Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 5, 2026

The Vinesh Patel Law Firm PLLC ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our clients and website visitors. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (www.vpatellaw.com), use our client portal, or communicate with us via SMS, email, or other channels.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, date of birth, country of birth, nationality, immigration status, A-Number, and other information you provide through our intake forms or client portal.
Case-Related Information: Immigration history, family information, criminal history, and other details relevant to your legal matter, collected through our intake questionnaire and consultations.
Communication Data: Records of SMS messages, emails, and phone calls between you and our office, including automated follow-up messages.
Payment Information: Billing and payment details processed through our secure payment processor (Stripe). We do not store credit card numbers on our servers.
Technical Data: IP address, browser type, and device information collected automatically when you visit our website.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide legal services and manage your immigration case
Communicate with you about your case, appointments, and fee quotes via SMS, email, and our client portal
Send automated follow-up messages regarding fee quote status and case updates
Process payments and manage billing
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Improve our services and website

3. SMS/Text Messaging

By providing your phone number and consenting to receive text messages, you agree to receive SMS communications from our office, including:

Fee quote delivery and follow-up reminders
Appointment confirmations and reminders
Case status updates
Payment reminders

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any message. Reply HELP for assistance. Opting out of SMS will not affect your legal representation.

Mobile Information Sharing. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All categories of information sharing described elsewhere in this Privacy Policy exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. Mobile opt-in data and phone numbers collected for SMS purposes are transmitted only to Twilio, our SMS delivery provider, and solely for the purpose of delivering the operational messages described above.

For the canonical Call to Action, message-flow description, sample messages, opt-in screenshots, and STOP/HELP keyword behavior, see our SMS Terms.

4. Attorney-Client Privilege

Information you share with us in the context of seeking or receiving legal representation is protected by attorney-client privilege and will be treated as confidential. We will not disclose privileged information without your consent, except as required by law or professional ethical obligations.

5. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information with:

Service Providers: Third-party services that assist in our operations (payment processing via Stripe, SMS delivery via Twilio, appointment scheduling via Calendly). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information. For USCIS receipt numbers, see Section 11.
Government Agencies: As necessary for your immigration case (e.g., USCIS filings) and only with your authorization.
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental regulation.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including encryption, secure servers, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations, and as required by applicable rules of professional conduct for attorneys. For USCIS receipt numbers, see Section 11.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate information
Opt out of SMS communications by texting STOP
Request deletion of your information, subject to our legal and ethical retention obligations

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

11. USCIS Receipt Numbers and Case Status Checks

USCIS treats receipt numbers as personally identifiable information (PII). We keep them confidential.

Where we get them: From USCIS notices and the forms we prepare for our clients.
How we use them: To work on your case and check its status through USCIS's official Case Status API. We never sell them or use them for marketing.
Testing: We also check a few clients' receipt numbers with known results, which may include closed cases, to confirm our system reads USCIS replies correctly.
What we send: Only the receipt number, sent securely (HTTPS) with credentials USCIS issues to our firm. Checks will begin once USCIS approves our access.
How often: Our system checks each case up to once a day, and staff may check as needed. Checks stop when your case closes, unless it is a test number.
What we store: The status, check date, and USCIS's reply, with your client file.
How we protect them: Staff sign in with a password plus a second step. Our USCIS credentials stay in protected server settings, never sent to browsers.
Service providers: Our service providers may handle them, including Supabase (database), Vercel (app hosting), Anthropic (AI tools), and Sentry (error monitoring).
How long we keep them: With your client file for 10 years after your case ends, unless you ask us to delete status records sooner.
To stop checks or delete records: Email docs@vpatellaw.com or call (214) 272-8523. We will stop all checks within 2 business days, delete status-check records within 30 days, and confirm in writing. Your receipt number stays in your file. Backup copies may remain for a time.
If there is a breach: We will notify affected clients within 7 days of discovery.

Números de recibo de USCIS y consultas del estado de su caso

USCIS considera los números de recibo información de identificación personal (PII). Nosotros los mantenemos confidenciales.

De dónde los obtenemos: De los avisos de USCIS y de los formularios que preparamos para nuestros clientes.
Para qué los usamos: Para trabajar en su caso y consultar su estado por medio de la API oficial de Estado de Casos de USCIS (Case Status API). Nunca los vendemos ni los usamos para publicidad.
Pruebas: También consultamos algunos números de recibo de nuestros clientes con resultados conocidos, que pueden incluir casos cerrados, para comprobar que nuestro sistema lee bien las respuestas de USCIS.
Qué enviamos: Solo el número de recibo, enviado de forma segura (HTTPS) con credenciales que USCIS otorga a nuestra firma. Las consultas comenzarán cuando USCIS apruebe nuestro acceso.
Con qué frecuencia: Nuestro sistema consulta cada caso hasta una vez al día, y nuestro personal puede consultar cuando sea necesario. Las consultas se detienen cuando se cierra su caso, a menos que se trate de un número de prueba.
Qué guardamos: El estado, la fecha de la consulta y la respuesta de USCIS, junto con su expediente.
Cómo los protegemos: Nuestro personal inicia sesión con una contraseña y un segundo paso de verificación. Nuestras credenciales de USCIS se guardan en configuraciones protegidas del servidor y nunca se envían a los navegadores.
Proveedores de servicios: Nuestros proveedores de servicios pueden manejarlos, entre ellos Supabase (base de datos), Vercel (alojamiento de la aplicación), Anthropic (herramientas de inteligencia artificial) y Sentry (monitoreo de errores).
Por cuánto tiempo los guardamos: Con su expediente durante 10 años después de que termine su caso, a menos que nos pida borrar antes los registros de las consultas.
Para detener las consultas o borrar registros: Escríbanos a docs@vpatellaw.com o llame al (214) 272-8523. Detendremos todas las consultas dentro de 2 días hábiles, borraremos los registros de las consultas dentro de 30 días y se lo confirmaremos por escrito. Su número de recibo se queda en su expediente. Es posible que queden copias en nuestros respaldos por un tiempo.
Si hay una filtración de datos: Avisaremos a los clientes afectados dentro de 7 días después de descubrirla.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

The Vinesh Patel Law Firm PLLC
Email: docs@vpatellaw.com
Phone: (214) 272-8523
Website: www.vpatellaw.com