Thank you for visiting Spirit Cultural Exchange. This privacy policy outlines our policies and practices regarding our collection, use, or dissemination of any personal information provided by you. Please read this privacy policy before using our website or submitting any personal information. By using our website or providing personal information, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions. These policies and practices may change. You are encouraged to review the privacy policy whenever you visit our website or provide personal information to make sure that you understand how any personal information you provide will be used.

Collection and Distribution of Information

Participant Applicant Data

Spirit Cultural Exchange will collect and use personal information you provide as an applicant to evaluate your program candidacy and to provide services as a J-1 Visa sponsor. Spirit will also collect personal information during your participation in the program which may include but is not limited to name, contact information, date of birth, personal health information, gender/ethnicity, program status updates, work history, educational history, photos/videos and other pertinent program information. This may include information provided by third parties including international sending partners, host companies or housing providers. Spirit will not combine this information with any unrelated third-party information nor will it share this personal information with any other organizations except as required by law or as needed to provide program services before, during, or after your program application.

Such program services include but are not limited to medical insurance, medical care, program placement, visa application support, program compliance, government reporting, Social Security Number application assistance, and alumni networking. Spirit will share participant information with the participant’s emergency contact and international sending partner as necessary to ensure the best possible support and care. Spirit will retain all personal information for applicants to our programs and may contact them after application with information regarding other Spirit programs or services. Spirit will delete personally identifiable information for program applicants and participants upon written request to support@spiritexchange.com but only as allowed by USA government regulations.

Third Party Data

Spirit Cultural Exchange will collect and use other third party personal information as needed to operate J-1 visa programs and meet associated regulations and requirements. Other third parties include but are not limited to international sending partners, host employers and housing providers. This may include information provided by other parties including participants and other J-1 Visa sponsors. Spirit will not combine this information with any unrelated third-party information nor will it share personal information with any other organizations except as needed to meet US Department of State requirements, to provide industry references, or coordinate international partner-host company meetings. Spirit will delete personally identifiable information upon written request to support@spiritexchange.com but only as allowed by USA government regulations.

Signup Form Data

Spirit Cultural Exchange will collect and use personal information you provide via our Contact Us, Get Information, and Email List Signup to provide information and services to you. By submitting these forms, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from Spirit. Spirit will not combine this information with any unrelated third-party information nor will it share this personal information with any other organizations except as required by law. Spirit will delete personally identifiable information upon written request to support@spiritexchange.com

All marketing emails and newsletters from Spirit allow you to directly opt out of further mailings. If you prefer to completely opt out of all Spirit mailings, please contact Spirit at support@spiritexchange.com.

Commitment to Data Security

Spirit uses reasonable and appropriate measures to help protect the integrity and security of personal information that we collect and maintain. We utilize encryption to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of information placed under our control. Spirit utilizes third party cloud storage services for certain personal information including pictures and videos. Those third parties may store such data on servers outside of the USA. Spirit limits personal information access to employees and third parties who we reasonably believe require this information to provide Spirit Cultural Exchange programs.

Website Terms and Conditions

Cookies must be enabled to best utilize the Spirit website. By enabling cookie support on your browser, the communication between you and the Spirit website is strengthened to ensure it is you who are making transactions on your own behalf, to facilitate efficient use of this site, and to prevent leakage of your private information. Spirit collects certain information automatically when you use the website, such as the IP addresses, domain names of visitors, browser type, history of pages viewed and other usage information about your use of the website. We collect this information for site administration purposes, such as to analyze this data for trends and statistics and to improve the user experience of our website. Personal information cannot be collected via cookies and other tracking tools (e.g. Google Analytics), however, if you previously provided personally identifiable information, cookies may be tied to such information. Aggregate cookie and tracking information may be shared with third parties but no personal information will be provided to third parties except as necessary to provide Spirit Cultural Exchange program services.

The Spirit website and its content are provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis and without warranties of any kind. Spirit shall not be liable for any damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use this site or content. This site and all of its contents, images, audio, video, and software are owned by Spirit Cultural Exchange and are protected by applicable copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. Spirit reserves all such rights and prohibits any use without the express written consent of Spirit Cultural Exchange. Our provision of a link to any other website or location is for your convenience and does not signify our endorsement of other websites or location or its contents. We have no control over, do not review, and cannot be responsible for these external websites or their content. Please be aware that the terms of our Privacy Policy do not apply to these third party websites. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Spirit and its principals, shareholders, agents, officers, directors, consultants, and employees from or against third-party claims, damages, payments, deficiencies, fines, judgments, settlements, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses arising from or relating to any claim, suit, action or proceeding arising out of the breach of any Spirit Cultural Exchange representations and warranties contained herein.

Contact Information

Certain jurisdictions provide their residents with certain rights about their personal information. These may include the right to:

  • request a copy of your personal information
  • request a correction to your personal information
  • request that your personal information be deleted

If you have any such requests or if you have questions, concerns, or comments about our Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions you may contact Spirit’s Data Protection Officer using the contact information below:

We reserve the right to make changes to this policy. You are encouraged to review the privacy policy whenever you visit our website or provide personal information to make sure that you understand how any personal information you provide will be used.

This privacy policy was last updated on March 5, 2024.