With the surge in outbound travel demand from The Philippines, visa applications submitted for various countries are at volumes higher than ever before. With this increased demand for visa application appointments, scammers pose as employees or associates of the organisation; or agents and intermediaries who sell appointments, issue fake appointment letters, or claim to influence positive visa decision, etc. to embezzle innocent visa applicants.
Given this context, VFS Global, the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, shared anti-fraud and apply-in-advance advisories for visa applicants at an event held in Manila, Philippines, on 12 February 2025.
Commenting on the matter, Bernard Vijaykumar, Head – North Asia & Philippines, VFS Global, said, “We strongly encourage all travellers to apply for their visas well in advance of their intended travel dates. Waiting until the last moment not only increases the risk of delays but also exposes applicants to fraudulent entities seeking to exploit their urgency. Additionally, it is also important for applicants to know that VFS Global does not work in association with any third-party entities for appointment bookings and has no role or influence on decision making. They should be beware of scammers and fraudulent entities who claim to be associated with VFS Global in any capacity or pose as a VFS Global representative to dupe unsuspecting visa applicants and do proper due diligence before paying money.”
Here’s a quick guide for visa applicants to mitigate frauds:
1. Apply early
It is recommended to apply for visas as early as booking flights and accommodation. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 09 February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel.
2. Visa appointments are free
We do not charge any payment for scheduling visa appointments for countries we serve. Appointments are free and can be booked only on
www.vfsglobal.com. There could be a nominal service fee to prepay for select countries.
3. VFS Global has no role or influence on the decision of your visa application
The decision on visa applications, the visa tenure, and timelines to process them lie solely in the hands of the concerned Embassies or Consulates. VFS Global simply handles the administrative and non-judgmental aspects of the visa application process. VFS Global or any third-party entity has no role or influence on the decision of your visa application.
4. VFS Global does not work in association with any third-party entities
Applicants should beware of scammers and fraudulent entities who claim to be associated with us in any capacity or pose as VFS Global to guarantee appointments or positive visa decision to dupe them.
5. VFS Global is neither involved in job placement nor immigration-related services.
Applicants are advised to be cautious of scammers offering spurious job or immigration opportunities for money.
In the rush to travel, applicants also tend to make avoidable mistakes, which lead to rejection of their visas. Here are the most common mistakes applicants make and ways to avoid them:
1. Information mismatch: Applicants should make sure that the details on their application forms, such as name, passport number, and date of birth, exactly match their official documents. In some cases, people tend to write information that is inconsistent with their documents or identity proofs.
2. Incorrect photo format: Applicants must submit photos that meet the required format. Please visit our website for photo guidelines specific to the country you are ordering from.
3. Incomplete documentation: Applicants should refer to the destination-specific checklist available on the VFS Global information pages to submit all required documents. Even a single missing document may render your application incomplete and may cause delay/rejection.
4. Unauthenticated bank statements: For certain destinations, applicants should make sure their bank statements are properly updated and authenticated as required, although this may vary from mission to mission. While it is common to present bank statements, and most travellers are aware of this, not having these bank statements authenticated is a common mistake.
VFS Global caters to 28 sovereign governments in the Philippines namely Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece (represents Portugal), Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway (represents Iceland), Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UAE (Dubai visa and Attestation Services), Ukraine, and United Kingdom. VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.
Enjoy our optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience such as:
Visa At Your Doorstep/On Demand Mobile Visa: Apply for your visa and enrol biometrics from the location of your choice.
Premium Lounge: Get an end-to-end personalised visa submission experience from the comfort of a lounge.
Premium Application Centre: Non mandatory service for UK visa applicants allowing their application process to be convenient and more relaxed.
Keep My Passport When Applying: Convenient service for UK visa applicants to hold on to their passports till the visa decision comes.
Prime Time Appointment: Apply for your visa beyond normal working hours or even on weekends.
Prime Time Passport Collection: Collect your visa decision beyond normal working hours.
SMS: This notification service sends an automated messages including emails to your mobile phone at key stages of the visa application process.
Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient.
About VFS Global
As the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, VFS Global embraces technological innovation including Generative AI to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.
With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 68 client governments. Operating over 3,500 Application Centres in 153 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 305 million applications since 2001.
Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai and majority owned through investment funds managed by Blackstone Inc, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient.
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