VFS Global, which handles Canada visa applications on behalf of the Canadian government in the UAE, issued a warning on Thursday, October 29, against unauthorised agents who falsely claim they can secure faster visa appointments or guarantee approval for applicants.
Yaseen Effendi, head of IRCC Account Management at VFS Global, said the company's role is purely administrative and that every visa decision rests solely with the Government of Canada. He stressed that VFS does not work with any third-party intermediaries, and that such agents have no special access to the company's official systems. Canada visa appointments are free and can only be booked through the official website, vfsglobal.com. Optional paid services, such as premium lounge access or courier return of documents, have no bearing on decisions or on how quickly applications are processed. VFS Global currently operates 164 visa application centres across 109 countries.
The company urged applicants to rely only on official communication channels and never to share personal information through social media, email, text messages or phone calls with unverified contacts. Anyone who suspects fraud was advised to report it through VFS's official website or its dedicated ethics hotline. Applicants were also encouraged to review the official document checklist before visiting a centre and to arrive on time for their scheduled appointment.