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Becoming an American Citizen: Naturalization Guide

If you want to become a United States citizen, you’ll need to go through the naturalization process. This is the most common pathway for immigrants to acquire U.S. citizenship, as it allows you to enjoy the full rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with being an American citizen. 

Becoming naturalized is a long process, and it can become a lot longer if you make any mistakes in your documents. If you’re considering naturalization, you may be wondering how it works and what to expect. 

FileRight’s guide to how to become an American citizen through naturalization will explain the basics. If you decide you’re ready to begin the naturalization process, we also offer safe and secure online software that will help you navigate the naturalization process on your own.

What You Need to Know About Naturalization

Naturalization and Citizenship Explained

The first thing you need to know about the process of naturalization and citizenship is to be eligible for naturalization, you must meet certain requirements. What are the requirements for naturalization? They include:

  • Being at least 18 years old
  • Holding a green card (permanent resident status) for a specified period
  • Demonstrating continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S.
  • Having good moral character
  • Displaying proficiency in English and knowledge of U.S. history and government

Once you have gone through naturalization, you will have the right to vote in federal elections, run for elected office (except for the presidency), travel with a U.S. passport, bring your family members to the U.S., and access certain government benefits. You will also take on responsibilities such as serving on a jury and defending the Constitution.

Dual Citizenship and Naturalization

You may be wondering if you are eligible for dual citizenship once you are naturalized. Naturalized U.S. citizens may retain their citizenship in their country of origin, depending on that country’s laws regarding dual citizenship. The U.S. allows dual citizenship, but some countries may not. You will need to check your country’s laws to learn if you are eligible.

How to Become a U.S. Citizen Through Naturalization?

So what is the process of becoming a United States citizen through naturalization? Once you’ve met the requirements, there are several steps. These include:

  • Preparing and submitting Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization): This step includes gathering the required documents (e.g., green card, passport, tax returns), completing the application accurately and thoroughly, and submitting the application with the appropriate fees to USCIS.
  • Attending the biometrics appointment: To complete this step, you will receive an appointment notice from USCIS. You will then attend the appointment to provide fingerprints, photographs, and a signature for background checks.
  • Preparing for the naturalization interview and civics test: In this next step, you will need to study U.S. history and government using USCIS resources and practice your English language skills. 
  • Attending the naturalization interview: Next, you will have your naturalization interview. You’ll need to bring the required documents and demonstrate your proficiency in English and knowledge of U.S. history and government. You will also need to answer questions about your background and application
  • Taking the Oath of Allegiance: After the interview, the next step is taking the Oath of Allegiance. First, you will receive a notice with the date and location of your naturalization ceremony. Next, you’ll attend the ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. Finally, you will receive your Certificate of Naturalization.
  • Applying for a U.S. passport and updating your records: In this last step, you will apply for a U.S. passport as proof of your citizenship. You will then need to update your Social Security record and other relevant documents

It is essential to meet all eligibility requirements, follow the application procedures accurately, and provide truthful information throughout the naturalization process. Reach out to FileRight for help ensuring a smooth and successful application process.

The Benefits of U.S. Citizenship Through Naturalization

When it comes to the process of naturalization, it’s worth the time and effort. The benefits of becoming a United States citizen through the naturalization process are significant, and because of this, it is a significant milestone in many immigrants’ lives. These are some of the main benefits:

  • Sense of belonging: Becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization can provide you with a sense of belonging and acceptance in your adoptive country. It signifies that you are fully recognized as a member of American society.
  • Voting rights: As a naturalized citizen, you will gain the right to vote in federal, state, and local elections, allowing you to actively participate in the democratic process and have a say in choosing your representatives.
  • Access to government jobs: Many government jobs, including some elected offices, require U.S. citizenship. Naturalization can open up new career opportunities to you in public service.
  • Protection from deportation: Naturalized citizens are generally protected from deportation, providing you with a sense of security and stability for yourself and your family.
  • Travel benefits: U.S. citizens can travel with an American passport, which is recognized worldwide and often provides easier access to many countries. You will also have the right to receive U.S. government assistance while abroad.
  • Family reunification: As a naturalized citizen, you can sponsor immediate family members (spouse, children, and parents) for permanent residency, making it easier for your family to reunite and live together in the United States.
  • Access to government benefits: As a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for certain government benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare, and some scholarships and financial aid programs.
  • Civic duties: Naturalization comes with civic responsibilities, such as serving on a jury when called upon and defending the Constitution. Fulfilling these duties can provide you with a sense of pride and commitment to your adopted country.
  • Symbolic significance: For many immigrants, naturalization is a symbolic completion of your journey and a celebration of your hard work, perseverance, and dedication to making the United States your permanent home.

Naturalization Wait Time in 2024

How long will you have to wait to become a U.S. citizen? Naturalization wait times can vary depending on several factors, such as the USCIS field office processing your application, the volume of applications received, and your individual case circumstances. Here are some general estimates about what you can expect in 2024:

Form N-400 Processing Time

The average processing time for Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) is between 10 to 14 months. However, some field offices may have shorter or longer processing times depending on their workload and staffing levels.

Factors That May Affect Processing Times

  • Background checks: More extensive background checks may be required for some applicants, which can lengthen the processing time.
  • Request for Evidence (RFE): If USCIS needs additional information or documentation, they will issue an RFE, which can add several weeks or months to the process.
  • Interview scheduling: The waiting period for the naturalization interview can vary depending on the field office’s capacity and the number of applicants in the queue.

Expedited Processing

In some cases, you may be eligible for expedited processing if you meet certain criteria, such as facing exceptional circumstances or urgent needs. However, expedited processing is not guaranteed and is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Delays and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to some delays in processing times due to office closures, reduced staff capacity, and the implementation of safety measures. As of 2024, USCIS is likely to have made significant progress in reducing the backlog caused by the pandemic, but some delays may still persist.

It is essential to check the USCIS website for the most up-to-date processing times for your specific field office and to plan accordingly. Working with FileRight can help you navigate the naturalization process more efficiently and address any potential issues that may arise along the way.

The Cost of Naturalization in 2024

One of the biggest concerns you may have about naturalization is how much it’s going to cost. Unfortunately, as of 2024, the cost of naturalization is expected to be higher than previous years due to inflation and potential fee increases. Here’s a breakdown of the estimated costs:

  • Form N-400 filing fee: The filing fee for Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) is expected to be around $725 to $800. This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied.
  • Biometrics fee: The biometrics fee, which covers the cost of fingerprinting and background checks, is likely to be around $85 to $100. This fee is paid separately from the filing fee and is also non-refundable.
  • Legal fees (optional): If you choose to hire an immigration attorney to assist with your naturalization application, your legal fees can vary widely depending on the attorney’s experience, location, and the complexity of your case. 
  • Preparation costs: You may also incur additional costs while preparing for your naturalization application, such as fees for obtaining required documents (e.g., birth or marriage certificates), translation services, and English language or civics classes. 
  • Travel costs: If you need to travel to attend your biometrics appointment, naturalization interview, or oath ceremony, you may also incur additional expenses for transportation, lodging, and meals.

In total, the cost of naturalization in 2024 can range from approximately $800 to $1,000 in government fees alone. When factoring in potential legal fees and other preparation costs, the total expense can be significantly higher.

