Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Canadian Professional Immigration Consulting ("CPIC," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, use our services, or communicate with us.

CPIC operates in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada's federal privacy legislation, as well as applicable provincial privacy laws. As a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), we are also bound by the professional standards and ethical obligations established by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information:

• Identity Information: Full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and other government-issued identification details.
• Contact Information: Email address, phone number, mailing address, and country of residence.
• Immigration Information: Education history, work experience, language test results, immigration status, and family information relevant to your immigration application.
• Financial Information: Payment details processed securely through our third-party payment processor (Stripe). We do not store credit card numbers on our servers.
• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.
• Communications: Records of correspondence, consultation notes, and any documents you share with us.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide immigration consulting services, including eligibility assessments, application preparation, and representation before Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• To communicate with you about your case, consultation bookings, and service updates.
• To process payments for our services.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including CICC requirements for record-keeping.
• To improve our website and services through analytics and usage patterns.
• To send marketing communications (only with your express consent, which you may withdraw at any time).

4. Legal Basis for Processing (PIPEDA Compliance)

Under PIPEDA, we collect, use, and disclose your personal information only with your knowledge and consent, except where authorized or required by law. We rely on the following lawful bases:

• Consent: We obtain your express consent before collecting sensitive personal information. You may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
• Contractual Necessity: Processing required to fulfill our service agreement with you.
• Legal Obligation: Processing necessary to comply with Canadian laws, regulations, or professional obligations.
• Legitimate Interest: Processing for purposes reasonably expected, such as improving our services and communicating about your case.

5. Disclosure of Information

We may share your personal information with:

• Government Agencies: IRCC, ESDC, provincial nominee program authorities, or other relevant government bodies as required for your immigration application.
• Service Providers: Third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business (e.g., Stripe for payments, Calendly for scheduling, email service providers), subject to confidentiality agreements.
• Regulatory Bodies: The CICC or other regulatory bodies as required by law or professional obligations.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS), secure storage systems, access controls, and regular security assessments.

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Immigration consulting records are retained for a minimum of six (6) years following the conclusion of services, in accordance with CICC requirements and professional standards.

8. Your Rights

Under PIPEDA and applicable privacy legislation, you have the right to:

• Access: Request access to your personal information held by CPIC.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw your consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information, subject to legal or contractual limitations.
• Complaint: File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@cpicimmigration.ca.

9. International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Canada when required for your immigration application (e.g., communication with foreign educational institutions or employers). We take reasonable steps to ensure your information receives adequate protection in accordance with PIPEDA.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer: