Misplaced Pages

VFS Global: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 15:43, 1 July 2024 editBlanes tree (talk | contribs)391 edits bibliographies are for books not newspapers← Previous edit Revision as of 16:02, 1 July 2024 edit undoBlanes tree (talk | contribs)391 edits removing potential copyright violationsNext edit →
Line 17: Line 17:
}} }}
'''VFS Global''' is a ] and passport administration ] company for governments and ]s.<ref name="TOI">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/how-vfs-global-will-use-ai-to-improve-visa-processing/articleshow/109701144.cms |title=How VFS Global will use AI to improve visa processing |date=2024-04-29 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="FTZubin"/> '''VFS Global''' is a ] and passport administration ] company for governments and ]s.<ref name="TOI">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/how-vfs-global-will-use-ai-to-improve-visa-processing/articleshow/109701144.cms |title=How VFS Global will use AI to improve visa processing |date=2024-04-29 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="FTZubin"/>
Zubin Karkaria founded the company in 2001 while he was chief executive Zubin Karkaria at ].<ref name="sideproject">{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/vfs-global-home-office-outsourcing-visa-applications-a9061476.html |title=VFS: Who is the company subcontracted by the Home Office to process visa applications? |date=2019-08-18 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=] |last=Gibbs |first=Margot}}</ref>{{sfn|Gibbs|2019a}} Formerly based in India, the company is now headquartered in ] with offices in 147 countries.{{sfn|Gibbs|2019a}} In 2018, VFS processed approximately 25 million visa applications, often containing passport details and financial histories, on behalf of the ] and 61 other governments.{{sfn|Gibbs|2019a}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dubai: Latvia Opens New External Visa Centres in UAE in Partnership with VFS Global |url=http://www.bellevision.com/index.php?action=topnews_print&type=18930 |publisher=BelleVision Media Network |location=Dubai, United Arab Emirates |date=5 February 2018 |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> Zubin Karkaria founded the company in 2001 while he was chief executive Zubin Karkaria at ].<ref name="sideproject">{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/vfs-global-home-office-outsourcing-visa-applications-a9061476.html |title=VFS: Who is the company subcontracted by the Home Office to process visa applications? |date=2019-08-18 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=] |last=Gibbs |first=Margot}}</ref>{{sfn|Gibbs|2019a}} Formerly based in India, the company is now headquartered in ] with offices in 147 countries.{{sfn|Gibbs|2019a}} In 2018, VFS processed approximately 25 million visa applications, often containing passport details and financial histories, on behalf of the ] and 61 other governments.{{sfn|Gibbs|2019a}}
==History== ==History==
=== Origins and revenue model === === Origins and revenue model ===
Line 45: Line 45:
==Criticisms and controversies== ==Criticisms and controversies==
==== UK government investigation ==== ==== UK government investigation ====
In November 2007, the UK ] announced that it had found the ]'s contractual relationship with VFS Global to be in breach of its obligations under the ]. The ] required the Foreign Office to sign a statement that it would comply with the ] and would not reopen the VFS UK visa online facility.{{sfn|Information Commissioner's Office|2007}} As a result of this ruling, the Foreign Office reviewed its relationship with VFS and briefly sought to significantly reduce its outsourced work, especially in the area of IT.{{sfn|Johnson|2007}} After the report was issued, VFS spent "$2 million on online security in the next year,"{{sfn|Taylor|2008}} and introduced various measures to ensure safe and secure business environment. One of them was to make all its centres ISO compliant.{{sfn|Kelekar|2008}} In November 2007, the UK ] announced that it had found the ]'s contractual relationship with VFS Global to be in breach of its obligations under the ]. The ] required the Foreign Office to sign a statement that it would comply with the ] and would not reopen the VFS UK visa online facility.{{sfn|Information Commissioner's Office|2007}} As a result of this ruling, the Foreign Office reviewed its relationship with VFS and briefly sought to significantly reduce its outsourced work, especially in the area of IT.{{sfn|Johnson|2007}}

