VFS Global shares important advisory to Kenyan nationals on visa appointments
· Appointments are free and available on www.vfsglobal.com
· Applicants must be careful of agents and intermediaries who falsely promise early appointment bookings in exchange for payment
As the surge in travel activity continues into 2025, visa applications submitted for various countries are at volumes higher than ever before According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) report in collaboration with VFS Global, the African Travel & Tourism sector could potentially add US$168BN to the African economy and create over 18 million new jobs. This growth depends on policies such as improving air infrastructure, visa services, and tourism marketing.
As part of the measures to curb such incidents, VFS Global has implemented the following measures:
· Only applicants with a valid appointment will be permitted entry into the Centre premises.
With this increased demand for visa application appointments, scammers pose as employees or associates of the organisation, or agents and intermediaries who promise an early appointment at an additional cost to embezzle jobseekers and innocent visa applicants alike.
Commenting on the matter, Mr. Stephen Kubasu, General Manager-Operations at VFS Global, said, “It is important for applicants to bear in mind that appointment slots are offered online based on the volume of demand or forecast and in conjunction with the Consulate’s internal capacity planning. Once scheduled, they are recommended to be at the Centre 15 minutes before the appointed time to avoid missing your slot. We strongly advise all applicants to be careful of touts and fraudulent parties who falsely promise early appointment bookings in exchange for payment. With the presence of location pins and information on popular social media and search platforms, many such fraudsters create a fake presence using company credentials like logos, official name etc. and include their contact details in the details provided on these pages that deceive genuine travellers who mistake these details as the official presence of the company.”
· Visa application form validation system to integrate the form reference number with the appointment booking reference
· OTP code is required to book the appointment to limit the intervention of agents
· Anti-fraud messages across social media platforms, on the appointment letter, call centre voice messages, advertisements/posters, etc.
· Applicants are urged to report any such instances by emailing the details to acco@vfsglobal.com
Taking into consideration the higher-than-expected waiting time for application processing due to the increased demand for outbound travel, VFS Global has implemented a series of measures like extended hours of operations, appointments and dedicated hours for submission and pick up of passports, as well as additional waiting area for applicants requiring services at the Centre.
VFS Global does not control appointment availability.
VFS Global manages only the administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visa, passport and consular services for its governments. VFS does not play any role in the decision-making process of visas. This is the sole prerogative of the respective governments. The availability of visa appointments, mandatory documentation, and the visa application decision, including the processing time, are entirely at the discretion of the respective governments. Once scheduled, it is highly recommended that the applicants be at the Centre 15 minutes before the appointed time to avoid missing their slot. Visa appointments are free and available only on www.vfsglobal.com on a first come first served basis.
The time taken for visa processing differs with each mission.
It is important for travelers to check the turnaround timelines before applying. Opting for any optional, value-added services (such as Prime Time, Form-filling, or any other service) does not guarantee a quicker or more positive decision by the concerned Embassy/Consulate. On the other hand, premium services like Visa At Your Doorstep have increased over the past three years as more and more applicants seek the ease and convenience these services offer in their travel planning at an additional cost.
Common reasons why applications get rejected
The most common reason visa applications get rejected is due to incorrect or insufficient information submitted while applying for a visa. It is important to check the respective country websites by visiting the VFS Global website www.vfsglobal.com, under the document checklist section. The optional form-filling service, offered at an additional cost for some locations, could ensure the correct information is updated.
VFS GLOBAL OPERATIONS IN KENYA
VFS Global started its operation in Kenya in the year 2007. The company’s operational presence has grown over the past decade in the country to now service 25 governments across 18 centres in two cities through a strong workforce of over 100 Kenyan nationals who are an integral part of VFS Global’s operations.
