Student visa fraud: 3 things to do to avoid getting duped, VFS Global cautions

With Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US being top choices, the need for student visas has reached unprecedented levels. Unfortunately, some students are falling prey to unscrupulous agents who exploit their dreams by offering fake visa papers in exchange for large sums of money. Most recent incidents were reported from Canada, where hundreds of Indian students are facing deportation charges.

Such incidents not only jeopardizes the students' chances of studying abroad but also damages the reputation of genuine students and institutions. VFS Global, a visa outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, shared a few points about what students should do to avoid getting duped while applying to foreign universities. 

What students should do so that they don't fall into traps leading to their deportation?

Responding to this, VFS Global told Livemint, during student season, which typically starts from mid-May and goes on till September, the rush for visas is high. Thus, it is important for students to be wary of miscreants looking to take advantage of this peak demand period. 

• Visa applicants are advised to exercise caution when being approached by third-party entities who pose as visa service providers, promising an appointment or favourable visa decision by misusing our company’s name or otherwise. 
• Students should also conduct proper due diligence and vet the details of the educational institutions that they intend to study at. 
• Given the unprecedented pent-up demand for outbound travel from India, it is advisable to apply for visas as early as possible to avoid falling prey to such grey operators.

Which are the most preferred for students today? 

Citing education ministry data, VFS mentioned, the most preferred destinations for studies are the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Germany and France, too, have become preferred destinations in recent years. The visa application volumes that we see mimic this trend. 

Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar in the Lok Sabha last week, 30.13 lakh Indian students have gone abroad for higher studies since 2017. In 2022 alone, 7.5 lakh students left ― a 69 per cent increase compared with 2021 and a 28 per cent rise from the pre-pandemic figure in 2019.