Washington, D.C., USA: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rolled out a new digital training platform designed to help American educational institutions better detect and prevent fraud within the student visa process. The initiative enhances the monitoring responsibilities of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Launched this month, the website provides step-by-step guidance to designated school officials on how to spot irregularities in the academic and financial documents submitted by international applicants. DHS said the goal is to strengthen the admissions review process and stop misuse of the student visa system.
The training includes detailed instructions for verifying documentation, checking credentials with external organisations and banks, and using established international academic-verification databases. Officials are encouraged to watch for mismatched academic histories, non-existent institutions, altered or repeated bank statements, and other common warning signs.
In addition to document checks, the materials outline behavioural indicators that may signal fraudulent intent—such as avoiding mandatory orientation sessions, hesitating during identity-verification steps, living unusually far from campus without explanation, or repeatedly changing personal or academic details without valid reasons. Other concerns include suspicious access to research materials or attempts to take information off campus.
To support these reviews, the platform introduces tools like the World Education Services (WES) credential-verification guide and the International Association of Universities’ World Higher Education Database (WHED).
The program was developed in partnership with ICE Homeland Security Investigations, which leads probes into student visa misuse and document fraud. DHS said the effort is part of a broader strategy—championed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—to strengthen the integrity of the U.S. immigration system and protect academic pathways from exploitation.
The training resources are now accessible on the Study in the States website through the newly created SEVP Fraud Hub, and institutions across the country are encouraged to integrate these guidelines into their admissions and monitoring procedures.
