, and there could be serious consequences.