VFS Global Under Scrutiny: What the Latest CBC Investigation Means for Canadian Visa Applicants Abroad

Introduction

If you have ever applied for a Canadian visa from outside Canada — whether a visitor visa for your parents, a study permit for yourself, or a work permit through an offer from a Canadian employer — chances are your file passed through a Visa Application Centre, or VAC, run by a private contractor called VFS Global.

A new investigation by CBC News and Radio-Canada, published on May 13, 2026, raises serious questions about how some of these centres are being operated. For applicants from countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and elsewhere in the South Asian region, the findings deserve attention. As an immigration consultant who works with families and professionals across this region every day, I want to walk through what the investigation revealed, what it means for you, and what you can do to protect yourself.

What Is VFS Global and Why Does It Matter?

VFS Global is a private company contracted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to operate 164 Visa Application Centres across 109 countries. A second firm, TT Visa Services, which VFS acquired in 2017, runs an additional 36 centres.

These centres do not make decisions on your application. That power rests with IRCC visa officers. What VACs do is handle the administrative side: collecting your biometrics, accepting and forwarding your documents and passport, and returning them to you once a decision is made.

What the CBC Investigation Found

CBC obtained internal IRCC emails and reports through an Access to Information request. The records, which took roughly two years to receive, paint a troubling picture. A few highlights:

Third-Party Appointment Resellers in Dhaka

Internal emails describe unknown third parties block-booking appointment slots and then reselling them to applicants who are racing against IRCC deadlines. One Ottawa resident told CBC he was quoted approximately $250 CAD per person simply to get an appointment for his in-laws. He refused and mailed the passports to a friend in Malaysia instead.

Pressure to Pay for "Premium" Services

Multiple applicants report feeling forced to pay for VFS's premium lounge access — around $130 CAD or more — simply to submit documents within IRCC's tight processing deadlines. A Canadian official's January 2024 email to VFS noted that a substantial percentage of clients felt unable to use the standard service at all. IRCC has confirmed it does not track how much extra revenue VFS earns from these "value-added services."

Security Screening Gaps

A 2023 email from an IRCC staff member warned that at one Dhaka office, "the only person security screened is the one agent" — even though other staff were listening to applicant calls and monitoring emails. Other concerns flagged in the documents included records disposal, use of personal email accounts, and social media practices, though many specifics remain redacted.

Malware Attack and Infrastructure Failures in Russia

In April 2024, VAC operations in Russia were paralyzed by internet outages and a confirmed malware attack. Canadian officials had to arrange workarounds for urgent cases, including seafarers and family emergencies, by routing them through the embassy directly.

Inconsistent Advice in Other Regions

A B.C. immigration lawyer interviewed by CBC reported that her clients have recently received guidance from VFS agents in Mexico that contradicted her own legal advice. Her view, after years of practice: "These issues are still very prevalent today... It's not just one centre. It's multiple centres in multiple countries."

What VFS and IRCC Say

VFS Global declined an interview but provided a written statement saying its centres undergo regular security audits, its staff undergo "deep" background checks, and any optional value-added services are offered only with "prior approval from the Canadian government." The company says it "strives to meet the performance standards embedded in our contracts."

IRCC says it investigates all credible fraud tips, has implemented measures to disrupt third-party booking exploitation, and maintains "robust oversight" of its VAC partners. Notably, when asked whether VFS has faced any consequences for the documented issues, IRCC did not directly answer — but did confirm that VFS has met its contractual expectations.

Why This Matters If You Are Applying from South Asia

The Dhaka findings are particularly relevant for anyone sponsoring family members from Bangladesh, but the broader pattern matters across the region. The same dynamics — high demand, tight IRCC deadlines, an opaque appointment system, and a private contractor with significant discretion over access — exist at VACs across Pakistan, India, and other source countries.

How to Protect Yourself When Using a VAC

Here is what I would advise anyone navigating this system:

A Final Word

The Canadian immigration system is, for most applicants, the most important transaction of their lives. People save for years, prepare carefully, and often have only one realistic chance to get it right. They deserve a process that is fair, transparent, and free from third-party exploitation — particularly when the contractor handling that process is being paid hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds.

If you are preparing an application from abroad, or if you have already encountered issues at a VAC, professional guidance can make a meaningful difference. At M A Immigration Associates Inc., we work with applicants and their families across the South Asian diaspora to navigate exactly these kinds of practical hurdles — alongside the substantive legal strategy that determines your outcome.