VFS Global
Chief Operating Officer of VFS Global in Africa, Mr Jiten Vyas, on Monday cautioned Nigerians against patronising touts and entities using his organisation’s name to defraud visa applicants.
Vyas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that unsuspecting Nigerians should know that his organisation had no dealings with touts promising jobs or immigration abroad to them.
“VFS Global is appointed by the client, Governments to assist with visa application processing and consular support services.
“VFS offices are centrally located with longer working hours and offer one-stop-shop service to applicants.
“We often find that many applicants fall prey to touts and entities that use our good reputation to make them false promises of jobs or immigration in foreign countries.
“I want to advise Nigerian citizens to be wary of these scams, considering that they risk being defrauded,’’ he said.
Vyas enjoined applicants to be wary of touts and personally visit VFS Global website or mobile App for the necessary visa application
requirements and processes.
He said that it was imperative for Nigerians to know that VFS Global was appointed by the client, Governments to assist with visa
application processing and consular support services.
Vyas said governments had saddled only his organisation with visa application processing and consular support, including information dissemination, checking and acceptance of documents, telephone and e-mail help lines.
He noted that the collection, remittance of fees, biometric enrolment, data reconciliation and return of passports were his organisation’s duties.
“Be wary of these scams, considering the risk they run of being defrauded.
“It is always better for applicants to visit the website or the VFS Global mobile App to gain visa information first-hand and better
understand requirements and the process.
“Please also remember that VFS Global in Nigeria will never request for money or payments over the phone and operates in a highly secure
environment,’’ he said.