VFS Global, agent mafia mint money from Netherland’s visa applicants
By Nouman Tasleem
LAHORE: The travelers who want to visit The Netherlands are facing problem in getting an appointment for visa, as VFS Global management is minting money from the applicants through flaws in appointment system.
According to people who want to apply visa for The Netherlands said that VFS Global management are minting at least Rs 15,000-20,000 per application. They said that the VFS Global management despite knowing the flaws of appointment system, still has kept silence thus giving its people a chance to mint money from the people.
As per system of appointment, the applicant registers his log in with VFS Global website at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/pak/en/nld/
After that the applicant schedules an appointment at the VFS Visa Application Centres in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi (which ever suits applicant). After booking the appointment, the applicant will receive an e-mail confirming appointment, with a confirmation letter attached. The applicant has to take the slots available on the website of VFS and if all slots are booked then he/she has to wait for slots to be available. It is pertinent to mention here that the applicants can change their names and other details once the slot is booked. On the given date and time, the applicant goes to VFS Global office and then his documents are sent to The Netherlands Embassy for further action.
However, the VFS management with the help of agent-mafia is minting money from the applicants. They book all the slots with fake names and details and when a genuine applicant tries to book the slot, he comes to know that all the slots are booked. Thus the applicants have no option but to contact the agents for getting the slot. “I have to attend a meeting in The Netherlands in first week of December and for many days, I am trying to get an appointment at VFS Global website but all the slots are completely booked,” said a senior journalist Muhammad Sudhir Chaudhry adding that he also tweeted the problem tagging Netherland’s ambassador in Pakistan and also VFS Global. “Unfortunately neither VFS Global nor Netherlands’ embassy responded to people’s genuine problem,” he said. Chaudhry said the agent told him that VFS people book the appointments in advance and sell these slots to applicants depeding how much money can they pay. “Some people are even ready to pay Rs. 25,000. I paid Rs 25,000 including VFS Global fee to the agent,” Chaudhry concluded.
“I contacted an agent who with the help of VFS Global person booked an appointment for me instantly. Another applicant Mubashir Shamsher said that he wanted to apply for the visa but could not get the slot as the agent was demanding huge amount.
Nouman Tasleem is a senior journalist and writer. He has worked with Pakistani and International media outlets. He can be reached at nauman.tasleem@gmail.com