Following this incident, several governments were critical of VFS Global's abilities and raised concerns over its lacklustre security protocols.{{sfn|Taylor|2008}} "There's the accountability issue, the privacy issue and why are we outsourcing to a for-profit entity something that belongs in the security mandate?" asked Victor Wong, executive director of the ].{{sfn|Taylor|2008}} Likewise, Liam Clifford, an immigration expert working for ''Global Visas'', raised security concerns associated with VFS Global's operations: "Once you put this work in the hands of private companies overseas, you no longer have the same protection."{{sfn|Taylor|2008}}{{sfn|Harper|Leapman|2007}}

===2015 data breaches=== ===2015 data breaches===
VFS Global's online security again came under scrutiny in July 2015 when its online visa forms for Italy allowed any user to access the personal information of other applicants—including their date of birth, passport details and addresses—if they input the ID number of another person when logging into the system.<ref name="GuardianDehghan">{{Cite news | last = Dehghan | first = Saeed Kamali | title = Users' data compromised after technical glitch at Home Office contractor | date = 17 July 2015 | location = London | newspaper = ] | url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/17/users-data-compromised-after-technical-glitch-at-home-office-contractor | access-date = 28 September 2019}}</ref> VFS Global's online security again came under scrutiny in July 2015 when its online visa forms for Italy allowed any user to access the personal information of other applicants—including their date of birth, passport details and addresses—if they input the ID number of another person when logging into the system.<ref name="GuardianDehghan">{{Cite news | last = Dehghan | first = Saeed Kamali | title = Users' data compromised after technical glitch at Home Office contractor | date = 17 July 2015 | location = London | newspaper = ] | url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/17/users-data-compromised-after-technical-glitch-at-home-office-contractor | access-date = 28 September 2019}}</ref>
== See also == == See also ==
* ] * ]

