Disclaimer
VFS Global GCC LLC
France Visa Appointment and Information Service
France Visa Appointment and Information Service is a service provided for Embassies and Consulates General of France by VFS Global GCC LLC (hereinafter referred to as “VFS Global”).
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Important Notes
VFS Global recommends that you do not purchase tickets or make bookings which cannot be cancelled without cost prior to the issuance of a visa, except where it is a specific requirement stated as part of the visa application.
These terms contain a disclaimer which limits our liability. see clause 6 below.
Unless we are negligent and as a result we make the wrong appointment or you miss an appointment, under no circumstances will a refund of a service fee be provided, and your service may be retained by us on payment by you, even if you cancel, do not attend an appointment, or do not make or proceed with a visa application, and whether or not a visa is ultimately granted.
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Service Provider
The service is provided by VFS Global. You can write to us at VFS Global GCC LLC, WAFI Mall, Level 3, Falcon, Phase 2, Umm Hurair2, Dubai 114 100, UAE
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Application of These Terms
These terms and conditions govern your use of the services of VFS Global for the scheduling of appointments for visa applications, and the provision of help, support, advice and information by us (including through our website and call centres). References in these terms to applicants are to anyone who schedules an appointment or seeks help, support, advice and information.
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The Visa Application Service
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Scope
VFS Global is the outsourced partner of French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this capacity, VFS Global is authorized and employed to schedule visa application appointments to the Embassies and Consulates General of France in following regions / cities, and to provide associated help, support, advice and information in relation to visa applications the scheduling of appointments. The Embassies and Consulates General of France will hand over the passport to the Applicants directly
VFS Global carries out these services through its website, e-mail, and call-centres.
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Acceptance and Rejection of Applications
The assessment of visa applications is carried out by the Embassies/Consulates General of France, and the grant or refusal of France visas is at their sole discretion. The Embassies/Consulates General of France reserve their right to ask for further documentation and information from applicants as they deem fit and also reserve their right to refuse the grant of any visa application. In case of any requirement by the Embassies/Consulates General of France for further documents and or information, applicants must supply such further documents and information if they desire for their application to continue to be considered by the Embassy/Consulate General of France. In certain cases, instead of the aforesaid procedure, the Consulate General of the France will hand over the relevant documents to the Applicants directly. In such cases, VFS Global shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the documents, in any manner whatsoever.
Fees
VFS Global shall charge a service fee for the scheduling of visa application appointments with the Embassies/Consulates General by France. The service fee must be received in full under the available payment options as cleared funds for an appointment to be confirmed.
Please note this is not the visa fee. You will be required to pay the applicable visa fee at the Embassy/Consulate General of France at the time of submission of your application.
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General Obligation
VFS Global will process all appointment requests and requests for help, support, advice information with reasonable care and skill and in accordance with all procedures prescribed by the Embassy/Consulate General of France from time to time. We do not undertake to verify any information as provided by you, and you will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the same.
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Applicant's Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all applicants to provide us with accurate and complete information. Applicants are also required to ensure that the credit/debit card being used to pay the service fee is rightfully possessed by them. VFS Global will not be responsible for checking the authenticity of the credit/debit card and shall have no liability if an applicant fraudulently books an appointment via our website or helpline, using an unauthorized card.
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Processing Times and Procedures
Any processing times for visas given are estimates only based on information from the Embassies/Consulates General of France. The processing of your application is subject to the procedures and timescales of Embassies/Consulates General of France and the French Ministry, over which we have no control. VFS Global hereby declares that it has no role whatsoever in the assessment of a visa application, as the same is processed by and whether to grant visa as applied for or not is the sole prerogative of the Embassies/Consulates General of France. Therefore, VFS Global will not in any manner be liable or responsible for rejection of any visa applications or any delay.
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Cancellation/Rescheduling
Once an appointment is taken, you may choose to reschedule or cancel your appointment. You are permitted to reschedule your appointment only once, free of charge, but your request must be received more than 48 hours before the date set for your original appointment. Any further rescheduling will not be permitted. If you wish to change your appointment again you will have to cancel the current appointment and make a new one for which an additional service fee will be payable. In the event of cancellation of an appointment you will not be entitled to a refund of the service fee.
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Refund Policy
Unless we are negligent and as a result we make the wrong appointment under no circumstances will a refund of a service fee be provided, and your service may be retained by us on payment by you, even if you cancel, do not attend an appointment, or do not make or proceed with a visa application, and whether or not a visa is ultimately granted.
