diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/models.py
index 2a0cb2d466..5c5377cb04 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/models.py
@@ -10,11 +10,13 @@ photo verification process as generic as possible.
 """
 from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
+import base64
 import codecs
 import functools
 import json
 import logging
 import os.path
+import simplejson
 import uuid
 from datetime import timedelta
 from email.utils import formatdate
@@ -810,11 +812,10 @@ class SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification(PhotoVerification):
         faces.
         """
         face_aes_key_str = settings.VERIFY_STUDENT["SOFTWARE_SECURE"]["FACE_IMAGE_AES_KEY"]
-        face_aes_key = face_aes_key_str.decode("hex")
+        face_aes_key = codecs.decode(face_aes_key_str, 'hex')
         rsa_key_str = settings.VERIFY_STUDENT["SOFTWARE_SECURE"]["RSA_PUBLIC_KEY"]
         rsa_encrypted_face_aes_key = rsa_encrypt(face_aes_key, rsa_key_str)
-
-        return rsa_encrypted_face_aes_key.encode("base64")
+        return base64.b64encode(rsa_encrypted_face_aes_key)
 
     def create_request(self, copy_id_photo_from=None):
         """
@@ -884,7 +885,7 @@ class SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification(PhotoVerification):
         header_txt = "\n".join(
             u"{}: {}".format(h, v) for h, v in sorted(headers.items())
         )
-        body_txt = json.dumps(body, indent=2, sort_keys=True, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8')
+        body_txt = json.dumps(body, indent=2, sort_keys=True, ensure_ascii=False)
 
         return header_txt + "\n\n" + body_txt
 
@@ -912,10 +913,11 @@ class SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification(PhotoVerification):
             return fake_response
 
         headers, body = self.create_request(copy_id_photo_from=copy_id_photo_from)
+
         response = requests.post(
             settings.VERIFY_STUDENT["SOFTWARE_SECURE"]["API_URL"],
             headers=headers,
-            data=json.dumps(body, indent=2, sort_keys=True, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8'),
+            data=simplejson.dumps(body, indent=2, sort_keys=True, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8'),
             verify=False
         )
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/ssencrypt.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/ssencrypt.py
index 0db7a231cd..8e4d907281 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/ssencrypt.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/ssencrypt.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def generate_signed_message(method, headers_dict, body_dict, access_key, secret_
     signature = binascii.b2a_base64(hashed.digest()).rstrip(b'\n')
     authorization_header = u"SSI {}:{}".format(access_key, signature)
 
-    message += '\n'
+    message += b'\n'
     return message, signature, authorization_header
 
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def signing_format_message(method, headers_dict, body_dict):
     """
     headers_str = "{}\n\n{}".format(method, header_string(headers_dict))
     body_str = body_string(body_dict)
-    message = headers_str + body_str
+    message = six.b(headers_str) + body_str
 
     return message
 
@@ -231,4 +231,4 @@ def body_string(body_dict, prefix=""):
                 value = "null"
             body_list.append(u"{}{}:{}\n".format(prefix, key, value))
 
-    return "".join(body_list)  # Note that trailing \n's are important
+    return b"".join(body_list)  # Note that trailing \n's are important
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_models.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_models.py
index 33bf681b75..a269dd4b70 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_models.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
-import json
+import base64
+import simplejson as json
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 import boto
@@ -66,8 +67,8 @@ def mock_software_secure_post(url, headers=None, data=None, **kwargs):
         assert data_dict.get(key)
 
     # The keys should be stored as Base64 strings, i.e. this should not explode
-    data_dict["PhotoIDKey"].decode("base64")
-    data_dict["UserPhotoKey"].decode("base64")
+    data_dict["PhotoIDKey"] = base64.b64decode(data_dict["PhotoIDKey"])
+    data_dict["UserPhotoKey"] = base64.b64decode(data_dict["UserPhotoKey"])
 
     response = requests.Response()
     response.status_code = 200