Types of Information We Collect and How We Use It
Immigration Direct and its affiliates, parents, and subsidiaries (collectively, "we" or "us" or "our") respects the privacy concerns of each visitor ("you" or "your") to its website - www.immigrationdirect.ca (the "Website"), and recognizes the importance of your right to keep personally identifiable information about you private. We have created this Privacy Policy to explain the type of information gathered from your visit to and use of the Website and our services, and how such information may be used. We are committed to protecting your personally identifiable information by ensuring it is treated with care and subject to this Privacy Policy. Please take a moment to review this Privacy Policy and feel free to contact us with any questions at privacy@immigrationdirect.ca.
We comply with applicable privacy legislation. We make no representation that this Website is governed by or operated in accordance with the laws of other nations or jurisdictions. Those who choose to access the Website do so on their own initiative and at their own risk, and are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
What is Personally Identifiable Information
"Personally Identifiable Information" is information about an identifiable individual and includes, without limitation: (i) contact data (such as your first and last name, city, province, postal code, and email address), (ii) financial data (such as your credit card number, expiration date, and verification code), (iii) demographic data (such as your postal code, and gender), and (iv) other legal data (such as your social insurance number and other sensitive information used to complete and generate the proper documents based upon the specific information and direction).
Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
We collect Personally Identifiable Information by fair and lawful means. We will limit the collection of Personally Identifiable Information to what is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected unless we are required or permitted by law to collect additional information.
Personally Identifiable Information is collected by us when you provide it to us, either verbally or by written correspondence. We may also collect your IP address when you use the Website and keep tracking of your dealings with us, including details of your visits to our website and the resources that you access.
We collect Personally Identifiable Information primarily in the following situations:
- When you provide us with registration information when registering for our services or products offered through the Website. For example, you will be required to submit Personally Identifiable Information such as your name, address, email, and date of birth to verify your identity prior to establishing your account.
- When you provide us with billing information, such as a credit card number, which is required to process the payment for the products or services you order from us.
- When you provide us with other information, such as the city of your birth and your mother's maiden name, which is used to verify your identity in the event you forget your login information required for our online products or services.
- When you provide us with information in response to our communications. For example, we may request that you provide your e-mail address so that we may send you notifications, alerts, special offers and newsletters.
- When you provide information to us through customer service communications and correspondence and general feedback.
- When you provide information responding to products or services offered through the Website.
We may also receive Personally Identifiable Information from third parties, such as government agencies or our business partners provided that such third parties confirm to us that they have obtained your consent or we have obtained your consent in this regard.
We will collect, use and disclose Personally Identifiable Information about you primarily for the purposes of:
- responding to your request for products or services offered through the Website;
- enhancing products or services to better suit your needs; and
- notifying you about products, services, and other opportunities we think will be of interest to you if you have indicated that you are interested in receiving such notifications.
By utilizing the Website, you are consenting to the use and disclosure of your Personally Identifiable Information as described in this Privacy Policy.
By providing us with Personally Identifiable Information about you, you grant us the right to collect information about you and store it in connection with other online or offline information we may possess or obtain about you.
We will not refuse to provide a product or service to you if you choose not to provide us with your Personally Identifiable Information, unless your failure to provide such information makes us unable to provide such product or service. Other than as required by law (for example, in response to a court order or subpoena, or to comply with local or federal regulations), or where we sell any or all of our business and/or assets to a third party, your Personally Identifiable Information will not be used for any other purpose without your consent.
Processing of Personally Identifiable Information
Personally Identifiable Information may be processed and stored outside of the province in which it was collected by us, an affiliate, or a third party service provider for the purposes set out in this Policy. For example, this may be the case for credit card processing. We will ensure that any processing or storage of Personally Identifiable Information outside of the province in which it was collected is permitted by applicable law prior to permitting same. However, under the laws of other jurisdictions, in certain circumstances, foreign courts, law enforcement agencies or regulatory agencies of these foreign jurisdictions may be entitled to access your Personally Identifiable Information without notice to you. By submitting your Personally Identifiable Information, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing.
Use of Non-Personally Identifiable Information.
Certain non-Personally Identifiable Information, including but not limited to the type of browser being used and its operating system. ("Non-Personally Identifiable Information"), may be automatically recorded by the standard operation of the Website's internet servers. This Non-Personally Identifiable Information can be used to help diagnose server problems, administer the Website and generally enhance your online experience. We will also collect certain information arising out of your use of the Website, such as cookies, or web beacons, or augment the data we collect with other information from other online or offline sources. We reserve the right to collect information about you and store it in connection with other online or offline non-personally identifiable information we may possess or obtain about you, and to use this information on an aggregate basis and in a non-personally identifiable form only. This Non-Personally Identifiable Information can be used to help diagnose server problems, administer the Website and generally enhance your online experience.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the hard drive of your computer that contains information about you and that is used for record keeping purposes. Cookies enable us to track and target your interests to enhance your experience on the Website. We may set and access cookies on your computer to provide you with customized content and to assist in providing the products that you have requested. We also work with companies who provide services to maintain the Website and enable those service providers the right to use cookies on our website. Most cookies automatically delete themselves from your hard drive after each session. Like many other websites, we may automatically track information based upon your behavior on the Website, including combining information that we obtain through the use of cookies with Personally Identifiable Information, or other aggregate or anonymous data, including a unique identification we may assign you. The information may include browser type, internet service provider, referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, IP address, and number of clicks, all used to analyze trends, administer the Website, track your movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. Most web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies; however, you can reset your web browser to reject all cookies. If you reject the cookie, you may still use the Website, although your access to and use of some areas of the Website may be limited. In addition, if you refuse to accept cookies you agree to assume all responsibility for any resulting loss of functionality.
Web Beacons
Pages on our website also may contain "web beacons" (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). Web beacons allow third parties to obtain information such as the IP address of the computer that downloaded the page on which the beacon appears, the URL of the page on which the beacon appears, the time the page containing the beacon was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies set by the third party. We use log files to store the data that is collected through web beacons. Web beacons usually work in conjunction with cookies. If you don't want your cookie information to be associated with your visits to these pages, you can set your browser to turn off cookies. If you turn off cookies, web beacon and other technologies will still detect visits to these pages, but the notices they generate cannot be associated with other non-identifiable cookie information and are disregarded.
All of your Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information, as well as any other information described above may be referred to collectively as the "User Information."
Sharing
We may share certain of your User Information, including Personally Identifiable Information, with affiliated and nonaffiliated third parties, including without limitation in connection with the following:
Special Offers - We sometimes disclose the information we collect to our affiliated companies for marketing purposes and to enhance our products or services to better suit your needs. When identifying methods of improving our products or services, or if we think a product or service may be of interest to you, we may extend select special offers of goods or services to you if you have previously indicated that you are interested in receiving offers or information from us and/or selected of our sponsors or advertisers. If you would like to opt-out of receiving these offers, please refer to the "Offering You Choices - Marketing Options," section below.
Vendors - We sometimes disclose the information we collect to companies that operate various services for us, such as marketing, distribution, advertising, or certain product functionalities, or who otherwise provide goods or services which may be of interest to you. However, your Personally Identifiable Information will never be rented or sold. If you would like to opt-out of this disclosure, please refer to the "Offering You Choices - Marketing Options," section below.
Processing and Other Services - When we disclose Personally Identifiable Information to third parties for processing, such as for contracted services such as computer backup services and/or archival storage services, or other third party services related to services rendered by us, we will ensure that those third parties agree to only use your Personally Identifiable Information for specified purposes and agree to provide a level of protection to the Personally Identifiable Information comparable to that adopted by us.
E-Commerce Providers on our Website - If you provide Personally Identifiable Information to one of our Website's ecommerce providers or advertisers (if any), this transaction will occur in connection with the site of the e-commerce provider, vendor or advertiser, not on the Website, and, as such, the Personally Identifiable Information you provide is collected pursuant to and controlled by the privacy policy of such e-commerce provider, vendor or advertiser. We are not responsible for such parties' privacy policies and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the applicable privacy policy of the e-commerce site with which you transact business or to contact the operator of such site for more information.
As Permitted by Law - We may share your Personally Identifiable Information with non-affiliated third parties as permitted by law.
Transferability of Information - We may share your User Information and other data with businesses controlling, controlled by, or under common control with us. In the event we go through a business transition, such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personally Identifiable Information and other User Information will likely be among the assets transferred, and you hereby consent to such transfer.
Bankruptcy - In the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the application of laws or equitable principles affecting creditor's rights generally, we may not be able to control how your Personally Identifiable Information is treated, transferred, or used. if such an event occurs, your Personally Identifiable Information may be treated like any other asset of ours and sold, transferred or shared with third parties, or used in ways not contemplated or permitted under this Privacy Policy, without notice to you or your consent.
In addition to the above, we may disclose your Personally Identifiable Information in special cases when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary: (a) to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or interfering (either intentionally or unintentionally) with: (i) our legal rights or property, (ii) another visitor or anyone else that could be harmed by such activities; or (b) by operation of law.
Personally Identifiable Information will not be sold, leased or otherwise made available to any person or entity not authorized by or associated with us. However, please be advised that certain Personally Identifiable Information becomes a matter of public record upon the filing of certain documents with the appropriate government agency or court.
Offering You Choices - Marketing Options
You have choices when it comes to learning about our new offers, products or services, as well as those offered by our partners and affiliates. You may indicate that you are interested in receiving offers or information from us and/or selected of our sponsors or advertisers. If so, your Personally Identifiable Information will also be used to contact you or to send you e-mail materials and other mailings about products and services that might be of interest to you. We or they may contact you about these products or services by any of the methods that you consented to at the time your information was collected, or we may use your IP address to display or allow your third party advertising providers to display more targeted advertising and content.
You always have the option to tell us not to share your Personally Identifiable Information with third parties or to exclude you from offers for products or services and targeting advertising. If you do not wish to receive these offers, you may opt out by emailing our Customer Care department at any time at cs@immigrationdirect.ca. Alternatively, each marketing email we send to you will include instructions how to opt-out which you may utilize.
Disposal of Personally Identifiable Information
We use secure means of disposing of Personally Identifiable Information, and ensure that your Personally Identifiable Information is not retained for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or as required under the law.
Links
We are deeply committed to your right to privacy. However, please note that this Website's Privacy Policy only applies to the Website and not to any other websites that you may access from the Website, each of which may have privacy policies that are materially different from this Privacy Policy. These websites may collect information about you voluntarily or through cookies or other technologies. We encourage you to be aware when you leave the Website and to read the privacy policies of each and every other website, as we are not responsible or liable for the commitments and obligations made to you in any privacy policy or the terms and conditions of any such website.
Security
We restrict access to Personally Identifiable Information about you or your children (if applicable) to our employees who need to have access to such information in order to provide products or services to you, as well as to authorized third parties (as stated above). We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards designed to protect your Personally Identifiable Information. We protect your information over the internet by using a secure web server, which allows web browser programs (Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox) to interact with our web server via an encrypted session. Depending on which browser you use, you will know you are in secured area by "https" or a lock appearing in the lower right hand corner of your browser window. When you visit the Website, you may move in and out of secured areas. Anytime that you are on a page ordering products or services, or viewing your personal credit report, you will be in a secured area.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, we cannot guarantee that our security measures will prevent our computers from being illegally accessed, and the data on them stolen or altered, and we assume no liability or responsibility to you or to any third party arising out of any loss, misuse, destruction, or alteration of your information. You should always take great care in handling and disclosing your Personally Identifiable Information. For example, avoid sending Personally Identifiable Information through insecure email. Please refer to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's website at http://www.priv.gc.ca/resource/fs-fi/02_05_d_10_e.sap for information about how to protect yourself against identity theft.
How to Correct Your Personally Identifiable Information
We want to ensure that information about you is accurate, complete and current. However, in many cases, we will rely on you to ensure that your Personally Identifiable Information is accurate, complete and current. We will not routinely update Personally Identifiable Information unless such a process is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which the information was collected. If you would like to make corrections or updates to your Personal Information, including your email address, phone number, mailing address, credit card information or password reminder phrase, you can easily make them through the edit profile section of your account.
If we have disclosed inaccurate information about you to a third party, we will be pleased to contact the third party in order to advise them of the error.
Persons Under the Age of 18
In order to use the Website and/or its products and/or services, you must be at least 18 years of age. The Website is not directed to or intended for use by persons under the age of 18 and we do not knowingly solicit Personally Identifiable Information from such persons or send them requests for Personally Identifiable Information. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received Personally Identifiable Information directly from someone under the age of 18, we will delete such information from our records. If you are under the age of 18, you must not use our products or services, including sending us any Personally Identifiable Information.
Notification of Changes
We reserve the right to modify, alter or otherwise update this Privacy Policy from time to time, so you are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy from time to time. However, please note that each time you use the Website, the current version of this Privacy Policy will apply.
If we decide to change our Privacy Policy, we will date and post those changes on the Website so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how such information is used and under what circumstances, if any, such information is disclosed. Any and all changes to our Privacy Policy will also be reflected on this page. Unless we obtain your express consent, any revised Privacy Policy will apply only to information collected after such time as the revised Privacy Policy takes effect. If at any point we decide to use Personally Identifiable Information in a manner different from that stated at the time it was collected, we will notify you by way of email and you will then have a choice whether or not we can use such information in this different manner.
Visitor's Acceptance of These Terms
This Privacy Policy forms a part of the Website's Terms of Use. In the event of any inconsistency between this Privacy Policy, and the Terms of Use, the Terms of Use will govern. By using the Website, you hereby accept all of the terms set forth in our Privacy Policy, and in the Terms of Use document. If you do not agree to accept all or any portion of such terms, then you are respectfully asked not to use the Website. Your continued use of the Website following the posting of such modifications, alterations or updates will signify your acceptance thereof.
Privacy Complaints and Access to Your Personally Identifiable Information
We are accountable for all Personally Identifiable Information in our control. We have a designated Privacy Officer who is ultimately responsible for the handling of all Personally Identifiable Information under our control, and for ensuring that the principles set out in this Policy are being complied with. You may write to our Privacy Officer at the e-mail address below to request access to Personally Identifiable Information that we may have collected about you.
If you have any questions, concerns, would like more information about the collection, use or disclosure of your Personally Identifiable Information by us, or believe that we have not complied with this Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@immigrationdirect.ca.