Canada’s overseas visa application system is facing renewed scrutiny after internal records revealed concerns about fraud, security issues, technical failures, and applicant complaints at some visa centres operated by federal contractor VFS Global. According to CBC News, the records show that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada had already flagged problems in countries such as Bangladesh, including allegations of third party fraud, appointment reselling, overcharging concerns, and security red flags.
VFS Global operates 164 visa application centres in 109 countries on behalf of the Canadian government. The company does not decide immigration cases, but it handles administrative services such as collecting biometrics, managing document submissions, and returning passports. The company has been providing these services to Canada for more than two decades.
One Ottawa resident, Salah Uddin, told CBC News that he faced frustrating experiences while trying to access visa services in Dhaka for his parents and in laws. He said he felt pressured to pay for premium lounge access in 2023 so his parents’ passports could be submitted on time. In 2024, while trying to secure visa processing for his in laws, he said a third party reseller asked for about $250 Canadian per person to obtain an appointment.
Internal records obtained by CBC News suggest Canadian officials were already aware of similar concerns. Emails showed officials discussing appointment reselling and other forms of fraud linked to visa centre access. In one case, government staff tried to simulate the booking process themselves and also encountered problems. The documents indicated that resellers were allegedly block booking appointments and selling them to applicants facing strict deadlines.
Critics say the situation raises serious ethical concerns because applicants already pay official processing fees to IRCC. Some applicants said they felt forced to pay extra for optional premium services simply to meet deadlines or secure timely appointments. VFS said its value added services are optional and approved by the Canadian government, while IRCC said those services are not mandatory and that it does not track the company’s extra revenue from them.
CBC News also reported that the federal government has awarded more than $725 million in contracts to VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd., the company behind VFS Global, from 2012 to March 2026 to operate 128 visa centres. Another company later bought by VFS, TT Visa Services, has received more than $45 million since 2018 to operate 36 centres.
The internal documents also pointed to concerns beyond Bangladesh. Visa centres in Russia were reportedly affected by internet outages in April 2024 during the ongoing Russia Ukraine war, causing delays for urgent cases. The records also mentioned a malware attack and discussions about possible contractor solutions. In Mexico, an immigration lawyer told CBC News that one client received advice from VFS agents that contradicted legal guidance.
Security concerns were also raised in the documents, including questions about staff screening, use of personal email and social media, and document handling. Some details were redacted, but one 2023 email from an IRCC staff member warned that staff monitoring calls or emails should be properly screened.
Immigration lawyer Karina Juma told CBC News that problems involving data security, third party fraud, and extra fees remain common concerns in multiple regions. She urged IRCC to conduct stronger audits and said the current oversight system does not appear to go far enough.
VFS Global declined an interview but said its visa centres undergo regular audits and that staff receive background checks. The company said it continues to improve vigilance and data security measures for IRCC. The immigration department said it is aware of reported incidents, investigates credible fraud tips, and takes corrective action when contractors fail to meet standards.
IRCC said VFS has met its contractual expectations, but the concerns outlined in the records are likely to fuel further calls for stronger oversight of Canada’s global visa application network. The current contracts for VFS and TT Visa Services are set to expire in October 2027, with a procurement process already underway. For more Canadian immigration and public affairs coverage, visit Weekly Voice and the Weekly Voice Canada section.
