Applying for a Schengen visa can be a challenging procedure. Preparing many documents that are required to complete the visa application and securing a visa appointment is very time-consuming and expensive.
Many of these application procedures have to go through VFS Global, which is the outsourcing office for governments and diplomatic missions in 150 countries. In a revealing Reddit post, a former customer service agent at VFS revealed all of the company’s tricks, Schengen.News reports.
The former calls agent, who used to handle Schengen visa applications from the UK to Schengen, as well as India to the UK and Ireland, says that travel agents get hints about when appointments are available.
In the same comment, it is revealed that due to appointments being taken, people are forced to make appointments with travel agents, which costs another fee.
Another comment under this post asked about the delays, saying some people get their passports back in 15 days while others can wait up to 45 working days.
The three main reasons why your documents are delayed and take longer to be brought to you, as the former VFS employee reveals, are the following:
1. VFS Center: At these centres, your documents are being processed and can be sent back to fix any mistakes or add required documents. That takes between two and ten days to get done.
2. Embassies: They take up to 70 days to process visas in some cases or for certain nationalities.
3. Courier Service: If you opt for one, your visa will definitely be delayed. If there’s a possibility of going and collecting your passport personally, please make sure to do so, as the passport may take up to a week to dispatch from VFS London.
The same points out that in addition, some countries need the passport transported to their ministry, like Hague in the Netherlands, and the delays can depend on this.
Source : https://schengen.news/former-vfs-agent-reveals-major-scams-by-the-company-targeting-schengen-visa-applicants/
