Privacy Policy

A Commitment to Your Privacy

The Law Offices of Mary Kennedy, LLC ("the Firm," "we," "us," or "our") recognizes that your privacy is important when seeking legal assistance for immigration matters. As your trusted legal advisors, we safeguard your personal information with the utmost seriousness. This comprehensive Privacy Policy details the measures we employ to protect your data and outlines how we collect, manage, store, and secure your information as we guide you through each step of your immigration process. This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website mkimmigrationlaw.com, our client portals, in-person consultations, telephone, email, and any other channels through which we interact with you.

About Our Firm

The Law Offices of Mary Kennedy, LLC operates from multiple locations across Illinois, including Cook County, DuPage County, Schaumburg, Chicago, and Hillsboro. We serve clients nationally and globally through various communication channels while maintaining strict data protection standards consistent with Illinois law, federal regulations, and applicable international privacy frameworks.

Information We Collect

Essential Personal Information

Full legal name and any previous names, aliases, or maiden names
Birth information (date, place, country of birth)
Contact details (residential and mailing address, phone numbers, email addresses)
Government identification numbers (Social Security Number, A-Number, USCIS receipt numbers, etc.)
Current immigration status and history
Passport and travel document information
Employment records and work history
Educational credentials and academic records
Family relationships, marital history, and dependents

Supporting Documentation

Identification documents (passport, driver’s license, state ID)
Immigration records (I-94, visas, prior petitions and approvals)
Educational certificates and transcripts
Employment verification documents (offers, pay stubs, tax records)
Financial records (where required for affidavits of support or fee waiver requests)
Family documents (birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates)
Medical records (when relevant to your immigration matter, such as Form I-693)
Professional credentials, licenses, and certifications
Criminal history records (where applicable, including dispositions and expungements)

Social Media and Online Presence Information

Effective with USCIS policy updates published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025 (under Executive Order 14161), certain immigration applications now require disclosure of social media identifiers used over the past five (5) years on designated platforms. As part of representing you, we may collect, review, and submit:

Social media usernames and identifiers for designated platforms
Publicly available online posts or profiles relevant to your case
Other digital identifiers as required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State, or other adjudicating agencies

We do not request or store passwords, private messages, or other non-public account credentials. Clients are strongly advised to review their online presence with us before submission of any application.

Digital and Website Information

When you use our website or online services, we may automatically collect:

IP address, device identifiers, and browser type
Operating system and device settings
Website interaction patterns, pages visited, and referring URLs

Cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies (see Cookies section below)
Communication preferences and consultation scheduling data
Information submitted through contact forms, intake forms, or chat tools

How We Use Your Information

Primary Uses

Preparing immigration applications, petitions, motions, and appeals
Providing legal consultation and advice
Managing your immigration case timeline and strategy
Communicating case updates, status changes, and required follow-ups
Filing documents with USCIS, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of State, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other relevant agencies
Responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), or other official correspondence
Maintaining accurate and complete client records

Administrative Uses

Scheduling and confirming appointments
Processing payments (note: USCIS now requires electronic payments only — paper checks are no longer accepted)
Sending important notifications, deadline reminders, and case status updates
Managing ongoing client communications
Maintaining case histories and conflict-check records
Ensuring compliance with professional, ethical, and regulatory requirements

Information Protection

Security Measures

Encrypted data storage (at rest and in transit)
Secure, password-protected client portals
Role-based access control systems
Regular security updates, patching, and vulnerability assessments
Staff security and confidentiality training
Physical office security including locked storage and access controls
Secure document disposal (cross-cut shredding for physical, certified deletion for digital)
Multi-factor authentication for systems containing sensitive client data

Professional Standards

Attorney-client privilege protection consistent with Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct
Ethical compliance measures under the ABA Model Rules and Illinois ARDC standards
Regular privacy and data-handling audits
Written confidentiality agreements with all employees, contractors, and vendors
Professional conduct standards applicable to immigration practitioners

Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach involving your personal information, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (815 ILCS 530) and any other applicable federal or state law. Notifications will describe the nature of the breach, the information involved, steps we have taken in response, and recommended actions you may take to protect yourself.

Information Sharing

We share your information only:

With your explicit, written authorization
As necessary to prepare and file your immigration applications and petitions with relevant government agencies (e.g., USCIS, DOS, EOIR, DOL, CBP, ICE)
As required by valid court order, subpoena, or applicable law
With trusted service providers (such as cloud storage, document translation, and case management vendors) bound by confidentiality obligations
To protect the legal rights, safety, or property of the Firm, our clients, or others
To comply with mandatory professional reporting obligations

Attorney-Client Privilege

Communications between you and the Firm relating to legal representation are protected by attorney-client privilege and the attorney work-product doctrine. We will assert these protections to the fullest extent permitted by law and will not disclose privileged information except as required by law or with your informed consent.

