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    ComplaintsforVFS Global

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    Complaint Details

    Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. See details.

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    Complaint Status
    Complaint Type
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      VFS global is running an extortion service. I am applying for a UK visa and the application requires either to select ***** or VFS to help process the application with UK gov. You have to pay $133 to either service to move on to booking an appointment for biometrics. I selected VFS. On application it mentions we can get additional optional services. However, upon proceeding, the system did not allow to move forward without selecting one of the packages (minimum of $410). If i had known at the time of making the $133 payment, I would have chosen *****. Now my $133 are stuck and I cant edit this decision. Would be required to create a new application and pay another $133 upon choosing *****. That will delay my visa application. VFS customer support also requires credit card information upfront that will be charged after 5minutes talk time. They are definitely extorting people who need to apply for UK visa. I should be given the option to simply upload documents free of charge and they can do biometric/photograph similar to *****.
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      The government has outsourced the processing of all visa applications to this company. We have tried for more than ten hours to book an appointment to have our application processed and their website has crashed every time requiring us to start anew. All customer service does is provide you an email address to submit to, but they do not respond. This company is seriously impairing our ability to get a much needed visa, and there does not appear to be any recourse.
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      I submitted my ******** Short-Stay Visa application for Netherlands in Washington DC via VFS Global on January 12, 2023. As of today (more than 60 days passed), I still haven’t received any decision on my application. Based on their policy, any application should receive a decision by 45 days. I have contacted VFS multiple times since end of January asking for checking first and then for getting my passport back willing to withdraw my application but I received no meaningful reply. I highly suspect VFS has either lost or illegally detained my passport. This has caused significant impact on my planned international travel. I would urge VFS to work with Netherlands Consulate to return my passport back to me as soon as possible. They should also call me provide me most recent updates. My reference number is ****/******/****/**
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      VFS Global for *********** **** services received the documents in July 2022 and charged USD 256 on 7th July but since then it has been 7 months no response or any update on the **** application. I contacted immigration ** and they have confirmed they do not have file update from VFS. The contacted number provided by VFS is never answered and no one replies to the emails except automated emails.
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      I made an appointment on-line with VFS Global, San Francisco, but they charged me twice for one appointment. I've been trying to obtain a refund for OVER FOUR MONTHS, (since September 9, 2022), and haven't gotten any type of help. I just received an email response to another follow up email I sent a couple days ago, telling me to start the process over again. I've pasted the email from them below. All required information was sent to them, per their request, on September 9, 2022. The amount owed me is $41.15. I am at the end of my patience with this company and need help resolving this matter. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. Below are details that may be useful to you. I've also attached an image showing the double charge to my credit card (which was also sent to VFS, per their request). Full name: ***** ******* ******* Type of visa you are applying for: D7 Passport number: ********* Email address: *********@*****.*** Phone number: ************ Reference number of the appointment: ************** Date when you submitted the application: Not applicable Visa Application Center (location): San Francisco Date of birth: July 21, 1968 Here is the latest email (1/20/23) from VFS Global telling me to start over: Dear *****, Thank you so much for reaching out VFS Global Portugal Visa helpdesk. We are more than glad to assist you. We kindly inform you that this process is no longer done by us, now there is a new way to do it through the website. To submit your refund request please go to VFS Global website home page, and select the country that you are applying from and the country that you applied to get a visa then you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page must select refund policy. Please look for "General Refund Conditions" in number 5 you will get a link that says "here" after clicking you can start the process. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions or doubts.
    • Complaint Type:
      Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      This business is a 3rd party used by Swedish Embassy to receive/review visa applications from customers and submit it to Swedish Embassy after review. this business is a great disappointment to customers service, they don't have a customer service phone number, the one they have only file knows nothing about application status it's only for website support, they caused my application to be denied due to their miserable customer service and lack of professionalism, they are holding my passport since some time now and they don't answer my emails, I need my passport back, it is an important document and my driver license was expired and now due to the unnecessary passport held by this business i am not able to renew my driver license, they don't answer any email and Swedish embassy confirmed that they already picked up my passport
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      I have been trying to use the VFS Global website to book an appointment with Portuguese immigration authorities for SIX weeks! Their computer system never works. I have emailed 37 times and called their office 18 times. No action has been taken. They do nothing.
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      I applied for a New Zealand visitor visa, and part of the process is to send my passport to VFS office via mail in Washington DC. The first step listed on their website is to contact their email first, and then they will send the invoice/instructions for further steps - ******************************************************************* - 1st email sent by me for enquiry: 10 Sept 2022 (received no invoice until 26th Sept) - Fedexed my passport and it was received by VFS on 20th Sept (Since they were not replying except an auto generated email to just courier them the passport even without an invoice) - Visa approved and received on 21st Sept (This is processed by actual NZ Govt and not by this VFS office, so no credit to them) - Finally received an invoice for passport handling and return shipment - Sept 28 for $67 - Sent them emails on their multiple email ids, ******** message, also called their number (The number is a tape with no option to talk to anybody) - Wrote a ****** review, and found that there are many people who used the courier option have been suffering the radio silence by this company. Original passports of foreign nationals are being kept away from them for weeks and months and no reason has been provided. - 5th Oct - received an email from VFS that if i really need my passport, then i need to book an in person appointment, fly all the over to DC from Texas, and they will immediately give me back my passport. - This is a clear case of fraud, since they are taking shipment money, making people wait endlessly and suggesting them to come personally instead to collect the passport (That way they pocket the shipment money) - Today is Oct 6th, and no passport shipment, this is my original passport and i am not a US citizen, This document is extremely important to me. Due to the imp doc, i may need to spend a lot of money to travel to DC. Please help in resolving this and get my passport back.
    • Complaint Type:
      Order Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Hello, VFS application #: *************/1 Location: Los Angeles AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED: $218 I applied for a VISA D for Austria at this location. I am a researcher and the cost should be $0 for this VISA. I confirmed with the Austrian Embassy before AND after and it is true that there should be $0. When I arrived at the VFS location it was an overall terrible experience, but what is frustrating is that the person charged me for the VISA despite me providing written evidence that it should be at no cost. Okay. Fine I was charged. This is now MANY months later and I am STILL in the process of trying to get my money back. I have emailed countless times and they always respond "we dont have an update on your status". This is absolutely unacceptable and they are delaying. Please refund me the fee that I paid which DID NOT go to the embassy as was stated by VFS. Enough is enough.
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Hello, My estranged husband (now in the process of divorce) stole my identity and hacked my emails and processed an OCI application for me in January last year without my knowledge or permission. I didn’t want the OCI at all! It wasn’t until I went thru my emails that I discovered that he had done the deed. The application number is ************. I told VFS many times that I didn’t want to proceed with the OCI, but they ignored me and processed it anyway. Since then I have been trying to contact VFS to get them to refund me for the fees but they have not been communicating at all for months on end. I would like them to refund.

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