Security and Fraud Concerns Raised at Canadian Visa Centres Operated by VFS Global

Internal government records have raised serious concerns about fraud, security weaknesses and ethical issues at Canadian visa application centres operated abroad by VFS Global, a contractor that has received more than $770 million in federal contracts.

The concerns were highlighted after Ottawa resident Salah Uddin described what he called “unjustifiable” and “shady” experiences at a visa centre in Dhaka while applying for visas for his parents and in-laws. Uddin said he felt pressured to purchase premium services and later encountered third-party agents offering appointments for hundreds of dollars.

VFS Global manages 164 Canadian visa application centres in 109 countries on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The company handles administrative tasks such as collecting biometrics and processing passports, but it does not make decisions on visa or immigration applications.

Documents obtained through access to information requests revealed that Canadian officials were aware of appointment reselling, overcharging, data handling concerns and staff security issues in Bangladesh. One internal email stated that officials “could write a novel about all the fraud we are seeing.”

The records also showed that some applicants struggled to meet strict immigration deadlines unless they paid extra for premium services. Critics say this created a system where applicants felt compelled to spend additional money to access basic services.

Further concerns were identified in other countries, including Russia, where a malware attack and internet outages disrupted operations in 2024, and Mexico, where immigration lawyers reported inconsistent guidance from visa centre staff.

According to government records, federal contracts awarded to VFS Global and its subsidiary TT Visa Services since 2012 exceed $770 million. The current contracts are set to expire in October 2027, with an option for a one-year extension.

VFS Global has said all centres undergo regular audits and employees are subject to background checks. The company stated that fraud by criminal actors is not unique to visa services and that it continues to strengthen security and awareness measures.

IRCC said it maintains robust oversight of visa application centres and investigates all credible allegations of wrongdoing. The department added that VFS Global has met contractual expectations, but acknowledged that contractors may face corrective action if standards are not met.

Immigration lawyers and applicants are now calling for stronger audits and more transparent oversight to ensure that visa applicants are protected from fraud, privacy risks and unnecessary costs.

Courtesy: CBC