It’s important to note that USCIS fees are always subject to change, so be sure to check the official USCIS website for the most up-to-date information on naturalization costs. Additionally, some applicants may be eligible for fee waivers or reductions based on your financial situation.

U.S. Naturalization Guide Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Most Asked Questions on the US Citizenship Interview?

During the U.S. citizenship interview, applicants are asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics questions provided by USCIS. While all 100 questions are fair game, some questions are more frequently asked than others. The most common questions include:

  • What is the supreme law of the land? Answer: The Constitution
  • What does the Constitution do? Answer: Sets up the government, defines the government, protects basic rights of Americans
  • What is an amendment? Answer: A change (to the Constitution), an addition (to the Constitution)
  • What is the economic system in the United States? Answer: Capitalist economy, market economy
  • Name one branch or part of the government. Answer: Congress, legislative, President, executive, the courts, judicial
  • Who makes federal laws? Answer: Congress, Senate and House (of Representatives), (U.S. or national) legislature
  • Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? Answer: The President
  • Who signs bills to become laws? Answer: The President
  • Who vetoes bills? Answer: The President
  • What is the highest court in the United States? Answer: The Supreme Court

Other frequently asked questions cover topics such as the Bill of Rights, the Founding Fathers, the three branches of government, and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens.

It’s essential for applicants to study all 100 questions thoroughly, as the specific questions asked during the interview can vary. Applicants must answer six out of ten questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test. You’ll also be tested on your English proficiency.

What Is the Hardest Naturalization Question?

The difficulty of naturalization questions can vary depending on your background, language proficiency, and familiarity with U.S. history and civics. However, some questions are more frequently missed or considered more challenging by test-takers. One such question is:

“What is the rule of law?”

This question is often considered difficult because it requires a conceptual understanding rather than simple memorization of facts. The correct answer is:

“Everyone must follow the law.”

Other possible answers include:

  • Leaders must obey the law.
  • Government must obey the law.
  • No one is above the law.

The concept of the rule of law is fundamental to the U.S. political system and is derived from the idea that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to the law, which is fairly and equally enforced.

It’s important to note that the difficulty of naturalization questions can be subjective, and what one person finds challenging may be easier for another. 

How Many People Fail the U.S. Citizenship Interview?

You may be nervous about the U.S. citizenship interview pass/fail rate, but the good news is the vast majority of applicants pass the U.S. citizenship interview. According to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the national pass rate for the naturalization test is consistently high, averaging above 90% in recent years. Here’s a breakdown:

  • In the fiscal year 2021, the national pass rate for the naturalization test was 90.1%.
  • In the fiscal year 2020, the national pass rate was 91.5%.
  • In the fiscal year 2019, the pass rate was 90.1%.

It’s important to note that these pass rates include both the English language proficiency and civics portions of the naturalization test.

Some common reasons why applicants might fail the citizenship interview include:

  • Failing the English language proficiency test (reading, writing, and speaking).
  • Answering fewer than six out of ten questions correctly on the civics test.
  • Lack of proper documentation or discrepancies in the N-400 application.
  • Failure to meet continuous residence or physical presence requirements.
  • Criminal history or other issues related to good moral character.

How to Increase Your Chances of Passing the U.S. Citizenship Interview?

Luckily, there are steps you can take to increase the chances of passing the U.S. citizenship interview. These include:

  • Studying the 100 civics questions and practicing your English language skills.
  • Ensuring that your  N-400 application is complete, accurate, and consistent with your supporting documents.
  • Maintaining continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S. as required.
  • Disclosing any criminal history or other issues that may affect your eligibility for naturalization.
  • Seeking guidance from an immigration attorney if you have a complex case or concerns about your eligibility.

Remember that even if you fail the citizenship interview, you may be given a second chance to retake the portion of the test you failed (English or civics) within 60 to 90 days.

What Is the 65 20 Rule for Naturalization?

The “65/20 rule” is a special provision in U.S. naturalization requirements that offers an exemption from the English language proficiency test for certain applicants based on their age and length of permanent resident status.

Under this rule, if you meet the following criteria you are exempt from the English language requirement, but you are still required to take the civics test in your native language:

  • Age: If you are 65 years old or older at the time of filing your naturalization application (Form N-400).
  • Permanent Resident Status: If you have been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least 20 years at the time of filing your naturalization application.

If you meet both of these requirements, you will be allowed to take the civics test in your native language with the assistance of an interpreter. However, you must still meet all other naturalization requirements.

It’s important to note that the “65/20 rule” is not the same as the “50/20 rule” or “55/15 rule,” which are similar provisions that allow applicants aged 50 or 55 with 20 or 15 years of permanent resident status, respectively, to take the civics test in their native language. However, these applicants must still take the English language test unless they qualify for a medical disability exemption.

What Is the 4 Year 1 Day Rule for U.S. Citizenship?

The “4 year and 1 day rule” is a concept related to the continuous residence requirement for U.S. naturalization. It comes into play when a permanent resident is absent from the United States for more than 6 months but less than 1 year during the 5-year period (or 3-year period for spouses of U.S. citizens) preceding their application for naturalization.

Here’s how it works:

  • If you are a permanent resident who is absent from the U.S. for more than 6 months but less than 1 year, you are presumed to have broken your continuous residence for naturalization purposes.
  • However, this presumption can be overcome if you can provide evidence that you did not abandon your U.S. residence during the absence, such as maintaining a U.S. job, home, or close family ties.
  • If the absence is one year or longer, you will be considered to have automatically broken your continuous residence, and you must wait until you have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 4 years and 1 day before you can apply for naturalization.

For example, if you leave the U.S. for 11 months and then return, you may still be eligible to apply for naturalization after accruing the necessary continuous residence period (5 years for most applicants, or 3 years for spouses of U.S. citizens). However, if your absence was 1 year or longer, you must wait 4 years and 1 day from the date of your return before you can apply for naturalization.

It’s important to note that this rule applies to the continuous residence requirement only. Permanent residents must also meet the physical presence requirement, which stipulates that you must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the required continuous residence period (2.5 years for most applicants, or 1.5 years for spouses of U.S. citizens).

If you plan to be absent from the U.S. for an extended period, it’s advisable to consult with an immigration attorney to understand how it may impact your eligibility for naturalization and to explore options for preserving your continuous residence, such as applying for a reentry permit before your departure.

Evidence You Need to Provide to Become an American Citizen Through Naturalization

To become an American citizen through naturalization, you’ll need to provide evidence that demonstrates your eligibility and fulfillment of the requirements. Here are the documents and evidence you’ll need to provide:

Evidence of continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S.:

  • Utility bills, rental agreements, or mortgage documents
  • Employment records, pay stubs, or tax returns
  • School records, diplomas, or transcripts
  • Religious or community organization records
  • Tax returns or IRS transcripts for the past 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen).

Evidence of good moral character:

  • Criminal history records, if applicable
  • Documentation of any arrests, charges, or convictions
  • Evidence of completing probation or paying fines

Evidence of marriage to a U.S. citizen, if applicable:

  • Marriage certificate
  • Spouse’s birth certificate or naturalization certificate
  • Joint financial documents or property ownership records

Evidence of English language proficiency and knowledge of U.S. civics:

  • If you’re applying based on qualifying military service, you may be exempt from this requirement.
  • If you’re over 50 or 55 with a certain period of permanent residency (20 or 15 years, respectively), you may be exempted from the English language test and be allowed to take the civics test in your native language.
  • Two passport-style photographs.
  • Application fees (Form N-400 filing fee and biometric fee, if applicable).

