Document Fraud Is Getting Smarter. U.S. Policy Is Tightening. Universities Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone.

At last week’s NAFSA conference in San Diego, more than 8,000 international education professionals gathered to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and look ahead. But this year’s event also carried a clear signal from regulators: expectations around screening and compliance are rising—and the spotlight is firmly on institutions.

Across multiple sessions, the message was consistent. Federal agencies are sharpening their focus on the vetting and screening of international students. This isn’t just about policy changes on paper, it’s clear that universities are being asked to take a more active vetting of applicants.

For admissions teams already balancing enrollment goals with limited resources, this presents real challenges. Fraudulent documents are no longer obvious forgeries. Many are sophisticated polished bank statements with real logos, legitimate-seeming formatting, and even plausible exchange rates. In one recent case on our platform, a document looked flawless, until the issuing bank confirmed the account number didn’t exist.

At Veri Once, we verify financial documents from applicants across the globe. Around 36% of the documents we review turn out to be inauthentic. That number is significant, especially considering our fee likely deters some would-be fraudsters from even starting the process. And yes, the data is skewed, many universities refer students they already suspect. But even so, it highlights how easy it is to be misled by a convincing document.

Visual inspection alone is no longer enough. And universities shouldn’t be expected to take on this burden alone. Admissions officers are not forensic experts or banking analysts. The tools, systems, and support needed to meet this new compliance reality must be accessible, reliable, and easy to integrate.

Secure, source-based verification can bridge this gap. Documents should be confirmed directly with issuing banks and registrars. Platforms should prevent tampering and record where a document came from. This level of assurance is no longer optional for institutions that want to protect their compliance standing and support legitimate students.

At Veri Once, we provide exactly that. Our platform verifies financial and academic documents directly from the source using blockchain technology to ensure security and transparency. There are no subscriptions or long-term contracts. Institutions can access our services as needed, with minimal friction.

We understand that change takes time. But continuing with outdated systems poses real risks. Delays in visa processing, potential loss of SEVP certification, and reputational harm are all on the line. More importantly, the trust between universities and government agencies depends on modern, reliable processes.

International students are essential to the academic, cultural, and economic health of U.S. institutions. Supporting them requires processes that meet current expectations and stand up to scrutiny. The good news is that help exists. Solutions are available. And universities do not have to tackle this alone.

If you are looking to modernize your document verification and evaluation process, we are ready to support you.