VFS Global – a visa service facilitation firm – has come under intense scrutiny over alleged deceptive prices, and operational failures across its visa facilitation centers. These accusations against VFS have surfaced as part of an international media investigation covering over 150 European Union inspection reports. A Netherlands-based investigative newsroom, Lighthouse Reports, based on European Union inspection reports (2020–2025) from 20 member states, identified multiple operational lapses at VFS Global visa application centers, particularly in India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Jalandhar.
Based on these recent investigations, the global visa facilitation agency is being called out for handling user data and forcing customers to opt for expensive value-added services, raising the overall cost for visa processing.
Ever since these alleged findings have surfaced, people have come out and shared their unpleasant experiences while dealing with VFS Global during their visa processes.
VFS Global Customers Share Trauma Stories
A user on social media who goes by the name @BhosalePratim shared his story, saying that 90 per cent of the visa trauma he had was because of VFS Global. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Bhosale Pritam said, “90% of the visa trauma I had was because of VFS Global. It’s extremely embarrassing that this company came out of India.”
Further accusing the visa firm for pushing people into opting for premium consultation, he said, “For almost all my visa appointments until now (I love The Hague govt for abandoning VFS), they would push me and all other people around to pay their premium fees for “consultation” on how to apply for a visa.”
“If you don’t pay the premium fees, we won’t check your documents,” he claimed.
“They would treat everyone so badly when all people did was stand in a queue waiting for their turn to apply for a visa. I really hope no one has to ever go through VFS’s dark patterns,” Bhosale Pritam said.
“In contrast, for all visa-related work in the Netherlands or France, I was treated with so much respect, care, and concern by the authorities of both countries,” Pritam added.
Another user named Apoorva Govind accused VFS Global of having the “worst dark patterns” ever, alleging that they forced people to pay extra for carrying backpacks inside.
In her post on X, Govind said, “I hope they burn this f***g company to the ground. They have the worst dark patterns ever. They won’t let people bring in backpacks (remember, we have to carry 100s of pages of documents) and then turn around and charge $20 to “hold on” to your bag. What a scam.”
A third user on X said that the recent probe into VFS Global mirrors his own experiences, adding that he found VFS Global overpriced, throwing services without consent, and taking advantage of applicants under stress.
“This even happened to me in the US. Those investigating VFS are welcome to contact me,” the user said.
The investigation into the VFS Global services alleges that it mishandled personal and biometric data, including storage on unencrypted CDs, transmission via open email, and failure to destroy records older than the stipulated period, resulting in non-compliance with GDPR data-protection requirements.
It has also come to light that communication regarding optional value-added services (such as premium lounges, courier delivery, and extended hours) was deemed misleading, with fees not clearly presented as non-mandatory and unrelated to visa approval.
The firm is also under scrutiny over staff sales incentives and aggressive upselling practices linked to pressure on applicants, especially from countries with weaker passports, raising concerns about profiteering and the privatisation of border-control functions.
VFS Global Dismiss Allegations Says ‘Ops Subject to Rigorous Govt Oversight’
The global visa consultancy firm has rejected allegations of improper conduct, stating that its operations are subject to rigorous governmental oversight and that remedial measures have been implemented where required.
“VFS Global is a trusted partner to governments worldwide. Given the nature of our work in visa administrative services, we operate under rigorous oversight across all markets, including for governments with some of the most stringent integrity and security requirements. For a quarter of a century, we have supported client governments in delivering secure and efficient visa services at scale, and our work is subject to regular competitive tender. We do not tolerate fraud, data misuse, or any conduct that falls below the high standards our clients and their applicants expect of us,” the Visa consultancy firm said.
Clarifying over allegations that customers were forced to opt for value added services, VFS said that value-added services designed to enhance applicant convenience.
“These services are developed in consultation with, and approved by, client governments. Applicants are clearly informed across multiple touchpoints — both online and at visa application centres — that these services are optional, do not influence visa decisions or processing times, and are priced transparently. The pricing is government-approved and benchmarked. VFS Global maintains a zero-tolerance approach to any coercion or misrepresentation. Moreover, it is false and baseless to claim
that there was an increased focus on VAS sales after Blackstone’s investment: there has been no material change to VAS revenue per application since their investment. Any suggestion to the contrary would be false and misleading.”
VFS Global is a known outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, managing the administrative tasks associated with visa, passport, and consular applications.
It operates across more than 160 countries as a trusted partner for 71 client governments and has processed in excess of half a billion visa applications since 2001.
Its clients include governments with some of the world’s most stringent compliance, regulatory, and security requirements, including all members of the Five Eyes alliance and nearly all Schengen Area governments.