== References == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

=== Works cited === === Works cited ===
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} {{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
Line 65: Line 60:
* {{Cite news | last = Donnelly | first = Lynley | title = Visa Services Under Investigation | date = 27 June 2014 | newspaper = ] | location = Johannesburg, South Africa | url = http://mg.co.za/article/2014-06-26-visa-services-under-investigation | access-date = 26 September 2019}} * {{Cite news | last = Donnelly | first = Lynley | title = Visa Services Under Investigation | date = 27 June 2014 | newspaper = ] | location = Johannesburg, South Africa | url = http://mg.co.za/article/2014-06-26-visa-services-under-investigation | access-date = 26 September 2019}}
* {{Cite report |title=Foreign Office in breach of the Data Protection Act |publisher=] |location=Wilmslow, Cheshire, United Kingdom |date=13 November 2007 |url=http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2007/fco_undertaking_131107.pdf |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804154730/http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2007/fco_undertaking_131107.pdf |archive-date=4 August 2008 |url-status=dead |ref={{harvid|Information Commissioner's Office|2007}}}} * {{Cite report |title=Foreign Office in breach of the Data Protection Act |publisher=] |location=Wilmslow, Cheshire, United Kingdom |date=13 November 2007 |url=http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2007/fco_undertaking_131107.pdf |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804154730/http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2007/fco_undertaking_131107.pdf |archive-date=4 August 2008 |url-status=dead |ref={{harvid|Information Commissioner's Office|2007}}}}
* {{Cite news | last1 = Harper | first1 = Tom | last2 = Leapman | first2 = Ben | title = Interpol boss criticises immigrant checks | newspaper = ] | location = London | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1556814/Interpol-boss-criticises-immigrant-checks.html | date = 8 July 2007 | access-date = 28 September 2019}}
* {{Cite web | last = Hunter | first = Murray | title = Australian Immigration – the Snowden Link? | website = Dissident Voice | location = United States | date = 1 August 2013 | url = http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/08/australian-immigration-the-snowden-link/ | access-date = 30 March 2015}} * {{Cite web | last = Hunter | first = Murray | title = Australian Immigration – the Snowden Link? | website = Dissident Voice | location = United States | date = 1 August 2013 | url = http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/08/australian-immigration-the-snowden-link/ | access-date = 30 March 2015}}
* {{Cite news | last = Johnson | first = Bobbie | title = UK government failed to protect privacy of online visa applications | newspaper = ] | location = London | date = 14 November 2007 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/nov/14/data.protection.breach | access-date = 13 September 2012}} * {{Cite news | last = Johnson | first = Bobbie | title = UK government failed to protect privacy of online visa applications | newspaper = ] | location = London | date = 14 November 2007 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/nov/14/data.protection.breach | access-date = 13 September 2012}}
* {{Cite magazine | last = Nsehe | first = Mfonobong | title = Meet Zubin Karkaria, The Man Who Built The World's Largest Visa And Consular Services Company | date = December 17, 2018 | magazine = ] | location = Jersey City, New Jersey | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2018/12/17/meet-zubin-karkaria-the-man-who-built-the-worlds-largest-visa-and-consular-services-company/ | access-date = May 2, 2022 | url-access = subscription}} * {{Cite magazine | last = Nsehe | first = Mfonobong | title = Meet Zubin Karkaria, The Man Who Built The World's Largest Visa And Consular Services Company | date = December 17, 2018 | magazine = ] | location = Jersey City, New Jersey | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2018/12/17/meet-zubin-karkaria-the-man-who-built-the-worlds-largest-visa-and-consular-services-company/ | access-date = May 2, 2022 | url-access = subscription}}
* {{Cite news | last1 = Onyeji | first1 = Ebuka | last2 = Ayitogo | first2 = Nasir | title = How Visa Processing Firm, VFS Global, 'extorts', 'mistreats' Nigerians | url = https://www.premiumtimesng.com/investigationspecial-reports/268332-special-report-how-visa-processing-firm-vfs-global-extorts-mistreats-nigerians.html | newspaper = ] | location = Abuja, Nigeria | date = 14 May 2018 | access-date = 26 September 2019}}
* {{cite news |last1 = Schuetze | first1 = Arno | first2 = Oliver | last2 = Hirt | title = EQT to launch sale of Swiss outsourcing company VFS | work = ] | location = London, United Kingdom | date = 15 January 2019 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eqt-vfs-sale/eqt-to-launch-sale-of-swiss-outsourcing-company-vfs-idUSKCN1P90WU | access-date = 28 November 2019}} * {{cite news |last1 = Schuetze | first1 = Arno | first2 = Oliver | last2 = Hirt | title = EQT to launch sale of Swiss outsourcing company VFS | work = ] | location = London, United Kingdom | date = 15 January 2019 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eqt-vfs-sale/eqt-to-launch-sale-of-swiss-outsourcing-company-vfs-idUSKCN1P90WU | access-date = 28 November 2019}}
* {{cite news | last = Srivastava | first = Priya | title= 16 Indian cities to have Cyprus Visa Application Centre from now | newspaper = ] | location = Mumbai, India | date = 23 November 2017 | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/16-indian-cities-to-have-cyprus-visa-application-centre-from-now/as61753078.cms | access-date = 28 September 2019}} * {{cite news | last = Srivastava | first = Priya | title= 16 Indian cities to have Cyprus Visa Application Centre from now | newspaper = ] | location = Mumbai, India | date = 23 November 2017 | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/16-indian-cities-to-have-cyprus-visa-application-centre-from-now/as61753078.cms | access-date = 28 September 2019}}
* {{Cite press release | title = Statement of VFS representative before the European Parliament | website = ] | location = Brussels, Belgium | date = 10 July 2018 | url = http://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/151341/1-4-chris-dix.pdf | access-date = 2 May 2022 | ref = {{harvid|VFS Statement|2018}}}} * {{Cite press release | title = Statement of VFS representative before the European Parliament | website = ] | location = Brussels, Belgium | date = 10 July 2018 | url = http://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/151341/1-4-chris-dix.pdf | access-date = 2 May 2022 | ref = {{harvid|VFS Statement|2018}}}}
* {{cite news | last = Taylor | first = Lesley Ciarula | title = Private firm's work with visas raises concerns | newspaper = ] | location = Toronto | date = 13 October 2008 | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2008/06/16/private_firms_work_with_visas_raises_concerns.html | access-date = 13 September 2012}}
{{refend}} {{refend}}



