Outsourcing giant VFS Global issued a rare region-wide alert on 2 March urging applicants bound for India, the UK and Schengen states to **verify centre opening hours before travelling**. The notice—first posted on X and later carried by Business Today—comes amid rolling airspace closures and curfews in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
Key points:
• Centres remain operational where local authorities permit, but **walk-ins are suspended**; only pre-booked customers will be admitted.
• Free rescheduling is available for slots between 1 and 7 March; applicants will not lose priority in the processing queue.
• Premium-lounge and biometric-on-demand services are paused in high-risk locations until further notice.
![VFS Global Warns Middle-East Visa Applicants to Re-check Appointments as Conflict Escalates]()
Amid these shifting rules, travellers may find added support through VisaHQ, whose India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers live appointment data, document pre-checks and guidance on alternate submission points when primary centres are offline. While the service cannot bypass official queues, it can streamline paperwork, courier logistics and rescheduling so companies lose as little time as possible.
For Indian corporates the impact is two-fold. First, outbound assignees waiting on Gulf work permits may see timelines slip a week. Second, inbound executives from the region—especially those using the India Business e-Visa—could be delayed if they cannot complete biometrics in time. Mobility teams should **map contingency hubs** (e.g., Muscat or Istanbul) where appointments can still be secured and budget for courier rerouting charges. VFS stressed that documents already lodged are safe; backend processing continues at mission counters that have shifted staff to secure facilities. It also reminded travellers that *no third-party agent can guarantee faster slots*—a message aimed at curbing the black-market resale of appointments that has proliferated during previous crises. The advisory underscores how quickly visa logistics can unravel when geopolitics intrude. HR leaders should incorporate flex days and alternative submission cities into all new assignment timelines to the Middle East until the conflict stabilises.
Key points:
• Centres remain operational where local authorities permit, but **walk-ins are suspended**; only pre-booked customers will be admitted.
• Free rescheduling is available for slots between 1 and 7 March; applicants will not lose priority in the processing queue.
• Premium-lounge and biometric-on-demand services are paused in high-risk locations until further notice.
Amid these shifting rules, travellers may find added support through VisaHQ, whose India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers live appointment data, document pre-checks and guidance on alternate submission points when primary centres are offline. While the service cannot bypass official queues, it can streamline paperwork, courier logistics and rescheduling so companies lose as little time as possible.
For Indian corporates the impact is two-fold. First, outbound assignees waiting on Gulf work permits may see timelines slip a week. Second, inbound executives from the region—especially those using the India Business e-Visa—could be delayed if they cannot complete biometrics in time. Mobility teams should **map contingency hubs** (e.g., Muscat or Istanbul) where appointments can still be secured and budget for courier rerouting charges. VFS stressed that documents already lodged are safe; backend processing continues at mission counters that have shifted staff to secure facilities. It also reminded travellers that *no third-party agent can guarantee faster slots*—a message aimed at curbing the black-market resale of appointments that has proliferated during previous crises. The advisory underscores how quickly visa logistics can unravel when geopolitics intrude. HR leaders should incorporate flex days and alternative submission cities into all new assignment timelines to the Middle East until the conflict stabilises.
