1 week ago
VFS Global Plans Indian Citizen Services Amid Visa Scrutiny
VFS Global helps governments process visa applications for people who want to travel.
It handles nearly 30 million applications each year.
The company says it may soon help people in India apply for passports, driving licences and national identity cards.
Its CEO denied that there was an investigation by the European Union.
He said governments regularly check the company’s work and that VFS Global has strict rules against misconduct.
The company says it does not keep applicants’ fingerprints or facial information after sending them to the relevant authorities.
VFS Global uses artificial intelligence to find fake documents and stop people from unfairly taking appointment slots.
The CEO said AI will help employees rather than quickly replace them.
The company is still considering whether to sell shares publicly or form a strategic partnership.
VFS Global plans to offer passport, driving licence and national ID services in India.
CEO Zubin Karkaria defended the company against allegations involving appointment slots and premium services.
The company says it works with 71 governments across 168 countries and operates about 4,400 visa centres.
VFS Global says AI detects forged documents and manipulated appointment bookings while supporting human decision-making.
The company’s listing plans remain open after delays linked to Covid-19 and the Gulf region crisis.
- Who
- VFS Global and its founder and CEO, Zubin Karkaria.
- What
- VFS Global plans to expand into citizen services in India while using AI to detect visa fraud and appointment manipulation.
- Where
- VFS Global operates across 168 countries and has more than 200 centres in India.
- When
- The company was created in 2001; Karkaria discussed expansion over the next two to three years, while listing plans remain on hold.
- Why
- The company says expanded services, technology and stronger biometric checks can improve efficiency, security and access.
Investigators and critics
VFS Global’s response
Appointment slots and premium services
Investigators and critics
A Lighthouse Reports investigation raised allegations of appointment-slot irregularities and pressure on applicants to purchase premium services.
VFS Global’s response
Zubin Karkaria rejected the characterization, said there was no European Union investigation as claimed, and cited government audits, compliance controls and a zero-tolerance policy.
Applicant data protection
Investigators and critics
VFS Global’s handling of sensitive personal and biometric information has prompted scrutiny over how applicant data is processed and protected.
VFS Global’s response
Karkaria said frontline systems are restricted terminals, biometric information is not retained, and names, telephone numbers and addresses are automatically erased after passports are returned.
Key facts
- Annual applications
- VFS Global handles nearly 30 million visa applications each year.
- Global operations
- The company works with 71 governments and operates about 4,400 visa centres in 168 countries.
- Indian presence
- VFS Global has more than 200 centres in India, including a recently opened Lucknow centre and a planned Odisha expansion.
- Planned citizen services
- Potential services include passports, driving licences and national identity cards.
- AI deployment
- AI products have been deployed for eight governments across 1,200 routes.
- Audits and workforce
- The company says it conducts about 10,000 audits annually and has around 20,000 employees.
- Listing plans
- A planned 2019 listing was disrupted by Covid-19; a potential listing or strategic partnership remains under consideration.
Quotes
Zubin Karkaria
Founder and CEO of VFS Global
“We don’t compromise on security, we don’t compromise on customer centricity, we don’t compromise on anything — that is a regulation”
livemint.com
“There was no EU investigation as was claimed”
livemint.com
Sources
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