Any additional documents required based on your individual circumstances, such as:

  • Selective Service registration for males aged 18-26
  • Evidence of child support payments, if applicable
  • Divorce decrees or death certificates for previous marriages

It’s essential to provide complete and accurate documentation to avoid delays in processing your naturalization application. If USCIS requires additional evidence or clarification, they will send you a Request for Evidence (RFE) with specific instructions on what to provide.

Working with FileRight can be helpful in ensuring you have all the necessary evidence and navigating the naturalization process smoothly.

How FileRight Can Help You Apply for Naturalization

FileRight provides immigrants who want to become United States citizens with help completing the naturalization process. Our streamlined process makes it easier for you to apply. Simply select and purchase your package online, answer a series of step-by-step questions, and our proprietary technology will complete the forms for you. 

Once you’re finished, you’ll receive a PDF with your completed forms and personalized filing instructions. Print, sign, and mail your application package along with the required government filing fees to the USCIS. After that, you’ll wait for your confirmation of receipt letter from USCIS.

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Company grants you a limited, revocable, nonexclusive, non-transferable license to access the Website and use the Service for your own personal use of the Service only, and not to download or modify it or any portion thereof (other than as expressly permitted by Company.) You agree that no Materials (as defined in Paragraph 9 below) from the Website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without Company’s written permission. Violation of these Terms, including without limitation modification or use of Materials on the Website for any purpose other than those permitted in these Terms, shall result in the automatic termination, without notice to you, of your license to access the Website and utilize the Service, and also may constitute the infringement of Company’s copyright, trademark and/or other rights. You shall not attempt to access any other Company’s systems, programs or data that are not made available for public use. Except as expressly stated in the Terms, you are not granted any right or license, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, in or to any patent, trademark, copyright, or proprietary right of Company’s or any third party, in connection with your use of the Website and any Materials provided by Company or any third party on the Website. Elements of the Website, including page headers, custom graphics, logos, sounds, images, the “look and feel” of the Website (including its design, layout, color combinations, button shapes and other graphical elements) and button icons, are protected by copyright, trade dress and other state and federal laws and may not be copied or imitated, in whole or in part.

4. Creating An Account

You may browse the Website and view certain content without registering, but as a condition to using certain aspects of the Website, you are required to register with us and select a password and email address (“User ID”). You agree to provide us with accurate, complete, and updated registration information. Failure to do so shall constitute a breach of these Terms, which may result in immediate termination of your account with us. You shall not (i) select or use as a User ID either the name or email of another person with the intent to impersonate that person; (ii) use as a User ID either a name or email subject to any rights of a person other than you without appropriate authorization; or (iii) use as a User ID either a name or email that is otherwise illegal, offensive, vulgar or obscene. We reserve the right to refuse registration, cancel a User ID or deny your access to the Website in our sole discretion. You are solely responsible for activity that occurs on your account and shall be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and security information. You shall never use another user’s account without such other user’s express written permission. You will immediately notify us in writing of any unauthorized use of your account, or other account related security breach of which you are aware. Please read our Privacy Policy, which describes the personally identifiable information we collect, use, disclose, manage and store. You will be responsible for the confidentiality and use of your User ID, and for any and all activities that are conducted through your account. You agree not to transfer or resell your use of or access to the Website to any third party. We are not liable for any harm caused or related to the theft or misappropriation of your User ID, disclosure of your User ID, or your authorization of anyone else to use your User ID. If you have reason to believe that your account with us is no longer secure, you must promptly change your password and Contact Us immediately to notify us of the problem.

5. Restrictions on Use of Website

You agree that in connection with your use of the Website, you will not do any of the following:

  • Circumvent, disable or otherwise interfere with security-related features of the Website or features that prevent or restrict use or copying of any Materials, or enforce limitations on use of the Website or Materials.
  • Copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute in any way any Materials, in whole or in part, without our written permission, other than as expressly allowed by us.
  • Transmit any software or other materials that contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, defects, date bombs, time bombs or other items of a destructive nature.
  • Use any data mining, robots, spiders, or similar data gathering and extraction methods within the Website or in any way reproduce or circumvent the navigational structure or presentation of the Website or its contents without our prior written consent.
  • Modify, adapt, sub-license, translate, sell, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any portion of the Website or otherwise attempt to derive any source code or underlying ideas or algorithms of any part of the Website.
  • Use any meta tags or any other “hidden text” utilizing the name “File Right” or “Immigration Direct” or any substantially similar name without our written consent.
  • Take any action that imposes or may impose (in our sole discretion) an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our (or our third party providers’) infrastructure.
  • “Frame” or “mirror” any part of the Website.
  • Engage in spamming or flooding.
  • Remove any copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights notices contained on the Website.
  • Use the Website or Materials for any unlawful purpose.
  • Make any resale or commercial use of the Website or Company Materials
  • Make any derivative use of the Website or Company Materials.
6. Links to Third Party Sites

The Website may contain links to other websites, which are completely independent of this Website and are provided to you only as a convenience. Company makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in, or the products or services provided or sold by, any such site. Your linking to any other websites is at your own risk and you acknowledge that you bear all risks associated with access to and use of any content, information, data, advertising, products, services, or materials on or available through such websites, and your access to and use of such websites is subject to the terms and conditions of use applicable to such websites. You agree that the Company is not responsible for any loss or damage of any sort you may incur from dealing with such third party website(s). Company makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, legality, decency, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in, or the products or services provided or sold by, any such website, or any other aspect of any such website.

7. Limitations on Service

You acknowledge that Company is not responsible for any rejection or denial of your immigration application due to your failure to timely or properly file your application with USCIS. Further, you acknowledge that USCIS publishes updated forms or changes filing fees from time to time. If you expect to delay submitting your application to USCIS, be sure to confirm that the form you have printed is still being accepted by USCIS prior to filing and that the amount of the filing fee is still correct. You can check whether your form is still current and the current filing fee by logging into your account and viewing your form information.

You acknowledge that Company is not responsible for any denial of your immigration application by USCIS due to your underlying ineligibility for the immigration benefit which you are seeking.

You acknowledge and agree that you will print your forms only on U.S. letter-sized paper (8.5 inches by 11 inches), as this is the only paper size that USCIS currently accepts for the submission of paper forms.

You acknowledge that Company is not responsible for USCIS not following their own published guidelines as made available to the general public via their website.

You acknowledge that Company may establish limits concerning use of the Service and that Company may from time to time make changes or updates to its Website, Content, Service and/or software solutions (an “Update”) in order to continue to provide best in-class services and to ensure that the Website supports form updates implemented by applicable government agencies. In the event of an Update, you may be required to provide additional information when returning to your account in order to complete or print your final application. In the event an Update has been made and your account has remained dormant for an extended period of time, Company may disable viewing or editing access of your personal information and require you to contact our customer service in order to view or access your outdated application and/or reuse the Service. Without limiting any other provision of these Terms, Company shall not be liable or responsible for any rejection or denial as a result of an outdated form submission.

You acknowledge that any of the foregoing Limitations on Service will not be cause for a refund for Services and that Company shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.

8. Privacy and Information Use

You acknowledge and agree that Company’s Privacy Policy, as contained on this Website, is incorporated herein by this reference and is thereby a part of these Terms.

9. Ownership

A. Website Content. The Website is owned and operated by Company. All right, title and interest in and to the materials provided on this Website (excluding any Government forms and documents), including but not limited to the “look and feel” of the Website (including its design, layout, color combinations, button shapes and other graphical elements), information, documents, logos, graphics, sounds, page headers, button icons, service marks, trademarks, trade dress, and images (collectively, the “Materials”) are owned either by Company or by third party authors, developers, or vendors that have licensed the Materials to the Company (“Third Party Providers”). Except as otherwise expressly provided by Company, none of the Materials may be copied, republished, reproduced, uploaded, downloaded, displayed, posted, distributed, or transmitted, in any way, including without limitation on any other website or in a networked computer environment, and nothing on this Website shall be construed to confer any license under any of Company’s intellectual property rights, whether by implication, estoppel, or otherwise. Any rights not expressly granted herein to you are hereby reserved by the Company.

B. Copyrights. All Website design, text, graphics, and the selection and arrangement thereof, are owned by the Company. Copyright © 2011-2020, Forms Direct Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

C. Trademarks. “File Right”, “FileRight.com”, the Company’s logo, “Immigration paperwork just got easier”, all images and text, and all page headers, custom graphics and button icons are service marks, registered trademarks and/or trade dress of Company. All other trademarks, product names and company names or logos cited herein or on the Website are the property of their respective owners.

10. Refund Policy / Money-Back Guarantee

If you would like to request a refund of the fee you paid to the Company for use of the Service, your refund request must be made (a) within thirty (30) days of the original payment date and (b) prior to (i) the completed application being printed or downloaded, (ii) the downloadable product (e.g. E-Book guide) being downloaded, (iii) the physical product (e.g. DVD, application packet) being shipped, (iv) the translation being initiated, or (v) the substantial performance of the purchased Service. The shipment or delivery of any Service or product, whether electronically, by mail or otherwise, shall constitute substantial performance for purposes of this provision.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, refunds for services provided by a third-party service provider, including, without limitation, an independent attorney or professional services provider, are subject exclusively to the agreement between you and such third party.

From time to time, Company may promote a special offer on its website or via email or any other place of its choice (“Special Offer”). If there is a conflict between these Terms and any such Special Offer, the Special Offer terms, conditions and refund policies shall apply.

Unless specifically stated to the contrary herein, all refunds will be calculated based on the purchase price paid at the time of purchase. If the Service includes multiple items purchased at the same time (a “Bundle”), items within the bundle will be considered for a refund individually pursuant to the terms of this Refund Policy, and any refund amounts for items within a Bundle will be based on each item’s set individual item price within the total Bundle price.

For Service currently referred to as “Print & Mail”, only one package shipment is included. If a package shows as “delivered” by USPS or other courier tracking, no refund will be issued for Print & Mail Service. If a new package is requested, it can be purchased at a reduced rate of 50% of the original Print & Mail Service price you paid. If a package is not received and cannot be shown as “delivered” by USPS or other courier tracking, we will send out a replacement Print & Mail Service package to you at no cost.

For any refund requests that do not qualify for a refund pursuant to this Refund Policy, Company, at its complete and sole discretion, may choose to offer a credit to you as a courtesy to be used toward the purchase of one or more items of the Service (“Store Credit”). Store Credit will expressly expire after one (1) year from date of issue. Store Credit has no underlying value and at no times can be exchanged for cash or other form of monetary payment. Store Credit may be used by a friend or family member, but is otherwise non-transferrable and cannot be sold or marketed publicly.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if you are a resident of the state of California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York or Utah you shall have the right to rescind the transaction for any reason, and receive a full refund of your payment for the portion of Service specifically for the use of our form preparation software, within either seventy-two (72) hours or three (3) business days of entering into the contract for such services, whichever is longer. The foregoing exception is not applicable to any other product or service unless required by law.

If, at any time, you receive a final denial from the USCIS of the application you created after successfully using the Service, Company will refund the fee you paid to the Company for use of the Service and any filing fee you paid to the government directly related to the denied application (“Money-Back Guarantee”).

Money-Back Guarantee refund request(s) must be made within ninety (90) days of the date of the final denial by the USCIS.  Only the actual applicant (the person whose name appears on the denied application) is eligible to receive a Money-Back Guarantee refund. No refund will be granted to a third party who is not the applicant.

You also will not be eligible for a Money-Back Guarantee refund if your application is denied by the USCIS because of incorrect or untruthful information or entries on your application, incorrect or missing documentation, or a clerical error or similar administrative issue.

We reserve the right to seek additional information regarding the basis for denial by the USCIS prior to issuing a refund. In the event such additional information is requested, we will process your Money-Back Guarantee refund request and make a decision either to approve or deny your request within fourteen (14) days from receipt of all requested documentation.

All approved refunds for credit and debit card transactions are issued within five (5) business days. However, please be aware that it can take your bank up to five (5) additional business days for the credit transaction to post to your credit card or bank account, or for the pending charge to be cancelled.

Click Here to Submit a Refund Request.

11. Digital Millennium Copyright Act

If you are a copyright owner or an agent thereof and believe that any Material or content on this Website infringes upon your copyrights, you may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) by providing our Copyright Agent with the following information in writing (see 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for further detail):

  • A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
  • Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;
  • Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled and information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to locate the material;
  • Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail;
  • A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
  • A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Our designated Copyright Agent to receive notifications of claimed infringement is: Copyright Agent, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attn: Jeffrey I. Abrams. For clarity, only DMCA notices should go to the Copyright Agent; any other feedback, comments, requests for technical support, and other communications should be directed to our customer service department via our Contact Us page. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with all of the requirements of this Section, your DMCA notice may not be valid.

12. Limitations of Liability and Damages

IF THERE IS LIABILITY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING FOUND ON THE PART OF COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS, IT WILL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT PAID TO COMPANY FOR SERVICES, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN AND PURSUANT TO THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, BELOW. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES BE AWARDED, EVEN IF COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, AND SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW, NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH IS INTENDED TO MODIFY THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE §§ 6400, et seq., IF APPLICABLE.

13. Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold Company, its affiliates, officers, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, directors, officers, agents, service providers, attorneys, suppliers and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs, made by any third party due to or arising out of your use of the Service and/or the Website, your violation of the Terms, or your breach of any of the representations and warranties herein.

14. Limitation of Damages

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMPANY HAS SET ITS PRICES AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE WEBSITE AND THE SERVICES, AND/OR ANY CONTENT IN RELIANCE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND DAMAGES AND THE INDEMNITY SET FORTH HEREIN, AND THAT THOSE PROVISIONS FORM AN ESSENTIAL BASIS UPON WHICH THESE TERMS ARE ESTABLISHED, AND UPON WHICH COMPANY HAS PROVIDED TO YOU ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE WEBSITE AND THE SERVICES. YOU AGREE THAT THE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND DAMAGES AND THE INDEMNITY SET FORTH HEREIN SURVIVE AND APPLY EVEN IF FOUND TO HAVE FAILED OF THEIR ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

15. Enforcement of Rules and Polices

We may investigate any reported violation of our policies or complaints and take any appropriate action that we deem appropriate. While we are not obligated to take any action, such action may include, but is not limited to, issuing warnings, suspension or termination of your rights to use our Website. You agree that Company shall not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your access to the Website, and you agree not to attempt to use the Website after said termination. We also reserve the right to report any activity that we suspect violates any law or regulation to appropriate law enforcement officials or other third parties.

In order to protect our rights, property, personal safety, and those rights, property and the personal safety of our users and viewers, and to ensure the integrity and operation of our business and systems, may choose to cooperate with any law enforcement request for information or documents, any administrative, civil or criminal subpoena, or any court order, and we may disclose your information (including, without limitation, user profile information (i.e. name, e-mail address, etc.), IP addressing traffic information, and usage history regarding a user in connection with such circumstances.

You are solely responsible for the content that you submit on or through the Website, and any content or information that you transmit to other users or third party advertisers on the Website.

16. User Acknowledgements

Company is not a law firm, the employees of Company are not acting as your attorney, and Company is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Company does not provide legal advice and will only provide self-help services at your specific direction. Company does not perform the legal services that an attorney performs and will not provide any explanation, advice, recommendation or opinion to you about your legal rights, options, selection of forms or strategies.

By using the Website to assist your self-representation, you agree to the following:

  1. I realize that Company is not representing me in any legal matter;
  2. No attorney-client privilege is created with Company;
  3. I have been informed of the services that Company is performing, and the cost of these services; and
  4. No governmental entity or authority has evaluated or approved Company’s knowledge or experience, or the quality of Company’s services.

You acknowledge that you may obtain information regarding free or low-cost legal representation through a local bar association or legal aid foundation.

A portion of the money paid by you, as shown on the Website and in your receipt, may be a fee for legal services to be provided to you directly by an independent immigration lawyer (“Lawyer”). This Lawyer is not employed by Company. Your terms of the agreement and the nature of your relationship with the Lawyer is governed by a separate Limited Scope Representation Agreement (“Representation Agreement”) between you and the Lawyer. Company is not a party to the Representation Agreement. The Lawyer’s representation of you, if any, will be limited to the services described in the Representation Agreement, unless otherwise mutually agreed by you and the applicable lawyer.

17. Choice of Law

The Terms and the relationship between you and Company shall be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada without regard to any conflicts of laws principles.

18. Dispute Resolution by Binding Arbitration

Please read this carefully. It affects your rights.

Summary:

Most or your concerns can be resolved quickly to your satisfaction by contacting our Customer Center via our Contact Us page. In the unlikely event that the Customer Care Center cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, or if we have not been able to resolve a dispute with you after trying to do so informally, we each agree to resolve those disputes through binding arbitration rather than in court. Arbitration is less formal than a lawsuit. Arbitration uses a neutral arbitrator instead of a judge or jury, allows less discovery than courts, and is subject to very limited court review. We agree that any arbitration under these Terms will take place on an individual basis. Representative, group, collective or class actions or arbitrations are not permitted. As explained below, if you prevail in arbitration, Company will pay you more than the amount of the arbitrator’s award and will pay your actual, reasonable attorney’s fees if you are awarded an amount greater than what Company offered you to settle the dispute before arbitration.

You may speak with your own lawyer before using this Website or purchasing any Service, but your use of this Website and the purchase of any Service constitutes your agreement to these Terms.

Arbitration Agreement:

(a) Company and you agree to arbitrate all disputes and claims between us before a single arbitrator. The kinds of disputes and claims we agree to arbitrate are intended to be broadly interpreted, including but not limited to:

  • claims arising out of or relating to any aspect of the relationship between us, whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, advertising, or any other legal theory;
  • claims that arose before these or any prior Terms became effective;
  • claims that are currently the subject of purported class action litigation in which you are not a member of a certified class; and
  • claims that may arise after the termination of these Terms.

For the purposes of this Arbitration Agreement, references to “Company,” “you,” and “us” include our respective subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, employees, predecessors in interest, successors, and assigns, as well as all authorized or unauthorized users or beneficiaries of Service under these Terms or any prior agreements between us.

This arbitration agreement does not preclude your bringing issues to the attention of federal, state, or local agencies. Such agencies can, if the law allows, seek relief against us on your behalf. You agree that, by entering into these Terms, you and Company are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a representative, group, collective or class action or arbitration.

You acknowledge that use of this Website and/or purchase of Service constitutes a transaction in interstate commerce. The Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Arbitration Agreement. This Arbitration Agreement survives termination of these Terms.

(b) A party seeking arbitration under these Terms must first send, by U.S. certified mail, a written Notice of Dispute (“Notice”) to the other party. A Notice to Company should be addressed to: Forms Direct Inc., c/o Paracorp Incorporated, 318 N. Carson St #208, Carson City, NV 89701 (the “Notice Address”). Company may send a written Notice to the electronic mail address that you provided when you created an account, if any. The Notice must (a) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute and (b) set forth the specific relief sought (“Demand”). If Company and you do not reach an agreement to resolve the claim within 30 days after the Notice is received, you or Company may commence an arbitration proceeding. During the arbitration, the amount of any settlement offer made by Company or you shall not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator determines the amount, if any, to which you or Company is entitled.

You may download or copy a form Notice from http://www.fileright.com/noticeofdispute.pdf.

You may download or copy a form to initiate arbitration from the AAA website at https://www.adr.org/sites/default/files/Demand%20for%20Arbitration%20Consumer%20Arbitration%20Rules.pdf.

(c) After Company receives notice at the Notice Address that you have commenced arbitration, it will promptly reimburse you for your payment of the filing fee, unless your total claim is for more than $75,000. If your total claim exceeds $75,000, the payment of all arbitration fees will be governed by the AAA rules. The filing fee for consumer-initiated arbitrations is currently $200, but this is subject to change by the arbitration provider. If you are unable to pay this fee and your total claim is for $75,000 or less, Company will pay the filing fee directly after receiving a written request at the Notice Address. Except as otherwise provided herein, Company will pay all AAA filing, administration, and arbitrator fees for any arbitration initiated in accordance with these Terms. If, however, the arbitrator finds that either the substance of your claim or the relief sought in the Demand is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)), then the payment of all such fees will be governed by the AAA Rules. In such case, you agree to reimburse the Company for all monies previously disbursed by it that are otherwise your obligation to pay under the AAA Rules. All arbitration proceeding will be governed by the Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes (collectively, the “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”), as modified by these Terms, and will be administered by the AAA. The AAA Rules are available online at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879. The arbitrator is bound by these Terms. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, except that issues relating to the scope, enforceability, and interpretation of the arbitration provision and the scope, enforceability, and interpretation of paragraph (f) are for the court to decide. Unless Company and you agree otherwise, any arbitration hearings will take place in the county or parish of the contact address you submitted to Company. If your total claim is for $10,000 or less, you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator, by a telephone hearing, or by an in-person hearing governed by the AAA Rules. If you choose to proceed either by telephone or in person, we may choose to respond only by written or telephone. If your claim exceeds $10,000, the AAA Rules will determine whether you have a right to a telephone or in-person hearing. The parties agree that in any arbitration under these Terms, neither party will rely on any award or finding of fact or conclusion of law made in any other arbitration to which Company was a party. In all cases, the arbitrator shall issue a reasoned, written decision sufficient to explain the findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the award is based.

