Privacy Policy

Introduction
Open World Immigration Services ("we," "us," "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and accuracy of your personal information. We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). All registered migration agents and other staff members of Open World Immigration Services are required to comply with this Privacy Policy and our internal procedures regarding the handling of personal information.

This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in compliance with Australian privacy laws. Further information about the APPs can be found at www.oaic.gov.au.

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information collected from clients, prospective clients, and other individuals who interact with our services, whether in person, via phone, email, our website (www.owis.com.au), or any other means.

What Information Do We Collect?

The types of personal information we collect depend on the services you engage us to provide and may include:

Contact details (name, address, phone number, email)
Identification documents (passport, birth certificate, driver’s licence)
Visa and immigration-related information (employment history, qualifications, family details)
Financial information (where required for visa applications)
Sensitive information (such as health records, criminal history, or biometric data, where necessary for your case)

We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for providing our services or as required by law.

How We Collect Information

We may collect personal information through:

Direct interactions (consultations, phone calls, emails, online forms)
Third parties (migration agents, employers, government agencies)
Publicly available sources (where relevant to your case)
Our website (if you submit an enquiry or use our online services)

How We Use Your Personal Information

We collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:

Assessing eligibility for visas and immigration services
Lodging and managing visa applications, skills assessment or other applications with relevant authorities
Providing advice and updates on your immigration matters
Complying with legal and regulatory obligations
Internal business operations (e.g., billing, client records)
Marketing (with your consent, where applicable)

We will only use your information for secondary purposes (e.g., purchasing a service or a product for you, such as translation of documents, or inquiring with 3rd parties on your behalf) if you have given consent.

Disclosure of Your Personal Information

With your consent, we may disclose your personal information to:

Registered migration agents or legal representatives
Employers or sponsors
Family members who assist you with your application
Third-party service providers (e.g., translators, couriers, health cover providers)

We may disclose your personal information without your consent to:

Law enforcement or regulatory bodies (where required by law)

Accessing and Correcting Your Information

You have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information held by us. To do so, please contact us by email.

We will respond to your request in accordance with the Privacy Act and may require identity verification before releasing information.

Security of Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, or disclosure. Security measures include:

Secure storage (electronic and physical)
Restricted access to authorised personnel only
Encryption and IT security protocols for digital records

Online Privacy (Website & Cookies)

Our website (www.owis.com.au) may use cookies to improve user experience. We do not track your activity outside our website, and cookies are not shared with third parties.

If our website links to external sites, we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

Complaints & Concerns

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us.

Policy Updates

This policy may be updated periodically. The latest version will always be available on our website.

Last Updated: 1 May 2025