Indian High Commission in U.K. probes illegal visa handlers
The Hindu
The Indian mission on October 7, 2022, alerted travellers to visa related scams and stressed that it is working on streamlining processes.
The Indian High Commission in London has said that it is investigating reports of unauthorised agents illegally charging fees to get visas processed for travellers to India, amid reports of a severe visa crunch faced by British tourists to the country.
While British travellers booked to fly out to India in the coming weeks have been complaining of a lack of availability of visa slots to get their visas processed in time, the Indian mission on Friday alerted travellers to scams and stressed that it is working on streamlining processes.
It also dismissed claims in sections of the U.K. media that there had been a sudden visa rule change that had impacted British tourists and reiterated that individual visa applicants have always been expected to apply in person at the mission's outsourced VFS Global centres in London.
“It has come to our notice that unauthorised agents and individuals are illegally charging fees and collecting India visa applications for submission at VFS Centres, misleading applicants and misrepresenting the services that they can legally provide,” the High Commission’s statement said.
“It is underlined that this matter is currently being investigated. High Commission of India emphasises that M/s VFS Global Services is the only authorised Outsourcing Service Provider for India-related passport/visa/ and consular services in the U.K.
As per established procedure, individual visa applicants are, and have always been required to submit visa applications at the VFS Centres in person… It is reiterated that there is NO change in the visa application process for individual visa applicants,” the statement reads.
“High Commission of India assures our friends in the UK that it remains our constant endeavour to improve the visa services by streamlining the visa processes and to address any delays and shortfalls in services,” it adds.
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