An Ottawa resident is advocating for increased supervision of Canada’s overseas visa centers following what he perceives as unjust and questionable encounters at a visa facility in Bangladesh. Salah Uddin expressed frustration with VFS Global, the government-contracted operator of these centers, after facing difficulties obtaining visas for his family members.
VFS Global manages a network of 164 visa application centers in 109 countries on behalf of the Canadian government. While not responsible for immigration decisions, VFS has been facilitating administrative tasks such as biometric data collection and document handling for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for over two decades.
Uddin recounted incidents in 2023 and 2024 where he felt compelled to pay extra fees for expedited services to meet tight deadlines. In one instance, he paid approximately $130 for premium lounge access to submit his parents’ passports promptly. Another time, he refused a third-party reseller’s demand for around $250 per person to secure visa submission appointments for his in-laws, opting instead to send the documents to Malaysia for processing.
Amid concerns raised by applicants, internal documents from IRCC highlighted issues such as third-party fraud, security risks, overcharging for premium services, technical glitches, and even a malware attack at visa centers in countries like Bangladesh and Russia. Emails from Canadian officials revealed worries about appointment reselling practices by third parties, prompting action to address fraudulent activities.
Responding to these revelations, VFS mentioned its efforts to combat fraudulent activities and safeguard applicants. IRCC assured that all credible fraud tips are thoroughly investigated, with measures implemented to counter exploitation of the system by third parties.
The documents also pointed out deficiencies in operations at the visa centers, including security screening issues and disposal of records. Despite the concerns, VFS Global has met the contractual expectations set by IRCC, with ongoing security audits, staff background checks, and enhanced vigilance measures in place.
While acknowledging the reported incidents, IRCC emphasized its commitment to monitoring VAC partners closely and enhancing systems to prevent and address fraud. The current contracts with VFS and TT Visa Services are slated to expire in October 2027, with a procurement process already initiated for potential renewal.
In summary, the issues highlighted at certain Canadian visa centers abroad underscore the need for continued oversight and vigilance to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the visa application process for all applicants.