Refund Policy
Refund Policy
Mainstay Abroad’s Refund Policy
This policy ( “refund Policy or Policy”) is applicable in the only service fees and value –added services Fees collected by Mainstay Abroad. This fee does not apply to visa fee and legalization fees which are collected or paid for embassy. Visa fee and other including service fees of vfs global are not applied in this policy. Visa fees and legalisation fees are subject to the discretion of the respective visa issuing government.
This is a public notice that all applicants must read this policy carefully before applying for visa and taking our services in this same concern. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the terms of this Refund Policy, prior to purchasing any services from Mainstay Abroad. By using the services offered by Mainstay Abroad an Applicant has read, understood, and agreed to Mainstay Abroad’s Refund Policy.
Definitions
“Applicant” refers to any person who apply for a visa or any person who request and/or purchase the Services and or Value-Added Services.
“Application” refers to an application form duly finished and submitted to VFS Global or Embassy by Online or Offline by the Applicant or their authorized representative for the provision of Services and or Value-Added Services.
“Government” refers to the relevant government issuing a visa. As per the specified country of the embassies or local consular bodies.
"Issuer" refers to the bank or entity who has issued the Applicant’s credit or debit card, UPI, or any others means of tractions.
"Refund Eligibility Criteria" refers to the criteria stated herein section. As directed by Mainstay Abroad.
"Refund Request Form" refers to the Mainstay Abroad’s form with a requested note or information and supporting documents to generate a refund request which may be processed and submitted online.
"Service Fees”: refers to the fees payable by the Applicant for the Services bought in accordance with the Services Terms and Conditions.
"Services” ": refers to visa processing services, which are offered by Mainstay Abroad
"Transaction Charges" refers to any fees imposed by a bank or financial institution or entity for processing a valid refund demand to the Applicant.
“Value Added Services” refers to the all the optional value-added services or additional services, or first-class services obtained by an Applicant which are offered on Mainstay Abroad’s website
“Value Added Services Fee” refers to the fees payable by the Applicant for Value Added Services acquired in accordance with Mainstay Abroad’s Website Terms and Conditions
“Mainstay Abroad” refers to Mainstay Abroad Org. or any of its subsidiaries, associate or affiliate or group companies
“Visa Fees” refers to the fees charged by the applicable government body for issuing a visa to an Applicant
"Website" means the Mainstay Abroad website
"Website Terms and Conditions" means the terms and conditions relevant to and posted on Mainstay Abroad website.
General Refund Conditions
Applicants are required to visit the Mainstay Abroad website to review the Refund Policy for detailed information.
The Service Fee and/or Value-Added Services Fees may be refundable based on the terms outlined and provided that the Applicant has completed the payment for the respective services. A refund request can be made only if it meets the specific Refund Eligibility Criteria.
The Refund Policy is subject to the local laws of the country where the services are being delivered to the Applicant.
Refunds for Service Fees and Value-Added Services Fees will only be considered if the Applicant adheres to the Refund Eligibility Criteria. Should the Applicant fail to meet these criteria, Mainstay Abroad reserves the right to decline the refund request at its discretion.
To apply for a refund, the Applicant must accurately communicate and submit a Refund Request by online, along with all required supporting documents.
Mainstay Abroad will begin processing the Applicant's refund request as soon as possible. The time taken for a response may vary based on the payment method and the reason for the refund. Mainstay Abroad will inform the Applicant of the decision within the timeframes set under the Refund Processing Timelines.
Submitting the Refund Request does not guarantee that the Service Fees will be refunded. Mainstay Abroad has the discretion to approve or reject the refund request.
Any transaction charges, exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, or administrative charges incurred during the refund process will be solely borne by the Applicant and will be deducted from the refund amount.
Mainstay Abroad, VAT, or similar taxes applied to the Service Fees and Value-Added Services Fees may also be refunded, subject to relevant tax laws.
Refund Eligibility Criteria
For Mainstay Abroad, the following policies apply for service cancellations and refunds:
1. Service Cancellations: Clients must cancel their services at least 3 business days before their scheduled visa appointment. Proof of cancellation must be submitted along with the Refund Request. Refund requests will only be accepted if the email is submitted within 30 days of canceling the visa appointment.
2. Eligibility for Refund: Refunds are subject to the terms outlined and include Mainstay Abroad's data retention obligations with government authorities. If a client has been charged more than once for the same service or has paid an excess amount, they may be eligible for a refund upon providing proof of overpayment.
3. Non-Refundable Situations: Refunds will not be granted in the following cases:
o The service has been partially used by the client.
o The client missed their scheduled appointment and is not eligible for a rescheduled appointment. As started by vfs
o The client arrives late to their appointment and no other time slots are available on the same day. As started by vfs
o The client chooses not to proceed with their visa application.
o The client fails to cancel their appointment within the required time.
o The client selects the wrong Visa Application Center location for their appointment.
4. Refund Processing Timeline: Refunds for service or value-added service fees will be processed within 15 working days after the client is notified of the refund decision.
5. Receiving Your Refund: Refunds will be issued using the same payment method as the original transaction. For example, if the payment was made via credit or debit card, the refund will be returned to the same card or by any convenience. If Mainstay Abroad cannot process the refund through the original payment method, the client will be notified about alternative refund options.
6. Credit/Debit Card Refunds: If the payment was made by credit or debit card, the timeline for receiving the refund will depend on the card issuer’s processing time.
These policies ensure transparency and fairness for all our clients, aligning with Mainstay Abroad's commitment to providing exceptional services.