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Disclaimer - Please read carefully
Except for refund of the service fee if we are negligent and make the wrong appointment, VFS Global excludes its liability in connection with its services, visa appointments, visa applications, and help, support, information and advice given, including liability in or under contract, negligence, tort, statute or otherwise howsoever, and including liability delays involving the Embassies/Consulates General of France or the French Ministry, and fraudulent use of debit/credit cards.
And for the avoidance of doubt:
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No Liability for Incorrect Information
VFS Global shall have no liability for loss, delays or non-issuance of any application arising from or in connection with (to include but not restricted to) inaccurate or incomplete information from applicants, incomplete application forms, incorrectly or falsely completed application forms, and inaccurate or incomplete supporting documentation.
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No Liability for Events Not In Our Control
VFS Global shall not be considered to be in breach of contract or negligent or otherwise liable in any way for any delay or failure of any visa appointment or application due to failure in internet connection, power outage, accident, theft, natural calamities (act of god) or any other reason outside the control of, and not arising out of a wilful default of, VFS Global.
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No Liability for Assessment of Visa Applications
VFS Global is not involved in the process of assessment of visa applications, or their grant or refusal, and shall not be liable or responsible for any delay by any Embassy/Consulate General of France or the French Ministry in honouring any appointment, or assessing, or granting or refusing any visa application, or for the grant or rejection of any visa application. The application fees once received by VFS Global from the applicant will not be refundable under any circumstances, irrespective of whether or not the desired visa is granted by Embassy/Consulate General of France or the French Ministry to the applicant.
The applicant agrees and accepts that VFS Global neither controls any Embassy/Consulate General of France or the French Ministry nor does it control or operate the services provided by them. Hence, VFS Global will not be liable or responsible in any manner whatsoever for the loss or damage of applicant Documents is due to any default on the part of the Consulate General of the France.
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No Liability for Wasted Costs and Expenses
VFS Global shall have no liability to any applicant, or any other person relying on or benefiting from any visa application, for any commitment, cost or expenditure incurred in reliance on or anticipation of receiving a France visa, whether within a particular timescale or at all, including but not limited to, call charges, internet charges, air travel, hotel, and other travel and accommodation arrangements, and any other arrangements made or charges paid.
VFS Global recommends that applicants do not purchase tickets or make bookings which cannot be cancelled prior to the issuance of a visa, except where it is a specific requirement stated as part of the visa application, in which case open tickets should be obtained.
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General Exclusion of Loss and Damage
VFS Global shall have no liability (including in contract or for negligence) to any applicant, or any other person relying on or benefiting from any visa application, for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, consequential damages or any damages or any damages whatsoever due to such delay/ misplacement/ loss/ damage of the documents, including the applicant's passport. Without prejudice to the aforesaid, takes every reasonable care and precaution in handling and delivering the Documents of visa applicants and shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the documents including passport/ for any reason whatsoever or in any manner howsoever (save where it is proven in a competent court of law that the loss or the damage was due to the willful intentional or reckless act of VFS Global or any of its staff acting in the course of their employment).
VFS Global’s and/or its representatives sole and exclusive liability in case a passport is lost or damaged in transit, is limited/restricted to the reimbursement of the amount of fees charged by the Embassy/Consulate General of France or the French Ministry, for the replacement of a lost / damaged passport through normal application procedure. Such reimbursement of the fee amount will be made by VFS Global to the applicant only on the presentation by the applicant of the payment receipt issued by the Embassy/Consulate General of France or the French Ministry. The applicant agrees that the foregoing limitation of liability is an agreed allocation of risk between the parties and this limitation of liability is and shall be an integral part of this disclaimer.
VFS Global shall have no liability (including in contract or for negligence) to any applicant or any other person relying on or benefiting from any visa application, for any loss of profit, revenue, or contract, or loss or damage related to a business, profession, or other occupation.
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Indemnity
The visa applicant/user agrees to indemnify and hold VFS Global, its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint venture partners and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of the breach, or violation by the user of any law of any country or the rights of a third party.
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General
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Third Party Rights
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall benefit or be enforceable by any person other than the applicant.
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Changes to these terms
VFS Global, in its sole discretion, may change, amend, cancel or withdraw any or all of these terms and conditions at any time without any prior notice. No employee of VFS Global has any authority whatsoever to change, amend, amplify or withdraw any or all of these terms and conditions without prior written approval from VFS Global.
