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Home > What is VFS Global? Everything Travelers Should Know
What is VFS Global? Everything Travelers Should Know
Applying for a visa is an important step when planning a trip to Europe. If you've ever applied for a Schengen visa, you may have come across the company VFS Global, a trusted visa processor.
If it's your first time applying and you're curious about VFS Global: what it is, what they do, and whether or not you need to apply for your visa through them - we'll answer all that here.
VFS Global helps to make the sometimes complicated visa process a bit smoother by acting as a liaison between you (the applicant) and government authorities.
In fact, more than 60 different countries entrust VFS Global to handle visa applications!
What is VFS Global?
VFS Global is a company that helps travelers apply for visas. They are a "visa processor".
Visa processors facilitate the visa application experience for travelers from start to submission. Currently the world's largest visa processing specialist, VFS works with a number of different countries.
Visa processors, including VFS Global, are contractors with official relationships with governments around the world. They have the authority to assist travelers and to forward their applications to the correct government authorities so a decision can be made.
If your country of residence has a visa processor like VFS, it is mandatory to apply for your visa with them (unless you are explicitly told otherwise, which is uncommon).
VFS Global was founded in 2001 in Mumbai, India, and the name stands for Visa Facilitation Services.
Applying through VFS
VFS Global operates in several countries, including the USA. Whether or not you need to apply for your visa through their services depends on a couple of different things:
- If VFS Global operates in your country of residence.
- If VFS Global is the visa processor for your destination.
VFS Global isn't the only visa processor out there, so it's possible that your country of residence has other companies working in visa processing too.
While you may see that you need to apply for a visa through a consulate/embassy, that's not entirely the case. All visa applications are sent to the correct consulate/embassy for decision-making. So, in that case, yes. You apply for visas through a consulate/embassy. However, it's uncommon for travelers to work directly with consulates/embassies for visa applications. Visa processors are almost always part of the equation, working directly with applicants and submitting their applications for them.
What to expect when applying with VFS
When you apply for your visa through VFS Global, you can expect a streamlined process from start to finish. Typically, it follows this timeline:
- You start the visa application process. Depending on the country you're applying for, you may need to initiate the process through a dedicated portal. For example, in France, it's the official France-Visas website.
- VFS Global will give you a list of the visa requirements. There will be a list of visa requirements that you need to meet (and prove) in order to apply. VFS Global will provide you with a list of which ones apply to you and how you will need to present them (for example, you may need to provide a specific document, but get it officially translated and notarized). The exact requirements depend on the country you're going to and the specific visa you're applying for.
- You will prepare your application. Your visa application is made up of a completed application form and all of the documents that VFS Global told you must be provided. These are typically things like passports, bank statements, and Schengen travel insurance.
- You will book an in-person appointment at a VFS Global visa application center. Currently, Schengen visas (visas for 29 different countries in Europe) have to be submitted to the visa processor in person, but you can't just drop it off. A pre-booked in-person appointment is required.
- You will attend your appointment and bring all of the required documents with you in their required formats. At this appointment, you will sit in a waiting area until it's your turn to approach the kiosk. At the desk, a visa officer will look over your documents to make sure that you have all of them. They may ask you questions related to your documents or your trip, too.
- VFS Global will forward your application for decision-making as long as you have all of the documents in the correct formats.
- You will submit your biometrics. For Schengen visas, biometrics (fingerprints) are mandatory and are collected by the visa processor. At your appointment, an attendant will guide you through the collection process. It's a simple process; just follow their directions. If you've submitted your biometrics to VFS recently, you may not need to do this again.
- You will receive tracking information so you can track the progress of your application.
Depending on your country of residence, you will have your passport mailed back to you (if your visa is approved, it will be pasted inside of your passport). There may also be options for pick-up. VFS Global will let you know which option is required for your situation.
The visa approval process
Whether or not your visa is approved or denied is entirely up to the embassy/consulate of the country you're applying to.
While VFS Global handles the administrative aspects of the visa application process, they do not have any sway or influence over the outcome of your application.
At your appointment, VFS Global will forward your completed visa application on your behalf. Your application will then be sent to the appropriate embassy/consulate and, once there, a decision will be made.
If your visa is approved, it will be stamped into your passport and sent back to you. If it isn't approved, you will receive your passport, but there will not be a visa inside.
Visas can be denied for any reason.