SA Migration International ("SA Migration," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA"). This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and what rights you have over it.
This policy applies to samigration.com and sami.co.za, and to any personal information you provide to us by phone, email, WhatsApp, or in person.
1. Who we are
SA Migration International is an independent, privately-owned immigration advisory practice, registered as Reg. No. 2004/01/0067 (DHA RDMX-SQ), with its head office at 47 Strand Street, Cape Town, South Africa. We are not a government agency and do not issue visas or permits.
2. Personal information we collect
We collect personal information that you provide to us directly, and limited technical information collected automatically when you visit our websites.
- Information you give us: full name, email address, phone/WhatsApp number, nationality, the immigration category you are enquiring about, and any details you choose to share about your situation, whether submitted through our online assessment form, by phone, by email, or in person.
- Information we collect if you become a client: identity and travel documents, employment or family details, and other supporting documentation relevant to your matter, provided directly by you.
- Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and cookies placed by our website and advertising tools (see Section 5, Cookies).
3. Why we process your information, and on what basis
| Purpose | Legal basis under POPIA |
|---|---|
| Responding to your enquiry and providing an initial assessment | Your consent, given by submitting the form or contacting us |
| Providing immigration consultation, document review, or application assistance you have engaged us for | Performance of a contract with you |
| Referring a matter to an independent attorney where formal legal representation is required | Your consent, obtained before any referral |
| Keeping records as required by law or professional regulation | Compliance with a legal obligation |
| Improving our website and understanding how visitors find us | Legitimate interest, balanced against your rights |
We do not use your personal information for any purpose beyond these without asking you first.
4. Who we share your information with
We do not sell your personal information. We may share it, only to the extent necessary, with:
- Independent attorneys, engaged directly and only with your consent, where a matter requires formal legal representation.
- The Department of Home Affairs or other government bodies, only where you have instructed us to submit an application or make representations on your behalf.
- Service providers who support our operations (for example, website hosting, email, and telephony providers), bound by confidentiality obligations.
- Regulators or law enforcement, where we are legally required to do so.
5. Cookies and online tracking
Our websites use cookies and similar technologies, including Google Ads conversion tracking and analytics tools, to understand how visitors use our site and to measure the effectiveness of our advertising. Cookies may collect technical identifiers that POPIA treats as personal information.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Doing so may affect how parts of the website function. Where required, we will request your consent before placing non-essential cookies.
6. How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected: for general enquiries that do not proceed further, typically no longer than 24 months; for client matters, for the duration of our engagement and thereafter for the period required by professional record-keeping obligations and applicable law.
7. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against loss, unauthorised access, and disclosure. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to keep your information appropriately protected at every stage.
8. Your rights under POPIA
Subject to certain conditions set out in POPIA, you have the right to:
- Be told what personal information we hold about you, and why.
- Request access to, or a copy of, your personal information.
- Request correction of inaccurate or outdated personal information.
- Request deletion of personal information we no longer have a lawful basis to keep.
- Object to our processing of your personal information, including for direct marketing.
- Withdraw consent you previously gave us, at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, contact our Information Officer using the details in Section 10.
9. Complaints to the Information Regulator
If you believe we have not handled your personal information in accordance with POPIA, you may lodge a complaint with us directly, or with South Africa's Information Regulator:
The Information Regulator (South Africa)
Complaints: POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za
Website: inforegulator.org.za
10. Contact us
SA Migration International — Information Officer
47 Strand Street, Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: +27 82 373 8415
Email: info@sami.co.za
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or the law. The "last updated" date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised.