Cookie Policy

1. About This Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how VG Immigration Services Inc. (“VGIS”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) uses cookies, web beacons, pixels, local storage, and similar tracking technologies (collectively, “cookies”) on the website https://vgis.ca and any pages, tools, or sub-domains we operate (the “Website”).

We use cookies to make the Website function correctly, to remember your choices, to understand how visitors use our content, and — only with your consent — to measure the performance of our pages and outreach. This Policy is a companion to our Privacy Policy, which explains how we handle personal information more broadly.

2. What Cookies & Similar Technologies Are

A cookie is a small text file that a website saves to your browser when you visit. On your next visit, the cookie can be read again so the site can recognise your browser, remember your preferences, or measure traffic.

We also use technologies that behave like cookies, including:

• Local storage & session storage — short pieces of data your browser keeps for the same purposes as cookies, but on your device only.
• Pixels & web beacons — invisible 1×1 images embedded in a page or email that tell a server when content has loaded.
• Scripts — small pieces of code (usually JavaScript) that make pages interactive or communicate with analytics services.

Throughout this Policy, references to “cookies” cover all of the above.

3. Categories of Cookies We Use

Cookies on this Website fall into the following categories:

4. Specific Cookies on This Website

Below is a current snapshot of the principal cookies we set or allow. We update this list when we add or remove a service.

The full live list — including any cookie discovered during automated scans — is maintained inside our consent banner. Click “Manage preferences” at the bottom of this page to view it at any time.

5. Third-Party Cookies & Embedded Content

We embed content from trusted third parties — analytics providers, social networks, video hosts, and our payment processor (Stripe, where applicable). Each third party operates under its own privacy and cookie policy, and we encourage you to review them:

• Google — Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy
• Meta (Facebook / Instagram) — Privacy Policy
• LinkedIn — Privacy Policy
• X (Twitter) — Privacy Policy
• TikTok — Privacy Policy
• Stripe — Privacy Policy

Some of these providers are headquartered in the United States or other jurisdictions outside Canada. Personal information may be transferred and stored on servers in those jurisdictions and may be subject to lawful access by foreign authorities. See Section 12.

6. Legal Basis for Using Cookies

• Strictly necessary cookies — relied upon under our legitimate interest (PIPEDA, Law 25 s. 12) and the contractual-necessity basis under GDPR Art. 6(1)(b)/(f); explicit consent is not legally required.
• All other cookies — placed only with your explicit, opt-in consent under Quebec’s Law 25, GDPR/UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(a) and the ePrivacy Directive Art. 5(3), and California CCPA/CPRA “opt-out of sale/sharing” rules where they apply.

7. Your Consent & How to Withdraw It

The first time you visit our Website, a banner appears explaining the categories of cookies we would like to set. The banner is reject-by-default: until you click Accept or tick a category in View Preferences, only strictly necessary cookies are loaded.

You can change or withdraw your consent at any time, free of charge, by clicking “Manage preferences” below. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing already carried out before withdrawal.

9. Browser-Level Controls

You can also use your browser’s settings to block, delete, or warn you about cookies. Note that disabling all cookies will break parts of the Website (the Client Portal, secure forms, and language settings will not work).

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

10. Do Not Track & Global Privacy Control

Our Website honours the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal where supported by your browser. When GPC is detected, we treat it as an opt-out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information for marketing purposes under California CCPA/CPRA and as a withdrawal of consent for non-essential cookies under Quebec Law 25.

There is no industry standard for “Do Not Track” headers; we do not currently respond to that header but do respect GPC.

11. Data Retention

Cookies expire on the schedule shown in Section 4. Aggregated analytics that contain no identifying information may be kept longer for trend analysis. You can clear all our cookies at any time by clearing your browser’s site data for vgis.ca.

12. International Data Transfers

Some of the third-party cookies listed above transmit data to servers operated by Google LLC, Meta Platforms Inc., LinkedIn Corp., TikTok Ltd., or other vendors located in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, or Singapore. Where such transfers involve personal information of Canadian residents, we rely on the safeguards listed in Section 12 of our Privacy Policy, including standard contractual clauses and provider-level encryption.

13. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you have the right to:

• Know what cookies we use and what data they collect;
• Access, correct, port, or delete personal data linked to a cookie identifier;
• Withdraw consent at any time, with no penalty or loss of access to public content;
• Opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information (CCPA/CPRA);
• Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec, your provincial privacy regulator, the UK ICO, or your local EU Data Protection Authority.

To exercise these rights, email case@vg-immigration.com. We respond within 30 days (PIPEDA) or one calendar month (GDPR).

14. Updates to This Policy

We review this Cookie Policy at least annually and whenever we add, remove, or materially change a tracking technology. The “Last Updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes are flagged on the consent banner so that returning visitors are asked to review and re-consent.

15. Contact Us

This Cookie Policy is provided for transparency and compliance with applicable Canadian, EU/UK, and US privacy laws. It does not create a contract or alter the terms of any retainer agreement between you and VG Immigration Services Inc. For immigration legal advice, please book a paid consultation with our licensed RCIC-IRB.