Posted 2010-01-24 13:18:06
 lennoxgilby, on 2010-01-24 12:21:30, said:
sumrit, on 2009-06-29 09:18:57, said: CharlieB, on 2009-06-28 22:28:17, said: katana, on 2009-06-28 14:20:50, said: I guess it would be too much to have a sign on the genuine VFS office warning about the bogus outfit next door or to have a genuine VFS staff member waiting outside to usher people into the correct building?
I think the Thais have quite strict libel and slander laws, so putting a sign up saying next door is a bogus office is asking for a huge court case. The entrance is clear to anyone by the signage and the security at the entrance. If anyone is actually fooled into thinking the other places in the building are official then they probably need the services of them to gain a visa anyway.
Although the VFS center signs are clear when you get outside the office, I've watched people being approached outside the building. When people who are approached think they are being escorted to the VFS center by an employee they tend to 'switch off' and just follow, not looking at the signage on other offices. When we went to take my wifes application we were there for about eight hours over two days and I watched as several people were approached outside Regent House then lead up the stairs past the VFS center and into the Visa World office. I didn't see one person question where they were being taken or even look at the VFS office, and nobody who I saw go in came out of Visa World quickly either.
Hi, can you please tell me EXACTLY where to go once inside this building as I've been twice already, and I must have been extremely naive because both times I was taken to an office (with staff) who appeared entirely authentic. When you enter, do you go straight ahead (past the cafe on the right), up the stairs one floor and turn RIGHT? Please correct me if I'm wrong about this. Many thanks...
After you go up the stairs to the waiting area and turn right you'll see a gift shop in front and towards the right, with a small lobby area to the left of it. As you go into that lobby turn to the right and the VFS Office is in front of you. There'll be a man (not usually in uniform but wearing a white shirt and black trousers) giving out numbered tickets and (usually) two female security guards checking baggage etc. before allowing people into the VFS Office itself.
As you approach the lobby all you can see to start with is a glass office door straight ahead. This is the Visa World Agency Office. It is their staff that approach you outside/downstairs but they have nothing to do with the VFS centre and should be avoided at all costs, unless you want to be parted from a lot of your cash of course 
ChrisWebber
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Posted 2010-02-21 03:12:58
With regard to Visa World. I must stress that this company has no relation to the very reputable company of the same name in the UK for whom I work.
Visa World (UK) are based in Mill Hill in London and have been providing consular services for over 20 years we are also an agent of the UK Passport office.
My advise is when applying for any form of visa. If you do not wish to visit the embassy or sub contracted handling centre, find a good consular service and take up references before handing over any payments. There are a number of companies around the world with the name visa world. Some are legit and will come up with the goods. However the company in Thailand is a front for a scam and I would not recommend going to them.
Also if anybody ever contacts you outside the embassy and tells you that they can help obtain a visa. Ask for a business card and look them up as often they are legitimate couriers for a visa company and they are just advertising their company. However many are scamsters.
VFS Global are not the best people to deal with at the best of times. In the UK they control the visas for India, Russia and a few others. They are a legitimate company and so far have provided a good service.
Posted 2010-02-21 21:27:04
ChrisWebber, on 2010-02-21 03:12:58, said: With regard to Visa World. I must stress that this company has no relation to the very reputable company of the same name in the UK for whom I work.
Visa World (UK) are based in Mill Hill in London and have been providing consular services for over 20 years we are also an agent of the UK Passport office.
I actually drove past your Office in London two weeks ago and, after spending so much time at the VFS centre over the years the name 'Visa World' almost jumped out and hit me  .
It's nice to know your not part of the Thai version at Regents House .
Posted 2010-02-22 01:15:32
Odd that, despite your office being in London and your website advertising a UK visa service, you do not appear on the OISC register and neither does your website display the OISC logo or make any reference that I can find to the OISC. Neither can I find any reference on your website to the company being a legal firm or exempt.
As it is a criminal offence for anyone to give immigration advice or services in the UK unless they are regulated by the OISC, a regulated solicitor, barrister or legal executive (or European equivalent) or exempted by Ministerial Order, would you care to expand on your company's status?
