Maintaining the privacy of your information is a high priority to VFS GLOBAL. This internet privacy Policy (the “Policy”) summarizes what personally identifiable information we may collect from you, and how we might use this information. The Policy describes how we protect your privacy when we collect personal information on VFS GLOBAL.net (“Web site”). As used in the Policy, the term “Personal Information” means and includes all information given provided by you on the website, information that identifies you personally, alone or in combination with other information available to VFS GLOBAL. By continuing to use the Web site and by providing Personal Information, you consent to the Policy. You should read the entire Policy carefully and review the Policy periodically to remain aware of the current policies and practices.
When you use services provided on our Web site, you will be asked to provide certain personal identifiable information such as your name, address, telephone numbers, fax numbers, email address and/or debit / credit card details including billing address, passport number and nationality.
We may combine personal identifiable information from Visa Application Form and Itinerary details with personal information collected through cookies and other means as stated herein below:
Cookies - A “cookie” is a small bit of text used by a browser to store information. When you visit a Web site that uses cookies, the Web server will request permission to pass a cookie to your browser. If accepted, it will occupy only a few bytes on your hard drive and can improve your Web surfing experience. VFS GLOBAL uses cookies to track customer visits through our Web site. This information enables us to save you time when returning to the Web site by saving your password so you do not have to re-enter it each time you visit. Cookies cannot profile your system or collect information from your hard drive. And although you may receive cookies from many different Web sites, each cookie can only be read by the Web server that originally issued it. Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies, but you can set your browsers to refuse cookies.
We may aggregate personal information and remove any identifying elements in order to analyze patterns , efforts, to analyze Web site use, to improve our content and product offerings, and to customize our Web site’s content, layout and services.
We gather certain usage information like the number and frequency of visitors to this Web site. This information may include which URL you just came from, which URL you next go to, what browser you are using, and your IP address. We only use such data in the aggregate. This collective data helps us to determine how much our customers use parts of the Web site, and do internal research on our users’ demographics, interests, and behaviour to better understand and serve you.
Personal Information you provide or that is obtained by us will be used by us to enable us to review, develop and improve the services which we offer and provide you and other customers (via email or otherwise) with information about new products and services and special offers we think you will find valuable. We may also inform you about new products and services and special offers of selected third parties.
We also use Personal Information in the following ways:
1. process your Visa application, sending you your visa or contacting you if there is a problem with your visa processing;
2. to answer any queries which you may send to us by email;
3. in order to conduct customer satisfaction surveys;
4. to meet our legal compliance obligations;
5. for crime prevention and detection; and
6. for other purposes in connection with your visa application.
We need to know the names of all passengers applying for visa. If you are applying a visa on behalf of someone else, you must obtain their consent to use their personal information. We proceed on the basis that you have obtained this consent.
VFS GLOBAL may share your personal identifiable information to third party service providers and processors with access to your personal information. These services providers may include: credit card verification providers, our data warehouse and customer relationship management centre, internet service providers who administer our web page and provide internet services and host our facilities and to other authorities public and private arising out of processing your visa application and/or your visa approval. VFS GLOBAL only shares your personal information to the extent required for the performance of such services.
VFS GLOBAL may share your personal identifiable information with our partners, affiliates and also selected third party providers of visa related benefits and services, who in turn may contact you directly using your personal identifiable information in order to provide you with details of additional benefits and services which may be of interest to you. Where we do so, we require those partners, affiliates and/or third parties to have appropriate measures in place to protect your personal identifiable information and comply with all applicable legislation and rules
VFS GLOBAL may also disclose your personal identifiable information as permitted or required by law. For example, VFS GLOBAL will disclose personal information to those governmental bodies who have authority to obtain it, in order to comply with a warrant or subpoena issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, and to comply with record production requirements.
In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of VFS GLOBAL, VFS GLOBAL may transfer personal information in its control to a third party purchaser that agrees to use personal information for the same reasons identified in this Privacy Policy.
We shall be entitled to pass on your Personal Information ;
1. to anyone to whom we transfer or may transfer our rights and duties under our agreement with you;
2. to customs and/or immigration departments or other regulatory authorities in your country of departure and/or destination in order to comply with the law in those countries;
3. if we have a duty to do so or if the law allows us to do so;
4. to our employees, agent, representatives to do any of the above on our behalf, now or in the future.
If you choose not to provide certain personal information we request, you will still be able to visit our Web site but you may be unable to access certain options or services.
We make no warranty, express, implied or otherwise as to the privacy and data security practices of the third parties, our partners and affiliates.We will however make reasonable endeavours to ensure that such third parties, partners and affiliates exercise reasonable care in handling your personal identifiable information in accordance with industry norms and standards.
By choosing to provide VFS GLOBAL with your personal information you are consenting to its use in accordance with the principles outlined in the Policy and as outlined at the time you are asked to provide any personal information. VFS GLOBAL may contact you by email in order to provide you with updates pertaining to its services as well as information about additional offers, products or events that VFS GLOBAL believes may be of interest to you.
We will take appropriate steps to protect the personal information you share with us. We have implemented technology and security features to safeguard the privacy of your Personal Information. Personal Information is stored on encrypted servers located in Secured Data Centre and is protected using tools like encryption, passwords, physical security, firewalls, and other security features and measures to protect its website and users personal information against unauthorized disclosure, access, misuse, abuse, hacking, etc. However, sometimes third parties may unlawfully intercept or access transmissions or private communications, and other users may abuse or misuse a user ‘s Personal Information that they may collect from the website for which VFS GLOBAL is not liable.
Our Web site may contain links to other Web sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of Web sites not operated by us or an entity in VFS GLOBAL. We encourage you to read the Privacy Policy of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This Policy applies solely to information collected by our Web site.
If your Personal Information changes, or if you no longer desire our service, we will provide a way to correct, update or remove your personal information provided to us.
Some parties that process or store personal information may be located in jurisdictions outside your country of residence. Therefore, your information may be processed and stored in these jurisdictions and, as a result, foreign governments, courts, or law enforcement or regulatory agencies may be able to obtain disclosure of your information through the laws in these countries.
We reserve the right to update or modify the Policy, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version of the Policy on our Web site. If we decide to change and/or modify our Policy, we will post those changes on our Web site so you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under circumstances, if any, we disclose it. 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 an email. If you so wish, you may withdraw your consent to such use subject to and in accordance with the terms of our Policy.
VFS GLOBAL has implemented safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure and improper use of personal identifiable information and to maintain data security in a way that is consistent with the terms of this Policy and that it is never used except to fulfill services to VFS GLOBAL. These security measures include secure socket layer (SSL) that encrypts data that you transmit to the site. Although we take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access we cannot be held responsible for the acts of those who gain unauthorized access, we make no warranty, express, implied or otherwise, that we will prevent unauthorized access to your personal identifiable information.
For any questions about this Privacy Policy or the practices described herein, please write to vfsprivacy@vfsglobal.com for more information.
For any physical notification, please send it to VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd., St. Louis Business Centre, Cnr Desroches & St. Louis Streets, Port Louis, Mauritius.