(d) If, the arbitrator finds in your favor in any respect on the merits of your claim, and the arbitrator issues you an award that is greater than the value of Company’s last written settlement offer made before an arbitrator was selected, then Company will pay you either the amount of the award or $2,000 (“the Alternative Payment”), whichever is greater, plus the actual amount of reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses that you incurred in investigating, preparing, and pursuing your claim in arbitration (the “Attorney’s Payment”). If we did not make you a written offer to settle the dispute before an arbitrator was selected, you will be entitled to receive the Alternative Payment and the Attorney’s Payment, respectively, if the arbitrator awards you any relief on the merits. The arbitrator may make rulings and resolve disputes as to the payment and reimbursement of fees, expenses, and the Alternative Payment and the Attorney’s Payment at any time during the proceeding and upon request from either party made within 14 days of the arbitrator’s ruling on the merits. In assessing whether an award that includes attorney’s fees or expenses is greater than the value of Company’s last written settlement offer, the arbitrator shall consider only the actual attorney’s fees or expenses reasonably incurred before Company’s settlement offer.

(e) The right to attorney’s fees and expenses discussed in paragraph (d) supplements any right to attorney’s fees and expenses you may have under applicable law. If you would be entitled to a larger amount under applicable law, this provision does not preclude the arbitrator from awarding you that amount. However, you may not recover duplicative awards of attorney’s fees or costs. Although under some laws Company may have a right to an award of attorney’s fees and expenses from you if it prevails in an arbitration, Company will not seek such an award.

(f) The arbitrator may award monetary and injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party’s individual claim. YOU AND THE COMPANY AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES AND NOT AS PLAINTIFFS OR CLASS MEMBERS IN ANY PURPORTED REPRESENTATIVE, GROUP OR CLASS ACTION OR ARBITRATION, OR IN THE CAPACITY OF A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. Further, unless both you and Company agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative, group or class proceeding. The arbitrator may award any relief that a court could award that is individualized to the claimant and would not affect other customers. Neither you nor we may seek non-individualized relief that would affect other customers. If a court decides that applicable law precludes enforcement of any of this paragraph’s limitations as to a particular claim for relief, then that claim (and only that claim) must be severed from the arbitration and may be brought in court. All other claims remain subject to this Arbitration Agreement.

(g) If the total amount in dispute exceeds $75,000 or either party seeks any form of injunctive relief, either party may appeal the award to a three-arbitrator panel administered by AAA by a written notice of appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of entry of the written arbitration award. An award of injunctive relief shall be stayed during any such appeal. The members of the three-arbitrator panel will be selected according to AAA rules. The three-arbitrator panel will issue its decision within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the appealing party’s notice of appeal. The decision of the three-arbitrator panel shall be final and binding, subject to any right of judicial review that exists under the FAA.

(h) Notwithstanding any provision in these Terms to the contrary, we agree that if we make any material change to this arbitration provision (other than a change to any notice address, website link or telephone number), that change will not apply to any dispute of which we had written notice on the effective date of the change. Moreover, if we seek to terminate this arbitration provision, any such termination will not be effective until at least thirty (30) days after written notice of such termination is provided to you, and shall not be effective as to disputes which arose prior to the date of termination.

In order to contact Company regarding a complaint about the Service, please Contact Us.

19. Technical Support Issues

If you encounter a technical problem when attempting to print or otherwise access your completed application, or some other problem you may encounter in attempting to use our Service, Company’s customer service representatives may be able to assist you with your problem.

If you contact Company’s customer service representatives and request that your completed application be sent to you, you acknowledge and agree that you are specifically authorizing them to log in to your account to generate your application and then view your application data to ensure that it was generated properly.

If you contact Company’s customer service representatives and request that a customer service representative remotely control your computer in order to try to resolve your technical problem, you acknowledge and accept that Company is not liable for any technical problems that may persist or arise with your computer after doing so.

20. General Information

The Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Company and govern your use of the Website and the Service, superseding any prior agreements between you and Company. The failure of Company to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. The Terms do not limit any rights that Company may have under trade secret, copyright, patent or other laws. The employees of Company are not authorized to make modifications to the Terms, or to make any additional representations, commitments, or warranties binding on Company, except in a writing signed by an authorized officer of Company. If any provision of the Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the Terms remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to the use of the Website, the Service or the Terms must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. You also agree that the Terms shall not be construed against the drafting party, i.e., Company.

You warrant, represent and agree that, by accessing or using the Website, its Content and/or the Service, you (i) do so with knowledge of any and all rights that you may have with respect to the provisions of these Terms, (ii) have carefully read and considered these Terms and fully understand its contents and the significance of its contents, (iii) are consenting to these Terms of your own informed and free will, based upon such party’s own judgment and without any coercion or fear of retaliation, and (iv) you have been afforded the opportunity to obtain independent legal advice with respect to these Terms.

Further, unless both you and Company agree otherwise, the trier of fact may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding.

In addition, in the event of a breach of these Terms by you, the Company will, in addition to all other remedies available to it, be entitled to equitable relief by way of a temporary restraining order, or preliminary or permanent injunction and any other legal or equitable remedies.

21. Notice for California Users

Under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, California users of the Website are entitled to the following specific consumer rights notice: The Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (916) 445-1254 or (800) 952-5210.

Privacy Policy

NOTICE: This privacy policy is effective as of and was last updated on July 7, 2020.

Types of Information We Collect and How We Use It

This Website is operated by Forms Direct Inc., its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors and assigns (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), and provides: (i) general immigration-related information and products; (ii) automated software solutions for filling out certain U.S. immigration forms based on the specific information and direction which you provide, which we may deliver to you along with the original Government instructions and/or customized filing instructions; and (iii) other ancillary and support services at your request (collectively referred to hereafter as the “Service”), subject to these Terms of Use (the “Terms”) which may be updated by Company from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, decisions regarding the contents of any particular field, as well as the choice of the form itself, are solely and exclusively your own.

One of the primary advantages of the Website is educating you about the process and requirements of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and U.S. Department of State applications. The Website provides user-friendly, automated “do-it-yourself” software solutions that guide you through the application preparation process based upon your specific direction. The payment received by the Company is in exchange for the use of this Service.

The Company is not a government agency and is not affiliated with nor endorsed by any government agency. The Company is not a law firm and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Neither Company nor any of its employees provide legal services or legal advice. As such, this Website is not intended to create any attorney-client relationship, and by using this Website no attorney-client relationship will be created with Company. Instead, you are representing yourself in any legal matter you undertake through the Website’s Services. You are free to consult with and obtain advice from an attorney of your choosing at any time. If you have any legal questions or specific or unique problems, please consult with and obtain legal advice from a qualified attorney.

By accessing the Website and using the Service in any way, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by these Terms. In addition, when using the Website and the Service, you agree to abide by any applicable posted guidelines for all of Company’s services, which may change from time to time, and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Should you object to any of these Terms, any guidelines, or any subsequent modifications thereto or become dissatisfied with Company or the Website in any way, you should immediately discontinue use of the Website. These Terms will remain in full force and effect as long as you are a user of the Website and in the event of termination of any membership, service or feature, you will still be bound by your obligations under these Terms, including any indemnifications, warranties and limitations of liability.

BY USING THE WEBSITE AND AGREEING TO THESE TERMS, YOU HEREBY CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE AND YOU ARE LEGALLY ABLE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE.

It is your responsibility to periodically review these Terms. Nevertheless, Company reserves the right, at any time, to change the Terms by publishing notice of such changes on the Website. Any use of the Services by you after Company’s publication of any such changes shall constitute your acceptance of these Terms, as modified. You agree that Company is permitted to access and use any other information provided by you to perform the Service and, if necessary, to access such information to obtain contact information in order to provide notifications relating to the Service provided to you by the Company.

Personally Identifiable Information

As a general policy, no “Personally Identifiable Information” (as defined below) is automatically collected from your visit to the Website, but it will be collected if provided by you or received by us in accordance with this Privacy Policy, for example, through one of the “Sources of Personally Identifiable Information” identified below. “Personally Identifiable Information” means: (1) your first and last name; (2) your home or other physical address, street name, and name of city or town; (3) your email address(es); (4) your telephone number(s); (5) your social security number; (6) your date of birth; (7) any other identifier that permits you to be contacted in person; (8) personally identifiable employment or financial information; and (9) information about you that we collect from you through this Website or other channels and maintain in personally identifiable form in combination with any of the above information about you.

We will collect and use Personally Identifiable Information about you in a number of ways, including:

  • responding to your request for products or services offered through the Website; and
  • notifying you about products, services, and other opportunities we think will be of interest to you, including, without limitation, by e-mail, telephone, or SMS Message Service.

By using the Website, you are consenting to the use and disclosure of your Personally Identifiable Information as described in this Privacy Policy.

If you would like to make corrections or updates to your Personally Identifiable Information, including your email address, phone number, or mailing address, or your credit card information or password reminder phrase, you can easily make them through the edit profile section of your account. We reserve the right to collect information about you from other sources and store it in connection with other online or offline information we may possess or obtain about you.

Sources of Personally Identifiable Information

The Personally Identifiable Information which we collect and use may come from a number of sources, including:

  • Registration Information, which you provide when registering for our services or products offered through the Website. For example, you will be required to submit personal information such as your name, address, email, and date of birth to verify your identity prior to establishing your account.
  • Billing information, such as a credit card number, card issuer, cardholder name and other account details, which is required or requested to process the payment for the products or services you order from us.
  • Other information we collect, such as the city of your birth and your mother’s maiden name, which is used to verify your identity in the event you forget your login information required for our online products or services.
  • Information you provide to us in response to our communications. For example, we may request that you provide your e-mail address so that we may send you notifications, alerts, special offers and newsletters.
  • Information that you provide to us through customer service communications and correspondence, including general feedback.
  • Information you provide to us responding to products or services offered through the Website, including information you provide in order to check the status on your application.
Non-Personally Identifiable Information.

Certain non-personally identifiable information, including but not limited to the type of browser you are using, the operating system running that browser, your device ID or MAC address, and your IP address (“Non-Personally Identifiable Information”), may be automatically recorded by the standard operation of the Website or its internet servers. Even if you do not provide information to us, we automatically collect certain information about your use and interaction with our Website and services. This Non-Personally Identifiable Information can be used to help diagnose server problems, administer the Website and generally enhance your online experience. We will also collect certain information arising out of your use of the Website, such as cookies, or web beacons, or augment the data we collect with other information from other online or offline sources, including the Demographics and Interest Reports and User-ID tracking features of Google Analytics, AdWords and/or AdSense or other tracking or third-party remarketing codes. You are able to opt out of Google Demographics tracking by installing the official Google Analytics opt-out browser extension here. We also may collect other Non-Personally Identifiable Information such as: (i) age; (ii) gender; (iii) interest categories (e.g., sports, travel, food & dining); or (iv) parental status. We reserve the right to collect information about you and store it in connection with other online or offline information we may possess or obtain about you.

In addition, when you access our Website or use our services on a mobile device, we may collect certain information automatically, such as the type of device you use, unique device ID, wireless mobile subscriber information, operating system, and information about your use of our services. With your consent, we may use available services on your device to determine your precise location. Our services may be supported by advertising, some of which may be customized based on information we collect or receive about you or your devices, including your location.

Cookies

A cookie is a piece of data stored on the hard drive of your computer that contains information about you and that is used for record keeping purposes. Cookies enable us to track and target your interests to enhance your experience on the Website. We may set and access cookies on your computer to provide you with customized content and to assist in providing the products that you have requested. We also work with companies who provide services to maintain the Website and enable those service providers the right to use cookies on our website. Most cookies automatically delete themselves from your hard drive after each session. Like many other websites, we may automatically track information based upon your behavior on the Website, including combining information that we obtain through the use of cookies with Personally Identifiable Information, or other aggregate or anonymous data, including a unique identification we may assign you. We also may combine information obtained from first- and third-party cookies to help us better understand our customer demographics and how customers interact with our sites. The information may include browser type, internet service provider, language setting, screen resolution, referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, IP address, and number of clicks, all used to analyze trends, administer the Website, track your movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. Most web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies; however, you can reset your web browser to reject all cookies. If you reject the cookie, you may still use the Website, although your access to and use of some areas of the Website may be limited. In addition, if you refuse to accept cookies you agree to assume all responsibility for any resulting loss of functionality.

Web Beacons

Pages on our Website also may contain “web beacons” (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). Web beacons allow third parties to obtain information such as the IP address of the computer that downloaded the page on which the beacon appears, the URL of the page on which the beacon appears, the time the page containing the beacon was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies set by the third party. We use log files to store the data that is collected through web beacons.

All of your Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information, as well as any other information described above may be referred to collectively as the “User Information.”

How We Respond to Do Not Track Signals

We do not currently support the Do Not Track browser setting.

Sharing of Information

We reserve the right to share, rent, sell, or otherwise disclose certain of your User Information, including Personally Identifiable Information, with affiliated and non-affiliated third parties, including without limitation in connection with the following:

Special Offers – We sometimes disclose the information we collect to affiliated companies for marketing purposes and to enhance our products or services to better suit your needs. When identifying methods of improving our products or services, or if we think a product or service may be of interest to you, we may extend select special offers of goods or services to you. If you would like to opt-out of receiving these offers, please refer to the “Offering You Choices – Marketing Options,” section below.

Ancillary Services – We may share your User Information with third-party affiliates, partners and/or service providers providing ancillary or other services, including, without limitation, third-party translators, technology and development services providers, payment processors, and other professional services providers. Without limiting any other provision of this Privacy Policy, we may share your User Information with any such third parties assisting us in the fulfillment of services requested by you or offered to you during your use or in the course of your activity on our Website or in communications with us, including with attorney or legal services providers, whether or not in conjunction with any purchase on our Website.

Vendors – We sometimes disclose the information we collect to non-affiliated third party companies that operate various services for us, such as marketing, distribution, advertising, analytics, data or list management, or certain product functionalities, or who otherwise provide goods or services which may be of interest to you. If you provide information to us, you are expressly consenting to receiving telephone calls, emails or text messages, or direct mail, from us, or on our behalf, regarding the products and services offered on the Website.