I am sure you appreciate the dangers of using an unqualified, unregulated adviser, so will have no objection to being asked this question.
Posted 2010-02-22 20:26:54
ChrisWebber, on 2010-02-21 03:12:58, said: Visa World (UK) are based in Mill Hill in London and have been providing consular services for over 20 years we are also an agent of the UK Passport office.
VFS Global are not the best people to deal with at the best of times. In the UK they control the visas for India, Russia and a few others. They are a legitimate company and so far have provided a good service.
Further to the point raised by 7by7, the IPS do not have any accredited agents, nor do they keep lists of agents or make recommendations.
The point you make about VFS Global who, as you say "are not the best people to deal at the best of times" but are "a legitimate company and have so far provided a good service" is obviously your opinion but for clarification they do not "control the visas" what they do is to receive applications and pass them on to the various visa authorities.
Hope you don't mind me clarifying the point.
Posted 2010-02-22 21:57:41
It is interesting that this subject keeps coming back to the top of the list on the forum. It is unfortunate that the entrance for the VFS office is so small for such a large office. The Visa World entrance is not that much smaller - the office however looks very tiny. I have not gained entry to either (Visa world, because my wife is too smart to fall for their tactics and VFS because I was not allowed in!)
There have been a few rather uncomplimentary and mostly unfair posts about the types of British men accompanying their wife/girlfriend to the office.
If anything the bulk of men seem to be rather more trusting than they should (sometimes far too much!) and have little experience of the more aggressive 'scams' seen abroad. Many Thais feel intimidated dealing with the authorities of a foreign country as happens with a visa application. This is what the scammers are preying on. We are not used to telling people to 'foxtrot oscar' as someone phrased it earlier in the posts.
A lot of people are quite inexperienced at dealing with these processes and I agree that more obvious signage outside the real office or a simple VFS 'report here' notice at security would help.
Not everyone there is as savvy as most posters are on this forum! Clearer signs giving written advice in English and Thai with the correct logos are a must and it is a bit of a disgrace that these are not a priority. The cost for VFS would be minimal and the drop in complaints would, I am sure be greatly appreciated!
Posted 2010-02-23 23:04:55
bobrussell, on 2010-02-22 21:57:41, said: Not everyone there is as savvy as most posters are on this forum! Clearer signs giving written advice in English and Thai with the correct logos are a must and it is a bit of a disgrace that these are not a priority. The cost for VFS would be minimal and the drop in complaints would, I am sure be greatly appreciated!
About three years ago an independent government inspector came to Bangkok to assess the whole visa system.
This was one point he picked up on and entered in his report. Both the British Embassy and the VFS centre agreed the signage was inadequate and agreed to rectify the situation..................................THEY JUST DIDN'T SAY WHEN
Posted 2010-10-06 20:33:35
Went to the vfs today to submit gfs visa application,after reading this post I kinda knew what to expect with touts etc and not much signage but we wasn't approached by anyone offering there services,but u can see them lurking around waiting to pounce on the weak.as for the signs I see 2 signs downstairs and abt 3 upstairs directing you to the vfs office so all in all if you are observant when you get there you should have no problems finding the vfs office and not the scums office.
Just hope visa is successful was straightforward enough but don't fancy going again lol
Annnick
Posted 2010-10-06 21:34:22
7by7, on 2010-02-22 01:15:32, said:
Odd that, despite your office being in London and your website advertising a UK visa service, you do not appear on the OISC register and neither does your website display the OISC logo or make any reference that I can find to the OISC. Neither can I find any reference on your website to the company being a legal firm or exempt.
As it is a criminal offence for anyone to give immigration advice or services in the UK unless they are regulated by the OISC, a regulated solicitor, barrister or legal executive (or European equivalent) or exempted by Ministerial Order, would you care to expand on your company's status?
I am sure you appreciate the dangers of using an unqualified, unregulated adviser, so will have no objection to being asked this question.
RAZZ
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