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Applicable Law
These terms and conditions and any visa applications shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Bahrain. Any claims or disputes arising in relation to the services provided by VFS Global to the applicant shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Bahrain
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Restriction on using the site
Do not use the site if you cannot or are barred from entering into legally binding contracts or you are under the age of 18 or are temporarily or indefinitely suspended or prohibited from or accessing or using this or the linked sites as may be applicable.
- Complaints and Queries
Please address any complaints and queries to the Feedback IDs provided on the “Contact Us” section of the website, or to our postal address set out above.
Privacy Policy
Scope
VFS Global is an outsourced is an outsourced partner of Diplomatic Missions across globe, and is authorized to receive applications for various categories of visa, permit and travel document and perform administrative and non-judgmental tasks/functions related to the same, as per the mandate of concerned Diplomatic Missions. By virtue of processing these applications, VFS Global acts as a data processor and the respective Diplomatic Mission/s are the data controller. This Privacy Policy describes how VFS Global collects, uses, discloses and manages personal information related to individuals (hereinafter referred to as “Applicant/s”) applying for visas and permits, and makes available to relevant authorities for the purpose detailed below.
Purpose of collection, use, disclosure etc. of Personal Information
Applicants may be required to provide certain information in relation to scheduling an appointment for France Visa at an Embassy/Consulate General for France pertaining to them such as name, address, date of birth, telephone number, passport information, This information is collected as per the requirement mandated by the concerned Diplomatic Missions / Governments and/ or relevant Visa Offices.
Such personal information may be collected, used or disclosed in order to facilitate the appointment scheduling services and associated help, support, advice, and information in relation to France. The information is passed to the Embassies and Consulate General of France for confirming the appointments. Such information shall be retained separately by the Embassies and Consulates General of France and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with their data protection policies.
Provision of personal information is voluntary. Please note, however, that a refusal to provide personal information may limit or affect ability of VFS Global to provide the requested services.
As mandated by the Diplomatic Mission/s, VFS Global may (by itself of through third party service providers/ vendors) provide various facilities for inquiries related visa application process in general and/ or status of visa applications submitted through VFS Global such as call center, online tracking, e-mail etc.
Provision of personal information is voluntary. Please note, however, that a refusal to provide personal information may limit or affect ability of VFS Global to provide the requested services.
As mandated by the Diplomatic Mission/s, VFS Global may (by itself of through third party service providers/ vendors) provide various facilities for inquiries related visa application process in general and/ or status of visa applications submitted through VFS Global such as call center, online tracking, e-mail etc.
- Inquiry about general visa application process:
Users making inquiries as regards visa application process in general, need not provide any personal information.
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Users making inquiries as regards visa application process however should not ask or reveal the passport number or personal information while interacting via email with VFS Global and/or its third party service providers/ vendors. Instead use of application reference number is recommended. VFS Global shall not be obliged to respond to e-mails containing personal information. In case any personal information is disclosed, the same shall be at the sole risk of the Users/ applicants and VFS Global will not be in any manner responsible for any events of misuse etc.
Interview Scheduling
Certain Diplomatic Missions may require the Applicant’s to attend for personal interview. Applicants will be required to provide their application reference number and/or certain personal information such as family name, given name, date of birth, phone number, street address, email address, application date, and passport number for purpose of scheduling interviews.
All such information, posted, furnished and submitted by the Applicants while scheduling an interview appointment is converted into such formats as may be required and communicated to the respective Diplomatic Mission having jurisdiction to receive such application/s.
Certain data and information related to visa applications received by VFS Global is presently stored/ hosted at data center/s in UK (London) and India (Mumbai). The data captured by VFS Global in its systems for processing of visa applications of applicants from European Union is stored within the European Union (EU) boundary. The data of applicants other than that from EU may be stored in VFS Global systems either within the EU boundary at data center in UK (London) or at data center in India (Mumbai).
This information may be used, disclosed by VFS GLOBAL for performing its various obligations towards respective Diplomatic Missions and will be purged within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt by VFS GLOBAL. However no information/ data containing Personal Information of the Applicant/s is stored at the data center/s mentioned above.
Disclosures of Personal Information
VFS GLOBAL will not trade, rent or sell personal information of the Applicants. VFS GLOBAL does disclose or otherwise transfer Personal Information of the Applicants, except as otherwise set out herein. Personal Information will be used only for the purposes of providing services and performing its various obligations.
However VFS GLOBAL may need to disclose and share Personal Information when it is necessary to comply with a court order, any on-going judicial proceeding, or other legal, statutory or regulatory process served on VFS GLOBAL or to exercise the legal rights or defend against legal claims, criminal investigations, judicial matters or in prevention, investigation, detection, prosecution of criminal activities or matters related to national security.
Where you make any payments to us (such as our service fee) by card, including credit or debit card, or any online or electronic means, then we may disclose your information to our payment processor, but only to the extent required for the purposes of payment processing. They will use it for the purposes of processing your payment.
VFS Global does not intend to use the personal information of the applicant for any other purpose, except with the consent of the applicant such information may be used for the purpose of sending related marketing information (such as airline advertisements) which is sent by e-mail if the applicant has given VFS Global an e-mail address.
Service Provider Arrangements
VFS GLOBAL may disclose (or otherwise make available) personal information to third party service providers providing services like courier delivery, SMS, call center services. These third party service providers are provided with such information they need to perform their designated functions and are not authorized to use or disclose personal information for their own purposes. For example, where the visa applicant has opted for courier service, VFS GLOBAL will disclose certain Personal data such as name, address, phone number to the third party courier service providers. However personal information will not be shared with service provider/s for SMS service/s. Such third party service providers are also required to adhere to security & privacy requirements as outlined by VFS GLOBAL.
Cookies
Cookies are files or pieces of information that may be stored on system or internet enabled devices of the User, when the User visits the website/s of VFS GLOBAL. VFS GLOBAL uses cookies to make the website/s simpler to use. VFS GLOBAL cannot identify the User personally from this information.
- VFS Global website offers certain features that are only available through the use of cookies.
- The cookies help website users and maintain their signed-in-status.
- Most cookies are “session cookies.” Meaning that they are automatically deleted from the website user’s hard drive at the end of a session when the applicant/user exits the website. However “Persistent cookies” remain in place across multiple visits to our websites.
- Applicant/website user may encounter cookies from any links of third parties on certain pages of the website that VFS GLOBAL does not control.
Once a User accesses the website/s of VFS GLOBAL, User consents to use of cookies by VFS GLOBAL. If User does not agree to use of cookies, User should not use website/s of VFS GLOBAL. If the cookies are disabled, it may impact the User experience on website/s of VFS GLOBAL.
SPAM
- VFS Global does not tolerate spam.
- VFS Global website/s or communication tools shall not be used to send spam or otherwise send content that would violate the terms and conditions of VFS Global user agreement.
- VFS Global filters and automatically scans messages for viruses and other illegal or prohibited content before they are sent.
- To report any issues related to spam or spoof emails to VFS Global, please address e-mails to communicate@vfsglobal.com.
- VFS Global does not permanently store email messages sent to or by it through various formats. VFS Global does not rent or sell any email address to third parties.
- A user/users is/are not licensed, permitted, expected to add, modify, deface, hack, misuse or abuse VFS Global’ website or the contents therein.
Security
VFS GLOBAL has implemented measures designed to help protect personal information in its custody and control. VFS GLOBAL maintains reasonable administrative, technical, physical and organizational safeguards in an effort to protect personal information in its custody and control. However VFS GLOBAL shall not be liable for unlawful access, use, modification, destruction, destruction or interceptions by unauthorized persons.
Retention Destruction of Personal Information
Application packages collected from Applicants will not be copied or retained by VFS GLOBAL. Unless otherwise mandated by the concerned Diplomatic Mission, any other paper, hard copies, forms or other records containing personal information will be destroyed by a secure shredding process within thirty (30) days of a passport’s return to an applicant.
For the purposes of assisting the Applicants should they contact VFS GLOBAL with follow-up queries, Applicant personal information may be retained in electronic form, after passport and/or documents have been returned to the Applicants, for a maximum of thirty (30) days or for such period as specified by the respective Governments/ Diplomatic Missions.
VFS GLOBAL performs secure disposal or destruction of personal information on the equipment or devices used for storing personal information. When disposing of equipment or devices used for storing personal information (such as filing cabinets, computers, diskettes, and audio tapes), VFS GLOBAL takes appropriate measures such as to removal or deletion of any stored information to prevent access by unauthorized parties.
Legal
VFS GLOBAL and its third party service providers/ vendors may provide personal information in response to a search warrant or other legally valid inquiry pursuant to contravention of law / order or to an investigative body or as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law VFS GLOBAL may also disclose personal information where necessary for the establishment, exercise or a defence of legal claims, or as otherwise permitted by law.
Indemnity
The visa applicant/user agrees to indemnify and hold VFS Global, its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint venture partners and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of the breach, or violation by the user of any law of any country or the rights of a third party.
Third Party Links
VFS GLOBAL website may contain links to other/ third party sites promoting various products and/or services that VFS GLOBAL does not own or operate. These links to websites are in nature of paid advertising and are not verified by VFS GLOBAL. These links are provided for convenience and access to these links is voluntary and does not indicate that VFS GLOBAL endorses or is associated with any of these other third party websites. Users are requested to use their own discretion while dealing with these websites and neither VFS GLOBAL nor its officers, employees, agents shall have any responsibility or liability of any nature whatsoever for these other third party websites or any information contained in them.
These linked websites have their own separate and independent privacy statements, notices and terms of use, which Users are recommended to carefully review the same. VFS GLOBAL does not have any control over such third party websites, and therefore shall have no liability or responsibility their personal information practices.
Personal Information
Please note that disclosure of personal information is voluntary. The Applicants/Users disclosing personal information shall be deemed to have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consents to use and disclosure of the personal information as provided in this Privacy Policy. The Applicants/Users have right to withdraw their consent prior to further disclosure of the personal information by VFS GLOBAL to the Diplomatic Missions / Governments and/ or relevant Visa Offices or other third parties.
Applicant/s have right to their personal information provided by them. Users may request access to their personal information by writing an email to the Info email ID mentioned on the “Contact Us” page with subject line as “Subject Access Request”. This request will be forwarded to the respective Governments/ Diplomatic Missions since they are the data controllers and further action will be taken by VFS GLOBAL based on the directions received by the respective Governments/ Diplomatic Missions.
VFS GLOBAL shall not be responsible to ascertain authenticity or accuracy of the information provided by the Applicant. It shall be the duty of the Applicant to ensure that the information provided to VFS GLOBAL is accurate, complete and up to date.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
Please be advised that the Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time and Users/ Applicants to regularly visit VFS GLOBAL website to access the latest policy statement.
Contact Us
For any questions about this Privacy Policy or the practices described herein, please write to vfsprivacy@vfsglobal.com for more information.
Inquiries
For inquiries as regards Privacy Policy please send e-mail to vfsglobalprivacyofficer@vfsglobal.com
Beware of fraudulent job offers
Fraudulent Recruitment / Employment Offers
It has come to VFS Global’s attention that, individuals misrepresenting themselves as VFS Global’ agents or representatives have approached people to offer fraudulent/fictitious employment opportunities, with the intent to steal personal information or solicit money from people. We encourage you to exercise caution and common sense when receiving any such employment offer, which requires payment of any fees/money, or promises a work visa in exchange for money. The said offers are completely fake and not valid. VFS Global is not a Recruitment agency and does not offer recruitment services. Scammers operate primarily via the internet, email, phone etc. We warn people to beware of such scams.
Please be advised that, VFS Global is a visa processing company and we work only with government and diplomatic missions to fulfil their administrative requirements of visa application processing. Neither VFS Global nor its representatives will ask for money from individuals under any circumstances to lure them with employment opportunities either in VFS Global or outside. If you receive any offer that purports to be from VFS Global, which ask for money, these types of offers are fraudulent.
Warning signs of recruitment fraud
The following are some examples of recruitment fraud which are in violation of VFS Global’s processes and ethical practices:
- The email is not sent from an official VFS Global e-mail address but from a free e-mail service such as: Hotmail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. It is also possible that, the email is sent from a fake email address.
- You are asked to disclose private or confidential information.
- You are asked to be interviewed over the phone or via an instant-messenger type program.
- You are requested to pay fees/money.
- You are requested to complete bogus recruitment documentations such as an application or employment visa forms, (the VFS Global name and logo could be forged/fabricated and featured on the documentation without authority).
- Insistence on urgency.
- Money will be requested for processing Work Permits, Visa applications or the like.
Such actions are presumably intended to defraud or obtain personal information from the victims.
The activities of these individuals involve criminal and civil liabilities. While VFS Global takes such matter seriously and reserves its right to contact competent law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute such illegal activities, it is often difficult to locate and prosecute these individuals.
Therefore, if you receive a request, either in writing or verbally, for an interview or a job offer that you believe is or might be fraudulent or suspicious, please disregard them. You may also verify the same with VFS Global at communications@vfsglobal.com
If you come to know that a fraud is being perpetrated, we encourage to forthwith contact your local police and/or any competent authorities and also to keep us informed by reporting the fraud at acco@vfsglobal.com
Under no circumstances will VFS Global be liable or responsible for any loss, damages, expenses or inconvenience resulting from these unauthorized persons and/or activities.
