Privacy Notice

Immigration Legal Services are committed to compliance with UK and European data protection laws and will responsibly protect the information you provide to us and the information we collect in the course of operating our business. This Client Privacy Policy (Privacy Policy) describes how the business, as data controller, may collect, use, and share information about you and your rights in relation to that information.

Your provision of information to us constitutes your acceptance of the terms of this Privacy Policy. Please do not send us any information about you which you do not want to be used in the ways described in this Privacy Policy.

Scope of this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to your use of our services, including when you request information from us; when you engage our legal services; and as a result of your relationship with one of our clients.

This Privacy Policy describes:

  • The types of information we process
  • How we use the information
  • How long we retain information
  • How we share the information
  • Protection and storage of the information
  • You and your rights
  • How to contact us
  • Changes to this Privacy Policy
  • Data controller

When we use personal information about you or others in connection with providing our legal services to clients we do so as a data controller.

The types of information we process

We will process personal information we receive directly from you, on your behalf, other organisations with whom you have dealings, government agencies, publicly available records and the third parties described in ‘How we share the information’ below.

We may collect current and historical personal information including/relating to: your name, contact details, identification, ethnic origin, marital status, employment/business, finances, academic history and criminal offences/convictions (this is non-exhaustive which depends on the circumstances).

How we use the information

We may use your personal information if:

  • it is necessary for the performance of a contract with you or our client on your behalf (e.g. when we are providing our services to you as envisaged by our engagement letter);
  • it is necessary in connection with a legal obligation (eg when we are carrying out anti-money laundering and conflict checks);
  • you have provided your consent to such use (e.g you have approved the use of a specific third party to assist on your matter);
  • we consider such use of your information as not detrimental to you, within your reasonable expectations, having a minimal impact on your privacy, and necessary to fulfil our legitimate interests (e.g. to represent you to the Home Office or at Tribunal; to manage fees and invoicing, or to recover money owed to us); or we are otherwise required or authorised by law.

Special categories of particularly sensitive personal information require higher levels of protection. We need to have further justification for collecting, storing and using it.

Depending on the nature of our instructions, we may collect, store and use any of the following special categories of information about clients, prospective clients and/or about related parties to a matter:

  • physical or mental health, including any medical condition or disability
  • race or ethnicity
  • political opinions
  • religious or philosophical beliefs
  • trade union membership
  • sexual orientation or sex life
  • genetic information and biometric data

Depending on the nature of our instructions from you, we process this type of information where it is necessary to establish, exercise or defend your immigration status (including legal claims), where you have made the information public, or by asking for explicit consent. If we seek your consent, you may withdraw consent at any time as described in ‘Your choices and rights’ below.

We use your information to:

  • provide and improve our services to you;
  • maintain and develop our relationship with you;
  • facilitate our internal business operations;
  • fulfil our legal requirements (including in relation to anti-money laundering) and professional obligations;
  • monitor and analyse our business.

We may not be able to do these things without your personal information.

In connection with any proposed incorporation, purchase, merger or acquisition of any part of our business; we inform the potential buyer (and its agents and advisers) that it must use your personal information only for the purposes disclosed in this Privacy Policy.

How long we retain information

We recognise that it is important to only retain your personal information for as long as is required by law (which is currently 6 years) or we consider reasonably necessary, after which we will destroy it. Due to the nature of immigration services, a full record of information obtained from you, third parties and advice provided by us shall not be retained longer than 15 years unless you request that it be erased. This is because we consider that it is in your best interests that we retain a full history of data which may be relevant to future matters you instruct us to deal with. Such data can also be relevant to your immigration position should there be any dispute with the authorities or for us to be able to provide you with a record should you misplace important immigration documents/information. If you would like us to rectify or erase your data please refer to the section on ‘Your choices and rights’ below.

