The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) launched an online portal aimed at combating the rising numbers of student visa fraud. The portal, called Fraud Hub, gives school officials the tools to identify and report student visa fraud on college campuses. The move is part of wider heightening of scrutiny towards the student visa system.

Fraud Hub includes the following components:

• Introductory Fraud Training.
  • Said training explains how to detect, prevent, and report student fraud, including admissions fraud, employment and practical training fraud, and export control fraud.
• New infographics explaining fraud best practices, red f lags and which foreign countries have U.S. sanctions.
• Blogs covering visa fraud-related topics.
• Other intergovernmental resources related to fraud, which can be found on the Study in the States website.

Any principal designated school officials (PDSOs) and designated school officials (DSOs) interested in fraud training should contact their field representative. Said training is done individually, and it’s uncertain if group classes will be available in the future.

The portal is part of an increase in government scrutiny towards the student visa system. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed rolling back the duration of status for international students studying in the U.S. on F, J, and I student visas. If implemented, such a change would make it harder for students to move directly from educational to employment authorization via applying for the H-1B visa.

As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, please contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws and policy updates. In an ever-evolving immigration landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.