Last updated 13th March, 2026
This Privacy Notice for BLS ("we," "us," or "our"), describes how and why we might collect, store, use, and/or share ("process") your personal information when you (user, data subject, data principal, applicant, individual) use our services ("Services"), such as when you visit our website, or use our mobile application that links to this Privacy Notice.
Questions or concerns?
Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights, choices and how we handle your personal information. If you still have any questions related to this Privacy Notice or data protection concerns, please contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) available at dpo@blsinternational.com.
For questions related to your visa application/status related matters, or our additional services, please reach out to us at:
| Email address | dpo@blsinternational.net |
| Telephone Number | |
| Address |
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. WHO ARE WE?
2. SCOPE
3. PURPOSE
4. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
5. HOW DO WE COLLECT YOUR INFORMATION
6. WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?
7. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
8. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?
9. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?
10. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?
11. IS YOUR INFORMATION TRANSFERRED INTERNATIONALLY?
12. THIRD PARTY SITES/ LINKED SITES
13. DO WE USE COOKIES?
14. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?
15. HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?
16. CHANGES TO THE POLICY
1. WHO ARE WE?
BLS International Services Ltd. (“BLS”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) provides Virtual Consular Assistance (VCA) services designed to support applicants in preparing their visa applications for submission to the Embassy of Brazil and its consulates in the United States.
Through the VCA platform, BLS offers professional guidance to visa applicants by assisting them in completing visa application forms, reviewing supporting documentation, and providing information on visa requirements in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Brazilian diplomatic mission.
In relation to the Virtual Consular Assistance service, BLS acts as the Data Controller for personal data processed for the purpose of providing visa application assistance to the applicants.
The Embassy of Brazil and its consulates act as independent Data Controllers for the personal data processed as part of the visa application adjudication process once applicants submit their applications directly to the diplomatic mission. BLS does not receive, process, or decide upon visa applications on behalf of the Brazilian diplomatic mission. All decisions regarding the approval or rejection of visa applications rest solely with the Brazilian diplomatic authorities.
2. SCOPE
This Privacy Notice applies to all personal information that we collect from you during the process of providing our Virtual Consular Assistance service.
3. PURPOSE
We may collect your personal information for the following purposes:
4. WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT?
When you use the Virtual Consular Assistance (VCA) service, we may collect and process certain categories of personal information necessary to provide the requested services.
Depending on the visa category you intend to apply for, we may your personal data including but not limited to the following:
We may also collect sensitive information during the provision of our services, which may include your photographs or facial data or sensitive documents including passports and other documents required for the visa application.
5. HOW DO WE COLLECT YOUR INFORMATION?
We may collect your personal information when you interact with us in the following ways:6. WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?
We may rely on any of the following legal bases to process your personal data, as provided by data protection laws in your jurisdiction:
1. Consent: We may process your personal information if you have given us permission (i.e., consent) to use your personal information for a specific purpose. You can withdraw your consent at any time by sending a mail at dpo@blsinternational.com.
In case there is a change in our purpose or means of processing or in the category of personal information, we shall obtain a new consent. When you choose to opt for Additional Services, we process your personal data based on your explicit consent or as necessary to perform the specific service requested.
2. Contractual Obligations: We may process your information where we believe it is necessary for the performance of a contract in which you are a party.
3. Legal Obligations: We may process your information where we believe it is necessary for compliance with our statutory duties and obligations, such as to cooperate with a law enforcement body or regulatory agency, exercise or defend our legal rights, or disclose your information as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.
4. Business and Operational Purposes: We may process certain personal information as necessary to maintain the security and integrity of our website and systems, prevent fraud or misuse of services, and improve the quality and efficiency of our services.
7. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
We may share or disclose your personal information with:
1. Those service providers that enable us to provide the services such as payment processors, companies providing appointment booking and virtual video conferencing services etc.
2. When required by law or government authority such as, requests from government agencies, including law enforcement and other public authorities, which may include such authorities outside your country of residence.
We only share or disclose your personal information with these entities if it is necessary to provide the services you have requested or to comply with a legal obligation. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that your personal data is protected when it is shared or disclosed.
8. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?
We keep your personal information only for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the processing purposes set out in this Privacy Notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements).
9. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?
We implement appropriate and reasonable technical, organizational and physical security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. It includes, but not limited to, the use of encryption, access controls, network security, etc.
10. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?
We do not knowingly solicit data from, or market to minors. By using our services, you represent and warrant that you are not a minor and you are not below the age of majority in your jurisdiction, and you are capable of providing valid consent.
When we process the personal data of individuals below the age of majority, we obtain parental consent or consent of a lawful guardian in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
11. IS YOUR INFORMATION TRANSFERRED INTERNATIONALLY?
As part of the services offered to you through this website the information which you provide to us may be transferred to international jurisdictions outside your country of residence. For example, it may be internally within BLS and to one of our data centers, or to authorized third-party service providers that support the provision of our services, such as secure hosting providers, communication platforms, and technical service providers.
Whenever we transfer your personal data internationally, we will ensure adequate protection of your personal data as required by applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.
12. THIRD PARTY SITES/ LINKED SITES
The Website may contain links to other websites or resources over which BLS does not have any control. Such links do not constitute an endorsement by BLS of those external websites. You acknowledge that BLS is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and further agree that BLS is not responsible for the content of such external websites. We are not responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide while visiting such external websites and such sites are not governed by BLS Policy. Your use of any external website is subject to the terms of use and Privacy Notice located on those external websites.
13. DO WE USE COOKIES?
Our website may use different types of cookies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. For more information on our use of cookies, please refer our Cookie Policy.
14. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?
Depending on data protection laws in your jurisdiction, you have rights in relation to processing of your personal information in case you avail additional services offered by BLS. These rights may include but not limited to the following:
15. HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?
If you wish to make a request to exercise your privacy rights with BLS in respect to the additional services provided to you, please email us at dpo@blsinternational.com.
If you make a request, we will respond in a timely manner. If your request is rejected, we will provide you with reasons for such rejection.
To exercise your Data Subject Rights related to processing of your visa application, you must contact the diplomatic mission of the country you applied to.
16. CHANGES TO THE NOTICE
Our Privacy Notice may be updated from time to time to reflect any regulatory amendments or changes in our services and operations. You may check latest amendments by visiting our website. The date of the most recent revisions will appear on the top of the page.
