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As outbound travel from Thailand increases, VFS Global has alerted travellers about a surge in visa-related scams. The warning follows reports of fraudulent appointment letters and unauthorized charges for expediting visa processes. With the growing demand for visas, scammers are preying on applicants by promising fast-track approvals for upfront payments and distributing fake appointment slots.

VFS Global, which partners with 26 governments in Thailand for visa outsourcing, emphasized that all appointments are free and should be booked solely through its official website or designated government portals. Simon Peachey, the company's COO for regions including Australasia and China, highlighted that neither VFS Global nor its employees sell appointment slots or offer priority access. The company firmly states that requests for payments to personal accounts are fraudulent.

Decisions regarding visas remain solely with the client governments, and VFS Global reiterates it has no influence over application outcomes. It also does not provide immigration or overseas employment services, a false claim often used by scammers. To combat fraudulent activity, VFS actively monitors for suspicious behavior and provides channels for reporting scams. It advises victims to report confirmed scams to the police.

Although Thailand has fewer reported scam cases compared to markets like India, VFS Global stresses the importance of caution. Peachey advises applying for visas well in advance, as some countries accept applications up to 180 days before travel. Safety measures are a priority, with VFS Global operating 38 visa centers across Thailand and committing to data privacy, erasing personal data post-processing.

In related developments, the United States recently announced a temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for Thailand and 74 other countries under its stricter immigration policy. reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• VFS Global warns of increasing visa scams targeting Thai travellers.

• Official channels highlight that appointments should be booked directly, free of charge.

• Caution is advised as scammers falsely promise expedited visa processing.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2026-01-23

 

 

They must have improved their game since the last time i was there a few years ago for the wife's biometrics. Between then and the time before they changed to the appointment system unknown to me. They insisted on charging for an on the spot appointment to get the biometrics done.