Privacy Policy for VFS Appointment Monitor

Introduction

VFS Appointment Monitor ("we", "our", or "the extension") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our Chrome extension.

Information We Collect

Information Stored Locally

The extension stores the following information locally in your browser using Chrome's storage API:

• Email Account Credentials: Your email address(es), app passwords, and login passwords for VFS Global accounts
• Country and City Preferences: Your selected monitoring locations (USA or GBR cities)
• Wait Time Settings: Your configured intervals between automation cycles
• Automation State: Whether the automation is currently running
• Appointment History: Records of checked appointments and found availability
• Account Rotation Index: Tracking which email account was last used

All of this data is stored locally in your browser and is never transmitted to our servers or any third party.

Information Transmitted to External Services

The extension communicates with the following external services:

1. VFS Global (visa.vfsglobal.com)
   • Purpose: To check visa appointment availability and perform automated booking checks
   • Data Sent: Your VFS Global login credentials (email and password)
   • Usage: Logging into your VFS Global account and checking appointment slots
2. Visas.pt API Server
   • Purpose: To retrieve OTP (One-Time Password) codes and send SMS notifications
   • Data Sent:
     • Email address and app password (for OTP retrieval)
     • Phone numbers (for SMS notifications when appointments are found)
     • Location names (for notification context)
   • Usage: Facilitating automated login and notifying you of available appointments
3. Client.visas.pt
   • Purpose: To retrieve location configuration data
   • Data Sent: None
   • Usage: Downloading the list of available cities and appointment locations

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information solely for the following purposes:

• Automation: To automatically log into VFS Global and check appointment availability
• Configuration: To remember your preferences and settings between sessions
• Notifications: To send you SMS alerts when appointments become available
• Authentication: To retrieve OTP codes for two-factor authentication
• Logging: To display appointment check history in the logs viewer

Data Storage and Security

• Local Storage: All user credentials and preferences are stored locally in your browser using Chrome's encrypted storage API
• No Cloud Storage: We do not store your credentials or personal information on any remote servers
• No Tracking: We do not track your browsing activity or collect analytics data
• No Third-Party Sharing: We do not sell, trade, or share your information with third parties

Data Retention

• Local Data: Stored indefinitely in your browser until you:
  • Uninstall the extension
  • Use the "Clear Memory" button in the extension options
  • Manually clear your browser's extension data
• Server-Side Data: OTP codes and SMS notification logs are retained temporarily on our API servers for operational purposes only

Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access: View all stored data through the extension's options page
• Modify: Change your credentials and preferences at any time
• Delete: Clear all stored data using the "Clear Memory" button
• Opt-Out: Stop using the extension at any time by disabling or uninstalling it

Permissions Explanation

The extension requires the following Chrome permissions:

• storage: To save your settings and credentials locally
• tabs: To open and manage VFS Global appointment pages
• activeTab: To interact with the active appointment booking page
• alarms: To schedule periodic automation cycles
• browsingData: To clear cookies between sessions for reliability
• Host Permissions: To access VFS Global and our API servers

Children's Privacy

This extension is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

International Data Transfers

If you use this extension outside of the country where our API servers are located (Portugal), your data may be transferred internationally when communicating with our API services. By using the extension, you consent to such transfers.

Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach affecting our API servers, we will make reasonable efforts to notify affected users. However, since we do not collect email addresses for communication purposes, notification may be limited to updates within the extension or on our website.

Contact Us

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

Email: contact@visas.pt
Website: https://visas.pt

Consent

By installing and using VFS Appointment Monitor, you consent to this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

Legal Compliance

This extension complies with:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU users
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California users
• Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies
• Applicable data protection laws in your jurisdiction

Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about our data practices.