How we share the information

We may share your information with third parties where:

  • you have consented for us to do so;
  • we are under a legal, regulatory or professional obligation to do so (for example, in order to comply with anti-money laundering requirements);
  • it is necessary for the purpose of, or in connection with, legal proceedings, or to exercise or defend legal rights;
  • it is required or will assist us in providing our services, which includes: UK and overseas government and related independent organisations, representatives for submission of applications to the immigration authorities, reference/qualification checking, translators, UK and international couriers, research, archiving, professional advisory (including legal, accounting, financial and business consulting), banking, payment, debt collection, insurance, marketing and information security services.
  • if, in the future, we re-organise or transfer all or part of our business, we may need to transfer your information to new entities from which our business will be carried out. We shall assume you consent to this.

Where we transfer your information internationally we will take reasonable steps to ensure that your information is treated securely and the means of transfer provides adequate safeguards.

If you have any questions in relation to the transfer of your personal information please contact us.

Protection and storage of the information

We take steps to hold information securely in electronic or physical form and to prevent unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Our information security practices are supported by a number of security safeguards, processes and procedures. We store information in access controlled premises or in password protected electronic form. We require our third party IT providers to comply with appropriate information security obligations. All staff and third party providers with access to confidential information are subject to confidentiality obligations. However, the transmission of information via the internet is at your own risk as it is not completely secure. We cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to us but can offer a secure portal for the exchange of electronic information. We are regularly reviewing ways to improve our security offering as technology develops.

You and your rights

Subject to applicable laws, you may have certain rights regarding information that we have collected and that is related to you. We encourage you to contact us to update or correct your information if it changes or if you believe that any information that we have collected about you is inaccurate. You can also ask us to see what personal information we hold about you, to erase your personal information and you may tell us if you object to our use of your personal information. If you would like to discuss or exercise the rights you may have, please contact us. In the UK, you have a right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), but we would prefer you to contact us first. We should be able to resolve any matter quickly and to your satisfaction.

How to contact us

If you would like to contact us with questions about our privacy practices, please send us an email via our Contact page or contact Angela Cole on 01473 229820.

If you are a data controller or a data processor

If you are a data controller or a data processor in your own right, and you provide personal data to us, you confirm to us that you have a lawful basis for doing so under data protection law and all necessary consents, where required.

Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date of the current Privacy Policy is 17 August 2018. We encourage you to periodically review this policy. If we make any material changes in the way we collect, use, and/or share the personal information that you have provided, we will notify you by posting notice of the changes in a clear and conspicuous manner on the firm's website.