Revision as of 16:02, 1 July 2024

Outsourcing services company

VFS Global
Company typePrivate company
FoundedMumbai, Maharashtra, India (July 2001 (2001-07))
HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
Area servedWorldwide
Key people
  • Zubin Karkaria (Founder & CEO)
  • Dhiren Savla (CIO)
  • Bernard Martyris (CCO)
  • Jiten Vyas (CCO)
Number of employees12832
ParentThe Blackstone Group
Websitevfsglobal.com

VFS Global is a visa and passport administration outsourcing company for governments and diplomatic missions. Zubin Karkaria founded the company in 2001 while he was chief executive Zubin Karkaria at Kuoni Travel. Formerly based in India, the company is now headquartered in Dubai with offices in 147 countries. In 2018, VFS processed approximately 25 million visa applications, often containing passport details and financial histories, on behalf of the British Home Office and 61 other governments.

History

Origins and revenue model

Founder Zubin Karkaria got the idea for VFS Global when they were working with the Kuoni Group. Karkaria believed they could circumvent embassy's wait times and administrative work required for processing visa applications by outsourcing administrative work required for processing visa applications.

The organization claims that outsourcing visa processing improves and personalizes the service that applicants receive by using enhanced physical and technological infrastructure. Moreover, it claims that the service lowers the security risk at embassies and consulates due to less crowding. Furthermore, it is believed to improve cost-effectiveness at embassies by helping them to focus on the decision making stage of the visa application process. According to Karkaria, the U.S. government has reservations about his proposal but he convinced them "to allow us to run the purely administrative part of a visa application process" considered to be an arduous process. The company opened its first visa processing centre in Mumbai that same year.

In 2003 it landed a UK Government contract to process visa applications from India to the United Kingdom.

The organization serves governments, payment gateways, banks, and courier services. It has expedited its client's visa application service with technologies such as chatbots, digital document checks and by providing visas on customer's doorsteps. In Europe, the company complies with GDPR compliance norms. Many of its innovations came from its lab in Mumbai.

The company's growth was primarily due to its revenues from service fees paid directly by visa applicants. In 2009, financial records indicated that VFS Global's parent company at the time, VF Worldwide Holdings, was an offshore corporation which had been "incorporated in the African tax haven of Mauritius."

By 2007, the company had obtained its first global account from UK Visas and Immigration for operations across 33 countries. Within one year of gaining its account with the UK government, the company's image was tarnished by a data breach which exposed the sensitive information of UK visa applicants. Despite this breach, the outsourcing company nevertheless obtained a major contract with the United Kingdom in 2014 to administer the majority of the UK's visa applications. The contract was a significant change in how British visa applicants to the United Kingdom were charged to have their applications processed.

During the past two decades of its operations, VFS Global has attracted considerable criticism. It has been criticized for allegedly exploitative practices and for its lack of transparency. The company has been "accused of pressuring visa applicants" into purchasing premium services which "they often don't need and can't afford." In 2019, the British Home Office was deluged by complaints from customers applying for visas using VFS Global, many of whom accused the company "of exploiting vulnerable applicants for profit." Applicants—"the majority of whom are from lower-income countries"—asserted they "missed flights and were wrongly denied visas due to delays and administrative errors, including apparent failure to scan vital documents."

