Visa application process generates billions in revenue each year globally

VFS Global Visa Processing Firm Under Investigation

A recent investigation by Lighthouse Reports has shed light on the business practices of VFS Global, the world’s largest visa processing firm. The company processes millions of visa applications from countries in the Global South.

According to the investigation, obtaining a visa can be a costly and time-consuming process for many individuals. When governments outsource this process to private companies like VFS Global, it raises questions about the potential financial benefits for these firms.

The investigation found that billions of visa applications generate significant profits for VFS Global, even when visas are denied. The company’s business model appears to be based on a fee structure tied to the number of applications processed.

VFS Global is one of several private companies that have been contracted by governments to handle visa processing. The firm has operations in numerous countries and processes a substantial volume of visa applications annually.

The investigation was produced by David Enders, Sarí el-Khalili, and Catherine Nouhan, with editing by Alexandra Locke, sound design by Alex Roldan, and video editing by Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. The episode was mixed by Rick Rush.

Source: Al Jazeera