Cookies Policy

This Cookies Policy explains how PhilippinesConsulatesinUSA.com (“we”, “our”, or “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on our website. By continuing to browse or use our website, you agree to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how cookies and tracking technologies are used across our platform.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer, tablet, or smartphone when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, enhance user experiences, and provide information to the site owners.

Cookies perform various functions, such as:

Remembering your login details or preferences
Understanding how visitors interact with the site
Enabling personalized content or advertising
Supporting security and compliance features

2. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies on philippinesconsulatesinusa.com to:

Ensure the website functions properly
Analyze user behavior to improve user experience
Track anonymous usage statistics via third-party analytics tools
Remember your preferences and consent settings
Provide relevant content and measure the effectiveness of our services

Cookies help us understand how users interact with the website, which pages are visited most frequently, how long users stay on the site, and what type of devices are used.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

We categorize cookies into several types based on their functionality and purpose:

a. Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for you to navigate the website and use its features. Without them, certain parts of the website may not function correctly.

Examples:

Security tokens
Session identifiers
Form submission cookies

These cookies do not collect personal data and are generally set in response to actions made by you, such as filling out forms.

b. Performance & Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect anonymous information about how visitors use the website. They help us monitor website performance and understand user interactions.

We use Google Analytics, which helps us understand:

Which pages are most popular
How users move around the site
Where users come from (e.g., search engines, social media)

All data is aggregated and not used to identify individual visitors.

c. Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you’ve made in the past, such as:

Your preferred language
Whether you’ve already seen a cookie consent message
User-customized settings (if applicable)

They enhance your experience but are not strictly necessary for core website functionality.

d. Targeting/Advertising Cookies (If Applicable)

These cookies may be set through our site by third-party advertisers or ad networks. They are used to:

Deliver ads that are relevant to your interests
Limit the number of times you see a specific ad
Measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns

These cookies track browsing habits and may be shared with third-party services.

Note: As of this policy’s effective date, we do not run paid advertising, but this section is included in preparation for possible future monetization.

4. First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies

First-Party Cookies

These cookies are placed directly by philippinesconsulatesinusa.com and are mainly used to provide core site functionality.

Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are placed by other services we use to enhance functionality or analytics. These may include:

Google Analytics
Google Tag Manager
Cloudflare (for security and speed)
Embedded content providers (e.g., maps, YouTube videos, if used in the future)

Each third party has its own privacy and cookies policies that you should review.

5. Duration of Cookies

Cookies may be session cookies or persistent cookies:

Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are erased when you close your browser.
Persistent Cookies: These remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted.

We set cookies with varying durations depending on their purpose (e.g., 30 minutes for session tracking, 1 year for remembering your consent preferences).

6. Your Consent

When you visit our site for the first time, you will see a cookie consent banner. By clicking “Accept” or continuing to use the site, you give your explicit consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. (See Section 7 for managing your preferences.)

7. How to Manage or Disable Cookies

You can control and manage cookies in several ways:

Through Your Browser Settings:

Most browsers allow you to:

View which cookies are stored on your device
Delete all or specific cookies
Block cookies from specific websites
Set preferences for how cookies are handled

Here are instructions for common browsers:

Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions

Note: Blocking some cookies may impact your experience on the site.

Using Cookie Management Tools:

We may offer a cookie preferences center in the future that allows you to opt in or out of specific types of cookies directly on our website.

8. Google Analytics and Data Collection

We use Google Analytics to help us understand website traffic and usage. This service collects information such as:

Pages visited
Time spent on the site
Referral sources (e.g., search engines)
Device/browser type

Google may also collect IP addresses, though we use settings to anonymize IP addresses when possible.

Google’s privacy policy is available here:
👉 https://policies.google.com/privacy

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the browser add-on:
👉 https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

9. Third-Party Services and Cookies

Some embedded services or integrations may set cookies or tracking technologies. These include:

Google Maps (for embassy/consulate locations)
YouTube or Vimeo (if embedded videos are used in the future)
Social sharing tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Each third party operates under their own terms and policies. We encourage you to review them before interacting with their content on our site.

10. GDPR and CCPA Compliance

We are committed to complying with data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU users and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents.

a. GDPR Rights (For EU Visitors):

If you are an EU resident, you have the right to:

Know what personal data we collect
Request access to your data
Request deletion of your data
Restrict or object to data processing
Withdraw consent at any time

b. CCPA Rights (For California Residents):

California users may:

Request to know what data is collected
Request deletion of personal data
Opt out of data sales (we do not sell data)
Be informed of their privacy rights

To make a data access or deletion request, please contact us at contact@philippinesconsulatesinusa.com.

11. Do Not Track Signals

Some web browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (DNT) feature that signals websites not to track your activity. As there is no industry standard for DNT signals, our site does not currently respond to these requests.

We may revisit this policy as standards evolve.

12. Changes to This Cookies Policy

We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

The cookies we use
Legal or regulatory updates
Third-party tools and practices

All updates will be posted on this page with the “Last Updated” date changed accordingly.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to our use of cookies, or if you would like to exercise your privacy rights, you may contact us through our Contact Page or at:

📧 contact@philippinesconsulatesinusa.com

We aim to respond within 48 hours on business days.