CIBT Reviews 

Order Reference: A1687362

I used CIBT Visas to assist with obtaining a Saudi Arabian one-year multi-entry visa. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing and unnecessarily stressful.

To be fair, email responses were generally prompt. However, I found the overall service expensive, confusing, and lacking transparency.

One of the first issues was discovering that the 0844 number listed on the CIBT website is a premium-rate number. I was charged over £8.00 simply to hear an automated message stating the office was closed.

The document checking process also caused delays. CIBT rejected my Saudi MOFA invitation letter, claiming it lacked reference numbers required to book the Tasheer appointment. This later proved to be incorrect, as the appointment was booked without those numbers being needed.

The most concerning issue involved payment handling. During registration, I authorised a £0.00 payment through my banking app, after which more than £820.00 was withdrawn from my account before an invoice had even been issued. This included consular fees that were ultimately paid directly inside the Tasheer Centre during my appointment. When I queried this, I received contradictory explanations from different staff members. Although the money was eventually refunded, the process lacked clarity and transparency throughout.

Ironically, the actual visa appointment at the Tasheer Centre was straightforward and efficient. The consultant inside the Tasheer Centre openly commented that companies such as CIBT often overcomplicate what is otherwise a relatively simple process. CIBT added very little practical value beyond acting as an expensive middleman. Even basic questions asked to the representative outside the centre were met with “you need to email the office.”

I also paid extra for passport return via Royal Mail Special Delivery after being advised not to use the Tasheer Centre’s cheaper DHL next-day service. Despite this, my passport was not returned the next day and was delayed over the bank holiday weekend.

Overall, I found CIBT Visas to be overpriced, unnecessarily complicated, and poor value for money. I would strongly encourage anyone considering using them for a Saudi visa application to carefully review all charges, payment authorisations, and exactly what services are actually being provided.

I used this company for 3 visas The cost was extremely expensive, lucky enough I was able to cancel 2 and get a refund. The cost for a Thailand visa is 3 times the cost of going to the government site. The billing is the worst, they hit my Master card without letting me the cost for hundreds of dollars. If I can deter one person form using this company my review was worth the time. I would strongly NOT recommend this company

This was the fourth occasion on which I’ve used CIBT. I have always found them excellent. I paid for the premium service as I was in a hurry, having left things quite late because of a family funeral. It was worth it, as Maybelene and Laura gave me wonderful support when my mind was focused on other things. They did a first class job.

Hired CIBT visas in Singapore to help me with business visa to India. Very poor support, sent me application with errors multiple times. Premium Service is way below expectations. Not responsive to concerns. High cost with low value for money. I don't recommend.

Applied for a rush China visa and was kept up to date every step of the way. The online portal was intuitive and clear. My visa arrived in just 5 business days, exactly as promised.

Horrible and I will most likely have to cancel my trip to Vietnam as I have no visa and I applied 1 month ago.
My flight leaves tomorrow. This is a boiler room operation that gives robotic answers every time I have called, which is probably 30-40 times over the last mo.
And no refunds, of course. I paid for the priority also.
This is going to cost me over $40,000. Don't use.
My experience began October 12 and it is Nov. 10
Nancy B

I decided to get a VISA for China just moments ago, and I used to the information from their website to get the VISA. I specifically checked a box where I would go in to one of their offices and pick it up, since I am in the Los Angeles area, where they have an office. I then filled in the bubble indicating that I do NOT want to have the premium services. They asked for my credit card information, which I provided, even though I had no idea what I would be charged, since there was no mention of any price for their services. I figured it would be on the next page when I confirmed my payment information. That was NOT the case. The next thing I know my Chase VISA card was charged $451.66!!! I am now on a lengthy hold with them, waiting to talk to an agent to have these charges reversed. If I can't get through to an agent, I will dispute the charge with Chase. This is clear deception! No price was mentioned, or if it was, it was in some small print in some other place. Obviously this is a very bad way to do business. What a hassle!

Terrible, terrible, terrible. Don't use them.