Information Collected and Stored Automatically

If you visit the Study in the States website to read or download information, the following information is collected and stored about your visit:

• The name of the Internet domain (for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you are connecting from a university's domain and the IP address from which you access our site;
• The type of browser and operating system that is used to access the Study in the States website;
• The date and time the Study in the States site is accessed;
• The Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to the Study in the States  website; and
• The pages you visit and the information you request.

This information is primarily collected and used for statistical analysis and technical improvements to the Study in the States website. This government computer system uses software programs to create summary statistics, which may be used for such purposes as assessing what information is of the most and least interest, determining technical design specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas. In certain circumstances, however, Study in the States may take additional steps to identify you based on this information and Study in the States may share this information, including your identity, with other agencies.

Study in the States uses Google Analytics measurement software to collect the information listed above. The data are automatically sent to Google’s system and the system immediately aggregates the data.  Neither the Department nor Google ever have access to the specifics of your particular site visits.  The staff can only see the aggregate data from all users for a particular time period.

The Department gathers this information to improve our websites and has chosen to not share the aggregate data with Google.  We may use the aggregated data to share with our partners and contractors to help improve visitor experiences. 

For additional information about the Department’s use of Google Analytics, please see our privacy impact assessment, DHS/ALL/PIA-033 Google Analytics (June 9, 2011).

If You Send Study in the States Personal Information

If you choose to provide Study in the States with personal information, such as sending email or filling out a form and submitting it through the Study in the States Website, Study in the States will use that information to respond to your message or to fulfill the requested purpose of communication. Remember that email is not necessarily secure against interception. If your communication is sensitive or includes personal information you may prefer to send it via postal mail instead.

Study in the States may share the information you give us with another government agency if your inquiry relates to that agency. In other limited circumstances, such as responses to requests from Congress and private individuals, Study in the States may be required by law to disclose information that you submit. Before you submit any personal information, such as an online form, you may be given more specific guidance as to how your personal information may be used.

Electronically submitted information is maintained and destroyed according to the principles of the Federal Records Act, the regulations and records schedules of the National Archives and Records Administration, and in some cases may be covered by the Privacy Act and subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Cookies

"Cookies" are small bits of text that are either used for the duration of the session ("session cookies"), or saved on a user's hard drive in order to identify that user, or information about that user, the next time the user logs on to a website ("persistent cookies"). The Study in the States website does not use persistent or session cookies.

Terms of Use of Other Policies

Linking Policy

The links located within the Study in the States website are there for the ease of users, however, it should be noted that these links may not adhere to the same privacy policy as stated by Study in the States. By clicking on one of the links on the Study in the States website you are leaving the Study in the States website and subject to a different privacy policy. The Study in the States agency is not responsible for content found on websites that link to the Study in the States website. These websites are maintained by both public and private entities of which Study in the States has no authority.

Study in the States maintains its right to add or remove links on the Study in the States website without previously contacting the site or giving a reason as to why the links are being added or removed. The Study in the States website does include links to other government and federal websites that may help users better understand policies. Study in the States will only link to websites that are not federal or government websites if the website is sponsored by a legitimate organization that is affiliated with Study in the States or other government agencies. Study in the States will review each link quarterly to ensure the link is accurate and dependable.

If Study in the States does link to a website then that website and information posted on that site is under no authority of Study in the States and Study in the States has no control over the content placed on that site. If the Study in the States website links to another site that is not an endorsement of that site by either Study in the States, ICE, or the Department of Homeland Security. That link is there to help the user and provide convenience.

Copyright

Information presented on the Study in the States Website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. However, Study in the States does request that the use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is given to Study in the States.

Public Service

The Study in the States website is provided as a public service. Every effort is made to provide complete and accurate information. However, with the volume of documents available, often uploaded with short deadlines, Study in the States does not guarantee the site will be error free.Study in the States will do its best ensure that any errors brought to attention will be corrected as soon as possible.