AIFS "Safe Harbor" Compliance

The American Institute For Foreign Study, Inc. (AIFS) certifies its compliance with the European Union regulations regarding privacy and data protection, and is certified as compliant by the United States Department of Commerce “Safe Harbor” program.

Notice: AIFS notifies individuals about the purposes for which it collects and uses information about them and provides information about how individuals can contact company with any inquiries or complaints, the types of third parties to which it discloses the information and the choices and means the organization offers for limiting its use and disclosure.

Choice: AIFS gives individuals the opportunity to choose (opt-out) whether their personal information will be disclosed to a third party or used for a purpose incompatible with the purpose for which it was originally collected or subsequently authorized by the individual. For sensitive information, affirmative or explicit (opt-in) choice is given if the information is to be disclosed to a third party or used for a purpose other than its original purpose or the purpose authorized subsequently by the individual.

Onward Transfer (Transfers to Third Parties): In the event that AIFS seeks to disclose information to a third party, it applies the notice and choice principles. If AIFS wishes to transfer information to a third party that is acting as an agent, it will first verify that the third party subscribes to the safe harbor principles or is subject to the Directive or another adequacy finding. As an alternative, AIFS will enter into a written agreement with such third party requiring that the third party provide at least the same level of privacy protection as is required by the relevant principles.

Access: Individuals have access to personal information about them that AIFS holds and are able to correct, amend, or delete that information where it is inaccurate, except where the burden or expense of providing access would be disproportionate to the risks to the individual's privacy in the case in question, or where the rights of persons other than the individual would be violated.

Security: AIFS takes reasonable precautions to protect personal information from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.

Data integrity: Personal information obtained by AIFS is relevant for the purposes for which it is to be used. AIFS takes reasonable steps to ensure that data is reliable for its intended use, accurate, complete, and current.

Verification: AIFS utilizes the self-assessment approach to assure its compliance with its Safe Harbor privacy policy. AIFS regularly verifies, at least once each year, that the policy is accurate, comprehensive, prominently displayed, completely implemented, and in conformity with the Safe Harbor principles. Appropriate employee training is in place and internal procedures for periodically conducting objective reviews of compliance are in place. A statement verifying this self-assessment is signed by a corporate officer or other authorized representative of the organization at least once a year.

Enforcement: If an individual raises a complaint regarding privacy of information, AIFS will investigate the matter and attempt to resolve all issues to the satisfaction of the person making the complaint. If the matter cannot be settled, the organization agrees to use the EU Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) as its independent recourse mechanism.

Contacting the website
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site or your dealings with this website, please contact:
American Institute For Foreign Study,
River Plaza, 9 West Broad Street
Stamford, CT 06902-3788
T. (866) 906 2437 ext. 5138