VFS Global Announces an Important Update for Canada Visa Applicants in India

Under a contract awarded by the Government of Canada, VFS Global provides Canadian visa application support services through a worldwide network of Canada Visa Application Centres (VACs).

On June 21, 2022, VFS Global posted an update on Twitter as “an important announcement for Canada visa applicants in India regarding walk-in services at our Visa Application Centres”.

What is the latest update by VFS Global India?

As per an official News Release by VFS Global on June 16, 2022 (announced in a tweet on June 21, 2022) -

• Effective June 18, 2022, applicants can submit passports and collect decision envelopes on Saturday only at the VACs in - (1) New Delhi, (2) Bengaluru, (3) Ahmedabad, (4) Chandigarh, and (5) Jalandhar.
• The above-mentioned VACs will open on Saturday only for the submission of passports and the collection of decision envelopes.
• The Saturday working hours of these VACs will be from 9am till 2pm.
• The Saturday service is only for applicants that did not opt for the 2-way courier service.
• Travel agents and representatives cannot submit passports or collect the decision envelopes until further notice.
• Applicants can continue using the 2-way courier service during weekdays for passport submission and collection of the decision application.

In India, Canada VACs are to be found in - Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, and Pune. Authorised to provide administrative services, a VAC -

• Schedules visa appointments,
• Enrols biometrics,
• Collects visa applications, and
• Returns passports in sealed decision envelopes to applicants.

Only general information and administrative services related to temporary resident applications - including Canada Study Permit and work permit for Canada - along with travel documents for Canadian permanent residents are provided by VACs.

Visa applications are processed by the Government of Canada. The decision to grant or refuse a visa is made by the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

VFS Global has no role in the visa decision. All that VFS Global can do is to provide services for ensuring that your Canada visa application is properly filled up and duly submitted.

A recent spike in the demand for international travel can be traced to the gradual opening of international borders, easing of travel restrictions, as well as the resumption of regular international flights from India. According to VFS Global COO (South Asia) Prabuddha Sen, there are “between 20,000 to 23,000 visa applications daily on an average from India given the pent-up travel demand”.

Representing and working on behalf of many governments in India - including the Canadian government - there are 500+ VACs in India, serving the interests of 51 client governments in 17 cities throughout the country.