VFS (GCC) LLC (hereinafter referred to as VFS) is an outsource partner of the Australian Consulate General in the UAE. In this capacity, VFS receive from Applicants for an Australian Visa the required documents and applicable fees for further processing. After the visa applications are assessed by the Australian Consulate General, VFS handles the return of returnable documents to Applicants, except where the Australian Consulate General elects to return such documents directly to an Applicant.

VFS do hereby declare that they have no role whatsoever in the assessment of a visa application, which is the sole prerogative of the Australian Consulate General.

Therefore, VFS will not in any manner be liable or responsible for any delay in the processing or rejection of any visa applications, once the documents have been delivered to the Australian Consulate General.

VFS will take every precaution in handling passports and documents submitted by applicants. Due to unforeseen events and circumstances of Force Majeure, Force Majeure means any event or occurrence which is outside control of the Party concerned and which is not attributable to any act or failure to take preventive action by the Party concerned, but shall not include any industrial action occurring within VFS or any sub-contractor of VFS.

Where the Applicant avails of the Courier Acceptance Service or Courier Return Service, the Applicant confirms and is aware that the courier acceptance and delivery services have been operated by the third party and VFS do not assure any responsibility or liability for any deficiency in service on part of the Courier Company in case a passport or other documents are lost or damaged in transit.

VFS shall not be responsible or liable for any consequential loss or damage that may be caused to the Applicant due to loss of passport and related documents. It is expressly understood that when the Applicant or representative of the Applicant submits the passport and related documents along with the applicable visa fees, the Applicant has understood the terms and conditions and details as mentioned herein. The fees once paid by the Applicant are not refundable under any circumstances.

Demands Drafts are subject to realisation.

Advertising material may accompany along with returnable documents back to the Applicant. If the Applicant does not wish to receive any advertising material along with passport and related documents, the Applicant must intimate to VFS in advance. Please note that no advertising material sent back with the passport and related documents has the endorsement of the Australian Government.

No employee of VFS has any right or authority to change, amend, and amplify the contents mentioned herein.

Dispute of any nature whatsoever, the jurisdiction will be Dubai.

“ By utilizing the services of VFS for processing of visa applications, the Applicant irrevocably authorizes and permits VFS as it deems fit to disclose and furnish, both inside and outside the U.A.E., information concerning the Application which the Applicant has provided to VFS for purposes of processing the visa application of the Applicant (the “Information”) to VFS’ headquarters, subsidiaries, affiliates, associates, branches, service providers, assignees, agents, insurers, third party contractors or any other persons in order to enable VFS to process the visa application of the Application.

The Applicant authorizes the disclosure of information without the need for prior consent or approval or notification in any manner whatsoever.”