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VFS Global, which operates Canada’s Visa Application Centre (VAC) network on behalf of the Government of Canada, continues to reaffirm its commitment to transparent, secure, and accessible services for all Canada applicants, and urged vigilance against fraudulent intermediaries seeking to exploit the growing demand for Canada’s immigration services.
As part of its global applicant protection program, VFS Global urges all applicants to remember:
· Appointments are free of charge and can be booked only at www.vfsglobal.com. VFS Global does not sell appointments for visa related services.
· VFS Global has no role or influence over visa decisions
All decisions on visa applications, tenure, and processing timelines rest solely with the Government of Canada.
· Optional value-added services, including premium lounge access, and document courier return are entirely optional, approved by the Government of Canada, transparently priced, and have no bearing on visa decisions or processing timelines.
· VFS Global does not work with any third-party intermediaries. Anyone claiming to offer faster appointments, guaranteed approvals, or special access through VFS Global is committing fraud.
· VFS Global never asks applicants to share personal information via social media, email, SMS, or phone calls unless through verified official channels.
· To report fraud or misconduct: visit www
vfsglobal.com or contact the confidential EthicsPoint reporting line at secure.ethicspoint.eu.
“Every visa applicant deserves a secure, transparent, and dignified experience,” said Yaseen Effendi, Head- IRCC Account Management Team at VFS Global. “VFS Global has zero tolerance for any conduct that falls short of that standard. Our role is purely administrative, we enrol biometrics and securely transmit documents, including travel documents, supporting applicants through the process on behalf of the Government of Canada. Every visa decision is made solely by the Government of Canada. No optional value-added service, intermediary and no third party has any influence over that decision.”
VFS Global operates more than 4,300 Visa Application Centres across 170 countries as the trusted partner to 71 governments worldwide. For Canada, VFS Global manages the Canada Visa Application Centre network under contract with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), processing applications for visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and other immigration documents in 109 countries through 164 visa application centres (VACs).
VFS Global’s operations at Canada VACs are subject to regular oversight by the Government of Canada, including site inspections, compliance audits, and contractual accountability mechanisms. VFS Global’s operations for its 71 client governments, including Canada, undergo more than 10,000 audits and assessments annually, conducted by internal teams, external auditors, and client-government-appointed bodies.
All VFS Global employees undergo mandatory background checks and structured training programs covering compliance, ethics, fraud awareness, and customer service standards. In 2025, VFS Global’s employee training completion rate reached 98 per cent globally, improving to 99 per cent in 2026. VFS Global’s applicant satisfaction score reached 98 per cent in 2025, based on more than three million survey responses, one of the highest survey response volumes in the outsourced government services industry.
Applicants who experience or witness conduct inconsistent with these standards are encouraged to report it immediately through VFS Global’s confidential Speak Up channels, available at every Visa Application Centre and online at secure.ethicspoint.eu.
Applicants can avoid unnecessary delays by arriving on time for their appointments, carrying all required documents, and consulting the official document checklist available at www.vfsglobal.com before their visit.
For complete information on VFS Global’s Canada visa application services, official appointment booking, and applicant rights, visit www.vfsglobal.com. #DoNotFallForFraud