Illinois TRUST Act and Way Forward Act

As an Illinois-based firm, we operate consistent with the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805) and the Illinois Way Forward Act, which restrict the participation of state and local agencies in federal civil immigration enforcement. While these laws apply primarily to government entities, our policies and practices align with their spirit of protecting immigrant communities from unwarranted disclosure.

SMS, Text, and Mobile Information

Your mobile phone number and SMS opt-in information remain strictly confidential. We do not sell, rent, share, or transfer your mobile information to any third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging enrollment data, including consent records, is retained internally for compliance and operational purposes only and is not distributed to external entities.

Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law and our professional obligations, you have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Receive copies of your client file and records (subject to standard reproduction fees and applicable retention rules)
Withdraw consent for non-essential marketing communications
File privacy complaints with the Firm or applicable regulatory authorities
Request deletion of certain information (where applicable and consistent with our legal and ethical retention obligations)
Understand how your information is used and shared
Opt out of SMS and marketing communications at any time

Illinois Residents

If you are an Illinois resident, you may have additional rights under Illinois law, including under the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act and the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). To exercise these rights, please contact us at the address provided below.

International Considerations

As an immigration law firm with international clients, we:

Handle international data transfers using reasonable security and contractual safeguards
Strive to comply with applicable cross-border privacy standards
Protect information transferred across jurisdictions in connection with your immigration case
Follow applicable data protection laws to the extent they apply to our representation

European Union / United Kingdom Residents

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or UK GDPR, including rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and port your personal data, as well as the right to object to processing. We process personal data of EU/UK residents on the legal basis of contract performance (representing you), legal obligation, or your consent, as applicable.

Data Retention

We retain your information:

Throughout the period of our representation
For a minimum of seven (7) years following case closure, consistent with Illinois professional responsibility standards
As required by applicable federal and state law
Per professional and regulatory standards for immigration practitioners
Based on legitimate business necessity (e.g., conflict checks, malpractice defense)
After the applicable retention period, files are securely destroyed using certified disposal methods.

Special Categories of Information

Sensitive Data

We provide enhanced protection for sensitive categories of information, including:

Medical and health-related information
Religious affiliations or beliefs
Racial or ethnic background
Political opinions or affiliations
Sexual orientation or gender identity
Criminal history and arrest records
Information related to victims of domestic violence, trafficking, or other crimes (subject to confidentiality protections under 8 U.S.C. § 1367 for VAWA, T, and U visa applicants)

Biometric Information

To the extent we collect, store, or transmit biometric identifiers or biometric information (as defined under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, 740 ILCS 14), we will comply with all applicable BIPA requirements, including written notice, written consent, and adherence to our retention and destruction policies. Biometric information collected by U.S. government agencies (such as USCIS fingerprinting at Application Support Centers) is governed by those agencies’ own policies.

Children's Information

We collect children’s information (defined as information from individuals under 13 years of age) only:

With parental or legal guardian consent
When legally required for immigration purposes (e.g., derivative beneficiary petitions)
For purposes consistent with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Under appropriate guardian or custodian authorization

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience, analyze website traffic, and improve our services. These may include:

Strictly necessary cookies: Required for the website to function (cannot be disabled)
Performance cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the site
Functional cookies: Remember your preferences
Analytics cookies: Allow us to measure traffic patterns and improve content

You may control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. We do not knowingly use cookies to collect sensitive personal information.

Communication Preferences

You can choose how we contact you regarding:

Case updates and immigration matter communications
Newsletters and firm announcements
Legal alerts and policy updates
Appointment reminders and scheduling
Notifications regarding government processing changes

SMS / Text Message Consent and Opt-Out

By providing your mobile telephone number and opting in, you consent to receive SMS or text messages from the Firm related to your case, appointments, or firm communications. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. You may opt out at any time by replying with any of the following keywords: STOP, QUIT, END, CANCEL, REVOKE, OPT OUT, or UNSUBSCRIBE. We will honor opt-out requests within ten (10) business days, consistent with current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. For help, reply HELP or contact our office directly.

Updates to This Policy

As an immigration law firm with international clients, we:

Handle international data transfers using reasonable security and contractual safeguards
Strive to comply with applicable cross-border privacy standards
Protect information transferred across jurisdictions in connection with your immigration case
Follow applicable data protection laws to the extent they apply to our representation

Contact Us

For privacy inquiries, to exercise your privacy rights, or to file a privacy-related complaint, please contact us:

Law Offices of Mary Kennedy, LLC
1750 E Golf Rd, Suite 1138
Schaumburg, IL 60173
United States
Phone: (847) 220-1560
Website: mkimmigrationlaw.com

Compliance Statement

This Privacy Policy is intended to comply with applicable laws and standards, including:

Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (815 ILCS 530)
Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (740 ILCS 14)
Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act
Illinois TRUST Act and Way Forward Act
Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and FCC regulations
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Federal immigration laws including 8 U.S.C. § 1367 confidentiality protections
Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and ARDC standards
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR (where applicable)

This Privacy Policy does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal questions about your immigration matter, please schedule a consultation with our office.