Expansion and growth

In August 2017, the outsourcing company acquired the UK-based visa service provider TT Services (TTS) for an undisclosed amount.At the time of the acquisition, TTS operated 51 visa application centres in over 35 countries with 216 employees. Later that year, in November 2017, VFS Global expanded its visa services in Cyprus with new centres launched in the additional cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Goa, Gurugram, and Jaipur. These expansions increased the amount of visa centres where applicants were offered additional services, such as SMS updates, courier services, and online tracking services.

In January 2019, the parent company of VFS Global, EQT AB, declared their intention to sell the company. In August 2019, an in-depth financial investigation by the British newspaper The Independent revealed that VFS Global had experienced exponential growth in recent years and its shareholders had "extracted about £567m via 'distribution to owner' payments and writing off inter-company loans in the past two years." The newspaper attributed this growth to the outsourcing company's "exploitative" business practices.

In October 2021, Blackstone acquired a majority stake in VFS Global. Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation remains a minority stakeholder. Prior to October 2021, the outsourcing company was owned by a private equity fund and, as VF Worldwide Holdings, is incorporated in the African tax haven of Mauritius. Investors in the outsourcing company include the Chinese and Emiratis investment authorities, the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, and Theo Müller.

In 2017, the outsourcing company partnered with Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency, to promote France as a tourist destination for foreign travellers.

Criticisms and controversies

UK government investigation

In November 2007, the UK Information Commissioner's Office announced that it had found the Foreign Office's contractual relationship with VFS Global to be in breach of its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998. The Information Commissioner's Office required the Foreign Office to sign a statement that it would comply with the Data Protection Act and would not reopen the VFS UK visa online facility. As a result of this ruling, the Foreign Office reviewed its relationship with VFS and briefly sought to significantly reduce its outsourced work, especially in the area of IT.

2015 data breaches

VFS Global's online security again came under scrutiny in July 2015 when its online visa forms for Italy allowed any user to access the personal information of other applicants—including their date of birth, passport details and addresses—if they input the ID number of another person when logging into the system.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ram, Aliya (13 July 2016). "Kuoni chief Zubin Karkaria on his passport to profit". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. Parwaz, Aryaan (10 June 2021). "Leaders owe their entire success to their teams:Dhiren Salva". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. "Bernard Martyris has been appointed Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Kuoni Group in Dubai". Hospitiality Network. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  4. Viyas, Jiten. "How can public outsourcing be made to work?". The Parliament Magazine. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  5. "How VFS Global will use AI to improve visa processing". The Times of India. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  6. Gibbs, Margot (18 August 2019). "VFS: Who is the company subcontracted by the Home Office to process visa applications?". The Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  7. ^ Gibbs 2019a. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGibbs2019a (help)
  8. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Meet Zubin Karkaria, The Man Who Built The World's Largest Visa And Consular Services Company". Forbes. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  9. Nsehe 2018.
  10. ^ Gibbs, Margot; Bulman, May (22 November 2019). "How Home Office makes millions a week from outsourcing visas to Dubai-based firm accused of exploitation". The Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  11. Amin Ali (7 September 2022). "How VFS Global transformed visa processing". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  12. ^ Gibbs 2019b. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGibbs2019b (help)
  13. ^ Bulman & Gibbs 2019. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBulmanGibbs2019 (help)
  14. Ballard 2007. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBallard2007 (help)
  15. Shifrin 2007. sfn error: no target: CITEREFShifrin2007 (help)
  16. ^ Saurabh, Sinha (23 August 2017). "VFS Global completes acquisition of visa service provider TT Services". The Times of India. Mumbai, India. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  17. Srivastava 2017.
  18. Schuetze & Hirt 2019.
  19. Dhanjal 2021.
  20. Chandavarkar & Pujari 2017.
  21. Information Commissioner's Office 2007.
  22. Johnson 2007.
  23. Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (17 July 2015). "Users' data compromised after technical glitch at Home Office contractor". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 September 2019.

Works cited

Categories: