Privacy Policy

Introduction

Visa Merch (hereinafter referred to as “we“, “us“, or “our“) is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This policy outlines how we handle your personal data when you visit our website or engage with our services. We are committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of your personal information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who We Are

As a law firm providing immigration services, we collect and process personal data to offer our legal services. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we are considered a “Data Controller,” meaning we determine how and why your personal data is processed. This role ensures that we are responsible for protecting your information. If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us at: info@visamerch.com

2. What Data We Collect

We collect various types of personal data necessary for the provision of immigration legal services. This may include, but is not limited to, contact details, identification information, and other relevant information provided by you or third parties during the course of your legal representation. Additionally, depending on the nature of your matter, we may process information related to your professional background, immigration history, and, where applicable, details about your family or dependents, or any other sensitive data when it is required for the legal services we provide.

3. How We Collect Your Data

We collect data in various ways:

Directly from You: When you fill & submit forms on our website, contact us via email, or provide information in person or over the phone.
Third Parties: In some cases, we may receive information from third parties such as other legal representatives, government authorities, or background check providers.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience on our website and collect information about how visitors interact with our Website. These may include tracking your preferences or analyzing Website traffic. You can configure your browser to reject cookies or alert you when cookies are set.

4. How We Use Your Data

We use your data to:

Provide you with immigration legal services.

Respond to your inquiries or legal queries.
Fulfill legal obligations, including compliance with immigration laws and regulations.
Handle and process your application or case effectively.
Communicate with relevant authorities, such as the Home Office or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Process payments and manage financial records.

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under one or more of the following lawful bases:

Performance of a Contract: To provide legal services or immigration assistance.
Legal Obligation: To comply with legal or regulatory obligations.
Legitimate Interest: Where necessary for our legitimate interests, provided that your rights and interests are not overridden.
Consent: Where you have explicitly consented, we may provide you with information, such as newsletters or updates, on topics relevant to your interests. You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us.

6. How We Protect Your Data

We take the security of your personal data seriously and have implemented various security measures to protect your personal data, including firewalls, encryption, access controls, and secure storage. We limit access to your data to authorized personnel and ensure password protection on sensitive systems as well as implementing regular security audits and risk assessments.

7. Data Retention

We will only retain your personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purpose of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Generally, we retain client files for a minimum of 6 years after the conclusion of the case.

8. Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have several rights regarding your personal data:

Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: You have the right to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure: You can request that we delete your data, subject to legal obligations.
Right to Restriction of Processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your data in certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request a transfer of your data to another service provider.
Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data for certain purposes.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@visamerch.com

9. Sharing Your Data

We may share your personal data with:

Government agencies, such as the Home Office and UKVI.
Other legal professionals or advisers involved in your case.
Third-party service providers, such as translation services or IT support.
Courts, tribunals, and other regulatory authorities where required.

We will not share your data with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

10. International Transfers

As part of providing immigration services, your personal data may be transferred to and stored in destinations outside the European Economic Area (EEA), particularly when working with immigration authorities or third parties abroad. We will take steps to ensure that any international transfer complies with GDPR and offers an adequate level of protection.

11. Complaints

In case you have any concerns about how we handle your personal data, we are here to address them. You can contact us directly with any queries or concerns at info@visamerch.com. We will make every effort to resolve any issues to your satisfaction. If you feel that your concerns regarding data protection have not been addressed adequately, you are entitled to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further guidance or assistance.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and where appropriate, notified to you via email. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we are protecting your data.

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