Visa outsourcing vexes agents

The embassies of Japan and France are outsourcing visa authorisation following the lead of Australia, India and the UK that gives VFS Thailand a virtual monopoly of a  lucrative revenue stream.

Japan has now followed the same trend by appointing VFS, although France went with a lesser known operator TSLcontact.

Travel agents bemoan the latest development claiming the switch to third party visa vendors  adds more costs and another layer of inconvenience.

Japan’s decision has revived criticism over costing and also the security and destiny of information gathered on Thai travellers.

Japan Embassy introduced the VFS service for group visas, 16 February and by this June all visa processing will be taken over by the company.

The new centre is called Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC).

During the trial period, tour companies pay a visa application fee of Bt1,000 per person, plus a service charge of Bt430 per person inclusive of VAT. When the full system is ready, the service fee will increase to Bt535, inclusive of VAT.

JVAC is located at 15th floor, Unit C, Silom complex on Silom road, 02 632 1541. Working hours are from Monday to Friday,  0830 to 1730, and Saturday from 0830 to 1230 (Return of passports only).

According to the embassy’s press release, the service will reduce visa application time and make the process more user-friendly. It will even include a postal option to forward the passport to the customer’s home.

Tour companies are highly suspicious of these claims, saying past experience does not support the theory that the VFS service is more user-friendly.

TTR Weekly asked the representative from Japan Consulate Division to clarify. He confirmed that the service would take two days to process the application, which was the same as the embassy processing time.

Thai Travel Agents Association president, Charoen Wangananont said: “We have asked embassies to consult with the association first. If they want to outsource and we have to pay additional service fees, we should get some benefits such as a visa one day earlier. This is not the case.”

He is also concerned about the loss of customers’ documents and the security of information (Thais must provide sensitive information on banking and salary).

Internet crime thrives on identity theft and the recent example of Israeli intelligence agents stealing the passports of Australian and British citizens suggests information can be misused even when in the custody of so called  “friendly governments.”

The TTAA president alleged that passports had been lost during the visa application process in past. A question to VFS was posted on these concerns, failed to generate a response.

Thai–Japanese Tourist Association president, Anake Srishevachart added: “Now there is a Visit Japan Campaign, why does Japan want to charge more for visa fees? Other countries like Korea waive the fee to attract business.”

Meanwhile, Embassy of France appointed TLScontact (TELESMART International) to take over its visa application.

Applicants must register on the website www.tlscontact.com/th2fr/index.php for appointment at least 10 days before the planned departure date.

A short-stay tourist visa fee is Euro 60 (about Bt2,727) and additional service charged by TLScontact sets a traveller back another Bt1,200. The application centre is located at 12th floor Sathorn City Tower Sathorn road.

Tour operators say they will encourage customers to cut the trip shorter in France and extend it other Schengen Visa countries to avoid the hassle.