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VFS Global is an outsourcing and technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions around the globe. Founded in 2001 and with its main offices in Zurich and Dubai, this company operates in 158 countries, collaborating with 69 governments with 3,616 centres to handle various administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visas, passports, and consular services. VFS Global has processed more than 311 million applications to date. In India, VFS Global plays an important role in helping students who aspire to study abroad, especially in popular destinations like the USA, UK, Germany, and Canada. It simplifies the visa application process for aspiring students as it acts as an intermediary between the students and the embassy or consulate. VFS takes care of important tasks like scheduling appointments, accepting applications, collecting fees, and submitting documents to the embassy or consulate. Read along to understand the functions of VFS Global, how it helps aspiring students to study abroad, and other details.
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As a reliable service provider for 69 governments, VFS Global focuses solely on front-end administrative tasks. They do not have any control over appointment availability at the embassy or the documentation evaluation for the visa process. The scheduling of visa appointments, the required documents, and the decisions regarding visa applications are completely up to the respective governments. While VFS Global is not a part of the decision-making process for any type of visas, they do handle several important administrative and logistical tasks, which are mentioned below.
Visa Application Management: VFS Global collects visa application forms and supporting documents, verifies the list of required documentation, and further sends the entire application to the relevant consular authorities. VFS does not evaluate any document.
Biometric Enrolment: Biometrics is an important aspect in the visa process. VFS Global captures fingerprints and photographs required by the embassies and sends the data to them.
Scheduling VFS Appointments: They manage the online and offline appointments for visa applicants to control the influx of applications. This system gives applicants the flexibility to pick a time that works best for them to submit their documents and provide biometric data, making the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
Application Tracking: VFS gives an option to their applicants to track their visa applications on real real-time basis. In addition, it offers customer support to answer any grievances or questions at any point in time during the application process.
Passport Return and Delivery: VFS Global offers additional passport services to safely deliver the passports to the applicant’s home. They also offer in-person pickup as soon as the passport is returned by the Embassy.
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VFS Global helps Indian students navigate the student visa application process for various countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Germany. They offer flexible hours and special services for student visa applicants. In addition, they offer a real-time application tracking system. VFS Global has several centers throughout India, offering optional services like home pickups, passport delivery, etc. They offer multiple services to Indian students in their visa application process by bridging the gap between the students and the Embassy. The following services are available at any centre of VFS Global for Indian students.
Filling the application form
Registering the visa application
Providing a list of supporting documents
Guiding on the student visa fees
Booking appointments at the Visa Application Centre (VAC)
Answering student visa related questions like validity, entry limits, traveling with family, or part-time work options
As VFS Global assists students aiming to study abroad in their visa application process, they charge an additional fee with the official visa fee. The official visa fee may vary for different study abroad destinations however, the VFS Global fee might be the same for all countries. Note that online payment will have an additional 3.5% charge on the total VFS Global fees. The following sections elaborate on VFS Global fees for student visas for popular study abroad destinations.
Indian students who opt for VFS Global services for their student visa for Canada will be required to pay the following VFS Global fees.
Particulars | VFS Global Fees |
Consular fee payable | $80 |
ICWF fee | $3 |
VFS Service fee | $15.9 |
Total fees | $98.9 |
If you are planning to take the VFS Global services for their Germany student visa, you need to pay the following VFS Global fees.
Particulars | VFS Global Fees |
Consular fee payable | $75 |
ICWF fee | $3 |
VFS Service fee | $15.9 |
Total fees | $93.9 |
VFS Global fees for Indian students opting for the UK student visa application services are mentioned below.
Particulars | VFS Global Fees |
Consular fee payable | $229 |
ICWF fee | $3 |
VFS Service fee | $15.9 |
Total fees | $247.9 |
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Indian students who opt for VFS Global services for their US student visa will be required to pay the following VFS Global fees.
Particulars | VFS Global Fees |
Consular fee payable | $100 |
ICWF fee | $3 |
VFS Service fee | $15.9 |
Total fees | $118.9 |
VFS Global is responsible for administrative tasks only. They do not have control over approving visa status or verifying the documents. Similarly, the student visa processing time is not under VFS’s control. The processing time for a student visa is 15 calendar days. Note that this time is calculated after the application reaches the Embassy or consulate. However, in some exceptional cases, student visa approval can take up to 30 to 60 days.
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VFS Global is a company that specializes in handling visa application services for governments and diplomatic missions around the world. They take care of the administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visas, passports, and consular services. VFS operates in 158 countries, collaborating with 69 governments, with 3,616 centres around the globe.
VFS stands for Visa Facilitation Services. This enables embassies and consulates to concentrate on the essential decision-making parts of the visa process, while they take care of the administrative aspects.
VFS Global is a private company that helps you with visa applications on behalf of embassies or consulates. An embassy is the official representative of a country's government in another nation. So, when you apply for a visa through VFS, remember that the embassy is the one that decides whether to grant it or not. VFS makes the whole process easier, but the final call is taken by the embassy.
VFS Global is a private organization. However it is a leader in providing outsourced visa and consular services to various governments around the world.
Applications at VFS Global take about 15 business days to be processed by the Embassy. However, it may take longer during busy periods or in exceptional cases.
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