Warning: False visa agents and cyber scams

Agents

The Embassy only cooperates with VFS Global. The Embassy has nothing to do with sellers outside the premises of the Embassy or the VFS Global office, or other agencies or persons approaching applicants in order to offer services. No agencies can influence the processing time or the decision in any way. If any visa agents say that they can influence your application, we urge you to immediately inform the Embassy by sending an e-mail to migration.bangkok@gov.se or give us a call during our telephone hours.  

Many agents also charge unreasonably high fees for services which are unnecessary. The use of a visa agent may also compromise the overall credibility of an application as certain agents fabricate information and documentation.

Also note that even if an agent has filled in the form, you are personally responsible for all information and documents that you hand in with your application. 

Cyber scams

The embassy regularly receives telephone calls and e-mails from victims of cyber-scams. They are often asked to transfer money to a person they have met online that lives in South East Asia. Often, the contact that has been initiated on various social networks and may have lasted for several months. If you think you are a victim of fraud, you should contact the Swedish police.

Common reasons given by cyber-criminals for asking for money are:

• The person states that he or she has been granted a visa, but needs to show that he/she has enough money to travel into Sweden or to travel out of his/her country
• The person can not leave his/her country until he/she shows a certain amount of bank funds or has paid a fine or bank loans
• The person has been arrested and needs help with the bail
• The visa fee is a high amount that does not match current fees.

When the money is transferred, the recipient often breaks the contact or asks for more money. The embassy strongly advise against sending money to a new contact in South East Asia, especially if you have never met the person in question.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine if the person has honest intentions or not. Then remember that:

• Sponsorship/subsistence for the planned stay can be proven by e.g. bank statement or salary specification from both the applicant and the inviting person in Sweden. The applicant does not need to have a certain amount of money on his or her personal account
• You must show that you have the financial means before the embassy makes a decision on a visa. The embassy never demand additional documents after the visa has been granted 
• The embassy only cooperates with VFS Global's visa application centers.
• When an application is lodged at VFS Global, the applicant always receive a receipt with a reference number for the application. The status of the application can be checked on the website.