How to check a visa service is legitimate, not a scam

Many people lose money to fake visa services because they assume a professional-looking website and fast promises mean legitimacy. The visa industry has real, searchable registers, and a scammer rarely appears in them. Before you hand over cash, you need to verify the person or company actually exists in the places that count.

Check the official registers first

Ask which country's visa authority they work with — UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Schengen countries — and then search that country's official register of licensed visa advisers. The UK Home Office publishes a register of immigration advisers; Canada's immigration consultants are listed by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC); Australia's are on the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) database. If they claim to help with US visas, ask for their number from the Executive Office for Immigration Review. These registers are public and searchable online. A real service will give you their registration number without hesitation. If they dodge the question or claim they don't need registration because they're "just helpers," that's a hard red flag.

In South Africa, check whether they're registered with CIPC as a legitimate business entity. This doesn't guarantee they're competent, but it confirms they're a real company with a traceable identity. Ask for their CIPC registration number and verify it yourself on the CIPC website.

Request proof of qualifications and past work

Ask for evidence that they've actually handled visa applications before — not vague testimonials, but real names and contact details of people they've helped. Call or WhatsApp those references directly and ask pointed questions: Did this service deliver what it promised? How long did it take? Did they charge extra fees mid-process? Were there any problems with the application that the service didn't warn them about? Someone running a genuine visa service will have a list of willing references. If they say "we can't share names for confidentiality," that's evasive. References don't need to give away details of someone's travel plans — just confirm whether the service was reliable.

Ask also whether they hold professional indemnity insurance. A legitimate adviser or consultant will carry this to protect you if their advice goes wrong. They should be able to show you proof.

Watch for pressure and unrealistic promises

Scammers often create urgency — "You must pay now or the visa window closes" or "This offer expires today." Real visa services understand that visa processing has fixed timelines set by government, not by the service provider. They won't promise a guaranteed approval, a faster processing speed than the official one, or a visa "within days." Anyone claiming they can speed up a government visa process is lying. Visas take as long as they take, and no private service changes that.

Never pay the full fee upfront in cash or untraceable methods. Legitimate services invoice you, break payment into stages tied to deliverables, and accept bank transfer or credit card — methods that leave a paper trail. If they demand cash-in-hand or a deposit to an offshore account, walk away.

Verify contact details independently

Don't use contact numbers or email addresses from their website. Instead, search for the company name plus "phone" or "contact" on Google, the Better Business Bureau (if they operate internationally), or local business registries. If the phone number on their website doesn't match independent listings, that's suspicious. Call the number you find independently and ask to be transferred to the person who quoted you. Real businesses have consistent, verifiable contact details across multiple platforms.

For added safety, ask whether they're willing to put their promises in writing — a signed agreement outlining exactly what they'll do, when, and what happens if they don't deliver. Scammers rarely commit to paper.

Verifying a visa service takes time, but it costs far less than losing a deposit or ending up with a rejected application because the service gave you bad advice. Strove lists visa assistance providers who have been vetted, so you can see reviews from other travellers and check their credentials before reaching out.