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As VFS Global faces scrutiny over its visa services, Indians are sharing stories of surprise charges, poor customer service and frustrating application experiences
News18
For millions of Indians planning trips abroad, VFS Global is often the unavoidable first stop before a visa lands in their passport. But as scrutiny around the visa outsourcing giant intensifies, social media is filling up with stories from travellers who say the visa process became far more stressful—and expensive—than expected.
A year-long investigation by Lighthouse Reports found that many applicants were encouraged to purchase additional services such as premium lounge access, courier delivery and SMS notifications without always fully understanding that these were optional add-ons. In some cases, these extra services reportedly accounted for a significant share of the total visa application cost.
Now, Indians across X and LinkedIn are sharing their own experiences, ranging from surprise fees to what many describe as poor customer service.
‘Why Hasn’t Anyone Disrupted Them?’
Many users questioned why VFS continues to dominate the visa services market despite years of complaints. “What’s the story behind VFS monopolizing visa services? they are the absolute worst! the website does not work half the time. shocking that every government will hand them contracts over and over. why haven’t they been disrupted?” wrote X user Priyaa.
Another user echoed the frustration: “YES! I’ve never seen a bigger scam than @VFSGlobal. @EUCouncil must dismantle it entirely, especially in India. I shouldn’t have to miss my appointment entirely and then pay 5k (or how much ever that is) for “premium services” just because I reach the venue at 12.10 on the dot for a 12.10 appointment!”
Applied for a Schengen visa for a family of 3. They wanted 3 copies of insurance, hotels, flights, and all other docs instead of a single copy. Eventually had to resort to the overpriced xerox charges.Next Schengen visa – when I took 3 copies, they took only one!! https://t.co/7x14159ThX— Rohit Mundra (@rohitmundra1) May 29, 2026
‘Burn This Company’
One user, Apoorva Govind did not hold back while recalling her experience with VFS. “I hope they burn this f***** 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) & then turn around and charge $20 to “hold on” to your bag. What a scam,” she wrote on X.
Govind also recalled being charged for a fresh set of photographs during a passport renewal appointment. “I remember I was there to renew my Indian passport and they made an excuse for why the photograph doesn’t work and forced me to take a new set of pictures with yet another “optional” but not really optional charge to have my picture taken,” she recalled.
Her post struck a chord with many travellers who said they had faced similar situations during visa and passport appointments.
‘90% Of The Visa Trauma’
Another user Pratim Bhosale also shared her frustrations. “90% of the visa trauma I had was because of VFS Global,” she wrote on X. According to Bhosale, applicants were often pushed toward paid consultation services before staff would review their documents.
“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,” she said.
Her comments sparked further discussion online.
“I second this. Just moved to the Netherlands and the NL embassy at Bengaluru was a breeze and very polite in their processes. Compared to VFS for my other visa applications, VFS is running a scam center,” another user commented.
I hope they burn this fucking 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) & then turn around and charge $20 to “hold on” to your bag. What a scam https://t.co/zZo20xPIzR— Apoorva Govind (@Appyg99) May 29, 2026
Complaints Beyond India
The criticism isn’t limited to Indian travellers.
LinkedIn user Mostafa Elsayed recently expressed frustration with VFS attestation services in the UAE.
“I am extremely disappointed with the level of customer support and responsiveness from VFS Global Attestation Services in the UAE,” he wrote. He claimed repeated attempts to contact the company regarding an urgent educational certificate matter went unanswered. “Clients rely on these services for employment, visa, and legal procedures that directly affect their livelihoods and future plans. Ignoring calls and leaving customers without guidance causes unnecessary stress, delays, and financial consequences.”
One traveller recalled an experience that many frequent visa applicants found instantly relatable.
“Applied for a Schengen visa for a family of 3. They wanted 3 copies of insurance, hotels, flights, and all other docs instead of a single copy. Eventually had to resort to the overpriced xerox charges. Next Schengen visa – when I took 3 copies, they took only one!!”
VFS Responds:
In response to the allegations, VFS spokesperson says: “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.
Our optional value-added services are developed in consultation with, and approved and monitored by, our client governments. Whether applicants choose to use these services or not, they have no bearing on visa application decisions, which are solely a matter for governments. We are committed to ensuring that the optional nature of these services is clearly and consistently communicated at every touchpoint.”
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