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Diaspora Advocate Demands Oversight, Penalty Clause on VFS
VFS Global is the exclusive outsourcing partner managing Indian visa, passport, OCI, and other services in the U.S.
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Lalit K Jha - Fri, 01, Aug 2025
- 21:52 EDT
- 29
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Prem Bhandari speaking at the inauguration of a visa center in Edison. / Courtesy Photo
Prominent Indian American community leader Prem Bhandari on Aug.1 urged the Indian Consulate in New York to hold VFS Global accountable for allegedly charging unjustified fees for consular services and called for penalties if violations are confirmed.
Speaking in Hindi at the inauguration of the Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) in Edison, New Jersey—one of eight new centres opened across the United States—Bhandari welcomed the expansion of consular services but voiced sharp criticism over persistent complaints against VFS.
“People are being charged unfairly — even for uploading a photo or rescheduling an appointment. These practices must stop. If there’s a provision to penalise the service provider, please implement it,” he said, addressing consulate officials and VFS representatives present at the event. Among those present on the occasion were Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General, India, New York, Amit Kumar Sharma, Head-Americas & Caribbean, VFS Global.
VFS Global is the exclusive outsourcing partner managing Indian visa, passport, OCI, and other services in the U.S.
While acknowledging improvements like the new 365-day operational model, Bhandari emphasised the need for transparency and accountability. “This is not about one or two cases — the entire community has experienced this. How can a senior citizen or student afford these fees for minor services? We want to support India, but we also need fair treatment,” he said.
Bhandari shared personal anecdotes, alleging that routine interactions with VFS had become prohibitively expensive. “You’d laugh if I told you we used to spend up to $500 just to get a reminder message. For a simple query over the phone, I was charged $82,” he said.
Citing a common complaint, Bhandari claimed VFS often rejected photos submitted by applicants but accepted the same images when resubmitted with a $7.99 fee. “You are doing good work—why diminish trust over petty issues like charging for phone calls or photo uploads?” he asked.
He urged Indian officials to enforce contract provisions that allow financial penalties and demanded a functional grievance redressal system. “Let this not be just a ribbon-cutting. Let it be a turning point in how our community is treated,” he said.
Highlighting challenges with uploading apostille documents, Bhandari called for practical solutions that consider the lived experiences of diaspora members. “Please understand the people’s issues, even if you don’t agree now,” he added.
In his remarks, Amit Kumar Sharma, Head of North America & Caribbean at VFS Global, introduced the new centres, which feature user-focused enhancements, including complimentary return courier services, Free photographs, photocopies, and form-filling support, as well as improved call centre response times.
“If you notice the details on the websites, the kind of services now incorporated—this is again something done for the first time by any government,” Sharma explained.
“One feedback that has come quite often from different community leaders was about connecting to the call centre,” he said. “That feedback has been heard... and we’re confident going forward people will not have to stay on those calls longer.”
The Edison center is among the new ICACs launched in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose, bringing the total to 16 across the United States. These centers offer services including visas, OCI, passports, renunciation of Indian citizenship, police clearance, and document attestation.
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