Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Atlas Meridian recognizes the importance of protecting personal information collected from clients and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you use our immigration consulting services or interact with our website.

By engaging our services or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you have questions or concerns about how we handle your information, please contact us at [email protected].

2. Data Controller Information

Atlas Meridian is the data controller responsible for personal information collected through our services and website. Our contact details are:

3. Personal Data We Collect

We collect personal information necessary to provide immigration consulting services and maintain our website. The types of data we collect include:

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact information: name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Immigration-related information: nationality, passport details, educational background, employment history
• Supporting documentation: academic certificates, employment letters, identification documents
• Communication records: correspondence via email, phone, or in-person consultations
• Payment information: billing address and transaction details (credit card information is processed by third-party payment processors)

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Website usage data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited
• Cookies and similar technologies: see our Cookie Policy for detailed information
• Analytics data: website traffic patterns and user behavior through Google Analytics

4. How We Use Your Personal Data

We process your personal information for the following purposes:

4.1 Service Delivery

• Providing immigration consulting services, including pathway assessment, document preparation, and application management
• Coordinating with translation services, Taiwan immigration authorities, and other relevant agencies
• Responding to inquiries and maintaining communication throughout the consulting process

4.2 Business Operations

• Processing payments and maintaining financial records
• Sending service-related notifications and updates
• Improving our services based on client feedback and usage patterns

4.3 Legal and Compliance

• Complying with legal obligations under Taiwan law
• Establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims
• Preventing fraud and ensuring security of our systems

5. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide our immigration consulting services
• Consent: When you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities
• Legitimate Interests: Business operations and service improvement, provided these do not override your rights
• Legal Obligations: Compliance with Taiwan laws and regulations

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information with third parties in the following circumstances:

6.1 Service Providers

• Translation services for document conversion
• Payment processors for transaction handling
• Cloud storage providers for secure data storage
• Analytics providers (Google Analytics) for website performance monitoring

6.2 Government Authorities

Taiwan immigration authorities and other relevant government agencies as required for residence application processing.

6.3 Legal Requirements

Law enforcement or regulatory bodies when required by law or to protect our legal rights.

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

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specific retention periods include:

• Active client files: Duration of service engagement plus three years
• Completed immigration applications: Seven years from case closure
• Financial records: Seven years as required by Taiwan tax law
• Website analytics data: Twenty-six months
• Communication records: Three years from last contact

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols
• Secure cloud storage with encryption at rest
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security assessments and updates to our systems
• Confidentiality agreements with all staff members

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. We cannot provide absolute security but maintain industry-standard protective measures.

9. Your Rights

Under applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request copies of your personal data we hold
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances
• Restriction: Request limitation of processing in specific situations
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw previously given consent at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within thirty days.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and analyze website performance. For detailed information about our cookie practices, including how to manage your preferences, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites for your convenience. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under eighteen years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from someone under eighteen, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Significant changes will be communicated via email to active clients or through a notice on our website. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when the most recent changes were made.

Continued use of our services after policy updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: