Canada Visa Fraud: Third-Party Risks Flagged in IRCC Overseas Hubs

Canada visa fraud and security risks have been flagged in overseas application centres run by VFS Global. The Silicon Review reports on internal documents revealing appointment reselling and staff screening failures despite $725M in contracts.

Canada visa fraud and security risks have been flagged in overseas visa application centres run by federal contractor VFS Global, according to internal records obtained by CBC News.

Salah Uddin, an Ottawa resident, described his experience at VFS's Dhaka centre as "unjustifiable" and "shady." In 2023, after a friend spent multiple days waiting in long lines, Uddin paid approximately $130 Canadian for VFS's "premium lounge access" to submit his parents' passports on time. His friend was "served within five minutes with a cola."

In 2024, while seeking visas for his in-laws, Uddin found no appointments available. A third-party reseller demanded the equivalent of about $250 Canadian per person for an appointment slot. Facing a tight 30-day deadline from IRCC, Uddin declined and mailed the passports to a friend in Malaysia instead. "It's a fraud. It's not justifiable," he said.

Canada visa centres in Dhaka have been plagued by third-party resellers block-booking appointments and selling them at inflated prices to desperate applicants. Canadian officials were so concerned that they created test accounts and simulated the booking process and encountered the same problems. "We could write a novel about all the fraud we are seeing," one government official wrote in an email.

Staff at the Dhaka office also raised security concerns. "The only person security screened is the one agent," read a 2023 email from an IRCC staff member, who warned that employees answering calls or monitoring emails also needed screening. Security screening of staff remains a redacted issue in internal documents.

The federal government has awarded more than 725 million in contracts from 2012 to March 2026 to VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd., which operates VFS Global, to run 128 visa centres. A second firm, TT Visa Services, acquired by VFS in 2017, has received an additional 45.9 million since 2018 to operate 36 centres.

Other issues documented include internet outages that paralyzed visa centres in Russia in April 2024 amid the ongoing Ukraine war, and a malware attack that disrupted services. A malware attack also required remediation, with IRCC managers discussing the contractor's proposed solutions.

Immigration and refugee lawyer Karina Juma of Burnaby, B.C., said one of her clients recently encountered issues at VFS's visa centre in Mexico, where agents gave advice contradictory to Juma's. "These issues are still very prevalent today," she said. "There are probably thousands more stories."

VFS Global declined an interview but provided a statement saying all visa centres undergo regular security audits and staff undergoes "deep" background checks. The company said it continues to "enhance vigilance measures" for IRCC.

IRCC said it is "aware of all reported incidents at VACs" and acts "decisively" when wrongdoing is identified. However, the department stated that VFS has met its contractual expectations. Current contracts for both VFS and TT Visa Services expire in October 2027, with an option to extend by one year. A procurement process is underway.

As Canada visa fraud and security risks surface in overseas VFS centres despite $725 million in federal contracts, The Silicon Review examines how appointment reselling and staff screening failures have left applicants feeling like 'hostages' and whether IRCC's oversight goes far enough.

Q: What is VFS Global's role in Canada's visa processing system?
A: VFS Global is a federal contractor that runs 164 visa application centres in 109 countries on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It collects biometrics and transmits applications and passports but does not make decisions on immigration cases.

Q: What types of Canada visa fraud have been documented in overseas centres?
A: Internal records reveal third-party resellers block-booking appointments and selling them at high prices, overcharging applicants for "premium" services that feel mandatory, and inadequate security screening of VFS staff. Canadian officials said "we could write a novel about all the fraud we are seeing."

Q: How much has Canada paid VFS Global to run overseas visa centres?
A: The federal government has awarded more than 725 million in contracts from 2012 to March 2026 to VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd., which operates VFS Global, to run 128 visa centres. A second firm, TT Visa Services, acquired by VFS in 2017, has received an additional 45.9 million since 2018 to operate 36 centres.

Q: What security risks have been identified at Canada's visa centres abroad?
A: Internal emails from 2023 noted that "the only person security screened is the one agent" at the Dhaka office, with staff answering calls or monitoring emails lacking proper screening. A malware attack also disrupted services, and internet outages paralyzed centres in Russia.

Q: What has IRCC said about VFS Global's performance despite these issues?
A: IRCC stated that VFS has met its contractual expectations and that it maintains "robust oversight" of its visa application centre partners. However, critics say IRCC's oversight "doesn't go far enough."

Q: What should Canadian visa applicants do to protect themselves from fraud?
A: Applicants should be wary of third-party resellers demanding extra fees for appointments, verify all information through official IRCC channels (Canada.ca), and report suspected fraud to IRCC's Client Support Centre and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.