Privacy policy.
How we use information we collect:
TPG collects personal data related to the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program it administers, sponsoring teachers for placements in public, private, and charter schools in South Carolina, North Caroline, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia and Texas. We use the information we collect to: provide, maintain, protect, and improve our website and the program we administer; to help applicants apply for and succeed in the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program; and to protect TPG program applicants and participants. In order to help teachers obtain J-1 Visas and enter the exchange visitor program, TPG collects personal information from applicants and program members including, but not limited to: Driver’s Licenses; Passports; Visas; Criminal Background information; email addresses; school transcripts; teaching licensures; bank accounts; health insurance; deeds; and titles and other relevant information relating to the program. TPG only collects these types of personal information and shares it with data processors aiding it in furtherance of the United States exchange visitor program it administers.
TPG never sells your personal information to companies, organizations, and other outside individuals. TPG is obligated to share personal information with the U.S. Department of State and schools as it relates to placing teachers and the administration of its program.
We collect information in the following ways:
Information you give TPG: TPG requires those seeking participation in its program to apply online. When you do, we will ask for personal information like your name, email address, and telephone number to store with your account. In most instances, exchange visitor program applicants and current/past program participants (collectively “Users”) are asked to upload the majority of their personal information directly. Users uploading information to TPG’s secure website retain access to the information they uploaded for as long as the information is retained by TPG.
Information we get from your use of TPG’s website: Additionally, TPG may track device-specific information like your hardware model, operating system version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information including phone number. We may collect identifying information related to your computer and internet usage. Examples of information we may gather from your use of TPG website include:
Log information: When you use TPG’s services, we may collect and store certain information in server logs. This includes details of how you used our services, Testimonials, telephone log information, your IP address, and cookies.
Location information: We may collect and process information about your actual location. We use various technologies to determine location, including IP address, GPS, and other sensors that may, provide us with information on nearby devices, Wi-Fi access points and cell towers.
Unique Application Numbers: Certain services include a unique application number and information about your installation, like the operating system type and application version number.
Local Storage: We may collect and store information, including personal information, locally on your device using mechanisms such as browser web storage (including HTML 5) and application data caches.
Cookies and similar technologies: We may use various technologies like cookies to identify your browser and device. We also use these technologies to collect and store information when you interact with websites before or after accessing TPG’s website in order to analyze the traffic to our websites and apps.
Information we collect when you are signed in to the TPG website, in addition to information we obtain about you from partners, and your use of the website may be associated with your TPG Account. When information is associated with your TPG Account, we treat it as personal information.
Transparency and Choice:
At TPG, Users are in control of their personal information. Our goal is to clearly state what information we collect and how we use it so that you can make an informed decision prior to becoming a User. To become a participant in the exchange visitor program that TPG administers, the U.S. Department of State requires TPG to gather, review, and retain certain types of personal information. However, this does not mean that those wishing to participate in the program TPG administers are without choice in the collection of their personal information outside the initial decision to become a User. TPG Users have additional choice in determining the personal information they share with TPG and access to that personal information, such as:
What you upload to TPG: You often have a choice in the information which you upload to TPG. Keep in mind that certain documents and types of personal information are required in order to be considered for the exchange visitor program that TPG administers. However, in many instances, you have a choice of the exact information you upload to TPG from a range of documents and personal information, and Users are directly in control of the uploading of information to our secure server.
Blocking Cookies: You may also set your browser to block all cookies, including cookies associated with our services, or to indicate when a cookie is being set by us. However, it’s important to remember that many of our services may not function properly if your cookies are disabled.
Access: Users have the right to access the personal information about them that TPG holds, and they can access almost the entirety of this personal information at any time through their online profile. Users will be able to correct, amend, or delete personal information that TPG holds if they can demonstrate that such personal information is inaccurate, or has been processed in violation of the Privacy Shield Principles. However, to the extent permitted by applicable local laws, TPG may limit or deny a User’s access to the personal information it holds where the burden or expense of providing access would be disproportionate to the risks to their privacy, the legitimate rights of other persons would be violated, or an exception applies under another applicable law. To request access to, correct, amend, or delete your personal information with TPG, please contact TPG’s Chief Privacy Officer at admin@tpgculturalexchange.com.
Information Sharing:
Your information is normally only visible to you and TPG employees. There are limited circumstances in which TPG shares your personal information:
With your Consent: We will share personal information with companies, organizations, data processors, and other individuals outside of TPG when we have your consent to do so.
With the U.S. Department of State: TPG is designated as an exchange visitor program sponsor by the U.S. Department of State and the program is governed by the United States Code of Federal Regulations. Because of this, TPG is required to retain certain personal information in accordance with U.S. Department of State and Federal Regulations. Due to the nature of the program, TPG may be required to share your personal information with other U.S. Federal offices like the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the like.
For Other Legal reasons: We will share personal information organizations or individuals outside of TPG if we have a good-faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to:
Meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request.
Enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations.
Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues.
Protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of TPG, our users or the public as required or permitted by law.
Information Security:
TPG works hard to protect the information you share with us from unauthorized access, unauthorized alteration, disclosure, or destruction. We use website security measures consistent with current best practices to safeguard our website, email, and other internet connected programs. In particular:
We encrypt our website, requiring the use of a secure browser with encryption, or SSL. Using encryption protects information by scrambling information as it is sent from your computer or device to TPG and vice versa, helping keep your information secure and private.
We frequently patch or update our systems so that we are using the latest software versions with the most current security technology.