This summer, Nguyen Nam Phong, a reader from Hanoi, plans to travel independently to Europe for 30 days, including the UK and Schengen countries. Previously, he had traveled to more than 10 countries, all in Asia. To minimize the chance of visa rejection, he researched several Vietnamese travel companies for assistance with documentation. Among them, mot unit promised "guaranteed visa approval" if he used their service, along with a claim they could "influence the visa review process," but their fees were ba times higher than other companies.

Nguyen Nam Phong is willing to pay the visa application processing fees but worries about wasting money if the promise is false. Therefore, he wants to know if "guaranteed visa approval" is possible when applying for a visa in Vietnam, and what he should do to maximize his chances of visa approval.

Beyond a passport, a visa is one of the crucial documents for international travel. *Embassy n visa*

On 10/3, during a visa information update for Vietnamese travelers ahead of the 2026 peak travel season, Atul Lall, CEO of VFS Global for North Asia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, advised travelers to be cautious of "guarantees" and "fast-track" visa services. "No individual or third-party organization can influence the outcome or processing time of a visa. All promises of guaranteed approval are fraudulent," Atul Lall stated. He explained that a comprehensive visa application service does not equate to "guaranteed visa approval"; it merely guides travelers on providing appropriate documents, advises on interview questions, or assists with translation.

VFS Global, a company specializing in visa application services for governments and citizens, is headquartered in Switzerland and the UAE. It partners with 69 governments and operates a network of visa application centers in 160 countries. In Vietnam, the company began operations in 2013 and currently operates 52 application centers in Hanoi, TP. HCM, and Da Nang.

Atul noted that as demand for international travel increases, fraudsters often exploit public anxiety to profit by selling fake appointments or promising high visa approval rates. Therefore, VFS Global has issued additional warnings to inform Vietnamese customers and help them avoid falling victim to scams. These include:

Visa decision authority: Third parties have no authority to grant visas; they only handle administrative steps. The decision-making power rests entirely with the Embassy or Consulate.

Visa guarantees or fast-track services: No individual or third-party organization can influence the outcome or processing time of a visa. All promises of guaranteed approval are fraudulent.

Appointment management: Appointments are made available on the website according to the guidelines of foreign diplomatic missions, based on a "first-come, first-served" principle. Travelers can book appointments free of charge on the official website (www.vfsglobal.com), except for some countries that require a service fee upfront.

Real-time status updates: Once an application is submitted, third parties cannot interfere with the internal processing progress within the diplomatic mission. Travelers will receive notification when a decision is made to collect their passport.

Payments: VFS Global never requests payments via social media, private messages, or phone. All transactions are conducted only on the official website or directly at the center.

Employment/Immigration services: "We do not provide job brokerage or foreign immigration services. Be cautious of individuals impersonating VFS Global to commit employment fraud," Atul stated.

Premium services: Additional services are solely for convenience during application submission and do not accelerate approval or guarantee visa approval.

Additionally, Atul offered recommendations to guide Vietnamese travelers through the visa application process accurately and on time:

Submit applications early: Apply as soon as flight plans are confirmed. Most countries allow travelers to submit visa applications up to 180 days before their departure date.

Verify accuracy: Information on the application form (name, passport number, date of birth) must match original documents exactly.

Adhere to standards: Passport photos must comply with each country's specific guidelines.

Complete documentation: Carefully review the checklist on the website. Even a minor error or missing document can lead to application rejection.

Financial verification: Ensure bank statements are properly authenticated. For instance, if an application requires 6 months of bank transaction statements, but the applicant only provides statements for the ba-4 most recent months, it can prolong the visa review process.

Phuong Anh