E-Commerce Providers on our Website – If you provide Personally Identifiable Information to one of our Website’s e-commerce providers, vendors or advertisers (if any), this transaction will occur within the site of the applicable e-commerce provider, vendor or advertiser, not on the Website, and, as such, the Personally Identifiable Information you provide is collected pursuant to and controlled by the privacy policy of such e-commerce provider, vendor or advertiser. We are not responsible for such parties’ privacy policies and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the applicable privacy policy of the e-commerce site with which you transact business or to contact the operator of such site for more information.

As Permitted by Law – We may share your Personally Identifiable Information with non-affiliated third parties as permitted by law.

Cooperation with Government Agencies/Response to Subpoenas and/or Court Order – In order to protect our rights, property, personal safety, and those rights, property and the personal safety of our users and viewers, and to ensure the integrity and operation of our business and systems, may choose to cooperate with any law enforcement request for information or documents, any administrative, civil or criminal subpoena, or any court order, and we may disclose your information (including, without limitation, user profile information (i.e. name, email address, etc.), IP addressing traffic information, and usage history regarding a user in connection with such circumstances.

Transferability of Information – We may share your User Information and other data with businesses controlling, controlled by, or under common control with us. In the event we go through a business transition, such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personally Identifiable Information and other User Information will likely be among the assets transferred, and you hereby consent to such transfer.

Bankruptcy – In the event we file for bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the application of laws or equitable principles affecting creditor’s rights generally, we may not be able to control how your Personally Identifiable Information is treated, transferred, or used. if such an event occurs, your Personally Identifiable Information may be treated like any other asset of ours and sold, transferred or shared with third parties, or used in ways not contemplated or permitted under this Privacy Policy, without notice to you or your consent.

Contact You – We may use any User Information provided by you to contact you for any purpose contemplated in this Privacy Policy or on our Website, even if your telephone number is found on a do-not-call registry or similar registry. You agree that by providing your telephone number on our website or other communication to us, you are providing your express written consent to be contacted by fileright.com or its agents, affiliates or partners, at that number for marketing purposes, using pre-recorded messages, automated dialing technology, or text-message based marketing (“SMS” Messages”), whether or not such number is found on any state or federal do-not-call list. You agree that based on your individual plan with your carrier, you may incur charges associated with receiving calls and messages and that you agree to be solely responsible for such charges. You may opt-out from receiving SMS messages by texting “STOP” or “Opt-out” or as otherwise specifically specified in the communication. By registering on or using the Website, you agree that such act constitutes an inquiry and/or application for purposes of the Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR 310 et seq.), as amended from time to time.

In addition to the above, we may disclose your Personally Identifiable Information in special cases when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary: (a) to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or interfering (either intentionally or unintentionally) with: (i) our legal rights or property, (ii) another visitor or anyone else that could be harmed by such activities; or (b) by operation of law.

Please be advised that certain Personally Identifiable Information becomes a matter of public record upon the filing of certain documents with the appropriate government agency or court.

Offering You Choices - Marketing Options

You have choices when it comes to learning about our new offers, products or services, as well as those offered by our affiliates. If you do not wish to receive these offers, you may opt out by contacting our Customer Care department via our Contact Us page. Alternatively, each marketing e-mail we send to you will include instructions how to opt-out which you may utilize. Please note that you may still receive information from third parties to whom we have disclosed your information prior to the time you opted-out. You should contact each party in the event that you no longer want to receive information from such party. Whether or not a customer has opted out of receiving certain communications from us, customer may continue to receive transactional, non-marketing emails necessary to provide our services or otherwise relevant to your interaction with our Website, including, without limitation, communications affecting your rights, communications necessary to comply with regulatory requirements or investigations, or communications exempted pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act or other applicable laws, rules or regulations.

We do not currently support the Do Not Track browser setting.

Links

We are deeply committed to your right to privacy. However, please note that this Website’s Privacy Policy only applies to the Website and not to any other websites that you may access from the Website, each of which may have privacy policies that are materially different from this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to be aware when you leave the Website and to read the privacy policies of each and every other website, as we are not responsible or liable for the commitments and obligations made to you in any privacy policy or the terms and conditions of any such website. Our Website may include social media features, such as links to social media pages and platforms, Facebook Like buttons and Widgets, such as the Share this button or interactive programs that run on our site. These features may collect your IP address, which page you are visiting on our site, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Social media features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our website. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it.

Security

We work hard to protect your personal information and use industry standard protocols and technology to protect to protect the security of your User Information against data theft by unauthorized third parties. However, we cannot guarantee that our security measures will prevent our computers from being illegally accessed, and the data on them stolen or altered, and we assume no liability or responsibility to you or to any third party arising out of any loss, misuse, destruction, or alteration of your User Information. Moreover, please take into account that the Internet and e-mail transmissions are not secure or error free communication means. We encourage you to always take great care in handling and disclosing your personal information. For example, avoid sending personal information through insecure email. We also urge you to be aware that if you use or access our Website or services through a third-party computer network (e.g., internet cafe, library) or other potentially non-secure internet connection, such use may increase risk of unauthorized access to your User Information and you do so at your own risk. Please refer to the Federal Trade Commission’s website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data.shtm for information about how to protect yourself against identity theft.

Data Transfers, Storage and Retention

Website has its headquarters in the United States of America (USA). Henceforth, your personal data may be accessed by us or our affiliates, agents, partners, or third party service providers elsewhere, and you hereby consent to such access and transfer by providing us such information. If you are accessing our Website from other regions, you ought to know that you are thereby transferring your User Information to the USA and, thus, you hereby consent to such transfer to the USA or to any other country in which we operate.

We will retain your User Information for as long as your account is active or as long as needed to continue to offer or provide services to you or track customer accounts, in our sole discretion, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. The foregoing notwithstanding, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we reserve the right to archive, delete or purge your User Information at any time, including permanently erasing, relocating or migrating your User Information from or between our websites, servers, databases or platforms, including upon your request, or to comply with any laws, rules, regulations, court or administrative orders, or upon the advice of counsel.

Persons Under the Age of 18

In order to use the Website and/or its products and/or services, you must be at least 18 years of age. The Website is not directed to or intended for use by persons under the age of 18 and we not knowingly solicit personal information from such persons or send them requests for non-public personal information. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received Personally Identifiable Information directly from someone under the age of 18, we will delete such information from our records. If you are under the age of 18, you are not permitted to use our Website, products or services, or send us any personal information.

Notification of Changes

We reserve the right to modify, alter or otherwise update this Privacy Policy from time to time, so you are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy often. Your continued use of the Website following the posting of such modifications, alterations or updates will signify and constitute your acceptance thereof. Please note that each time you use the Website, the current version of this Privacy Policy will apply.

If we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will update this Privacy Policy on our Website and the effective date of the most recent updates, so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how such information is used and under what circumstances, if any, such information is disclosed. Unless we obtain your express consent, any revised Privacy Policy will apply only to information collected after such time as the revised Privacy Policy takes effect.

Visitor’s Acceptance of These Terms

By using the Website, you hereby accept all of the terms set forth in our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to or accept all or any portion of the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy, then you are not permitted to use the Website.

Privacy Complaints

If you believe that we have not complied with this Privacy Policy, please Contact our Privacy Officer.