  • Sallie was an amazing help and supported us through the full process. It was extremely difficult for us, and she helped make the whole thing very simple and ensured our application was successful. Thank you to Sallie and the team for the work you did tirelessly to help us.
    TB
  • For almost a year I had tried to get my wife's spousal visa. Two tries, two fails due to technical reasons. I contacted Immigration Legal Services, and Sallie & Angela took control of my wife's visa application. They were very supportive, told us exactly which documents were needed, and just over a month later, the visa was issued. We can't thank them enough.
    RG
  • We couldn't praise Sallie and her team high enough. Extremely professional and acted very fast to meet our deadline. 100% recommended!
    Mr E
  • Always thorough and highly professional throughout the application process for both my children, and I would definitely recommend! They also had a welcome sense of humour when it came to dealing with the bureaucracy involved in the process.
    Mr B
  • Great experience working with Sallie. Professional and understanding! Will work with her again, with no doubt.
    Ms L
  • We have been very impressed with the service we have received over the years of dealing with Angela. She went above and beyond to solve our specialised problem with very pleasing results. We would strongly recommend her work and knowledge in the field. A true professional.
    Mr Aldalis
  • I highly recommend Sallie for her professionalism and lovable, kind approach. I am very happy to get her as my immigration lawyer for processing my kids Visa.
    Shiva K
  • I highly recommend both Angela and Karen. They both have been amazingly helpful throughout the visa application process of my wife. They do truly care for their clients. They look at the case in reasonable time periods and return with any missing information rapidly. Consulting them during this exciting yet stressful process was the best decision that I made. Today my wife got granted the visa just after 5 weeks of her biometric scans.
    Mr Yazici
  • They are so honest and professional . Clear answers and guidance to all my questions 👍👍. Thanks a lot .
    Mr Khalil
  • Just received a decision from the Home office that I would’ve NEVER thought was possible. So happy and over the moon! I would definitely recommend your services to friends & family if required in the future. Huge thanks to Sallie and the team, best immigration solicitor in the business!!
    Mr Bamba
  • Angela Cole is a wonderful, hardworking, honest, kind and reliable Solicitor. Her work is very high standard, very professional and her team is friendly. Me and my husband have no hesitation in recommending Angela Cole's excellent services.
    Ms Small
  • "Simply a team of experienced people who gave us excellent and honest advice. Having now taken an appeal through to a successful conclusion for the (very reasonable) price promised, I have no hesitation in recommending this firm."
    Jon Chrimes - Google Review
  • "The team went an extra mile and fought my case much more and much better than I would have expected. In the end, my case was successful and I cannot thank them enough for all they have done. If I ever need legal help in the future I will definitely use their services again and recommend them for their reasonable prices, supportive advice and first rate legal services."
    ANONYMOUS - Google Review
  • "Excellent people, excellent service. They made the process of bringing my husband to the UK painless. Couldn’t have done it without them, highly recommend!"
    Lindy Pine - Google Review
  • "I am ecstatic, thanks to you all. My life is complete now and anything else is a bonus. Even if it seemed impossible I knew we were going to win this and that is why I never gave up. Thank you for your work, support and encouragement."
    MRS. Last
  • A BIG THANK YOU , for your help in helping me acquire my British settlement and British citizenship application successfully done. Your professionalism and kind warm attitude and nature made this process very easy and stress free. You took all my concerns away. 

    My Lawyer, Sallie Davies, is very knowledgeable and competent and I have implicit trust in her. The fees are also reasonable compared to other law firms. I highly recommend Sallie and her team.
    MRS. H
  • Thanks to Sallie, my wife is finally in the UK after a horrible year and long delays with Home Office. Highly recommended Immigration Legal Services! 
    MR. B
  • Angela Cole and everyone at Immigration Legal Services will work to produce the best outcome for you and, from our experience, they only concern themselves with your goal and not your wallet. Immigration Legal Services' charge was a very good price for all the help and security they provided
    MR. C
  • Despite the high professionalism practiced within the firm, there is always a strong sense of compassion , and care, from both Angela, and lovely Karen, which has really helped to set our minds at ease. Absolutely recommended & Eternally grateful
    Ms. f
  • I would like to thank both of you, Sallie and Karen for your assistance in the way you handled my wife's Spouse Visa Extension to remain here with me in the United Kingdom. We will recommend The Immigration Legal Services here in Ipswich to anybody who wants to apply for a visa to come or remain here in the United Kingdom because the service they provided proved to be most reliable, simple and quick process. Much appreciated Sallie and Karen. Thanking you once again. We will be back again.
    Robert
  • Excellent service, Sallie is very professional and lovely. Thanks to you what we thought it will be a long and exhausting experience, was so smooth and fast we couldn't believe it. Thank you very much.
    Mrs T
  • We engaged this firm based on a recommendation made by a friend who had used their services before. We required their assistance for my wife's first renewal of her spousal visa. The process was quite painless, they got in touch to collect documents and go over details but most communication was done by email. We received the renewal without any issues.
    BL
  • Sallie was the best solicitor I've met for immigration matters. She was straight to the job, focused on the matter and had an excellent transparent work process, a reasonable fee and no hidden charges. She is very helpful, confident and had the best communication. We got our parents' visa in one go! Thank you very much for the excellent job.
    email

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