How we turned visa receipts into evidence of VFS’s add-on business

Visa applicants often encounter additional charges beyond official government fees when using VFS Global's services. These add-ons, such as SMS alerts and lounge access, are presented as optional but are sometimes bundled or pushed during the application process.

To investigate this practice, reporters collected and analyzed hundreds of visa receipts from applicants across multiple countries. The receipts showed patterns of add-on charges that varied by location and applicant profile, suggesting a systematic approach to upselling.

The evidence revealed that VFS Global generated significant revenue from these optional services, which are not required for visa processing. Critics argue that the company exploits applicants' anxiety about visa approval to sell unnecessary products.

VFS Global has stated that its add-on services are clearly optional and that applicants can decline them. However, the receipts indicate that many customers paid for services they did not request or understand, raising questions about transparency and consumer protection.