1.1. VISALEX is a provider of technology, tools, and administrative support (“Support Services”) for its customers’ immigration matters (“Matters”). Any legal services provided in conjunction with Your Matters will be provided by the attorneys at American Immigration Associates, LLC (“AIA LLC”), an Illinois limited liability company, or other attorneys selected by VISALEX to provide legal services (collectively, “Attorneys”) in connection with the preparation and submission of visa applications for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, permanent residence, and citizenship status to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other governmental agencies regulating foreign persons entering the United States.
1.2. In order for VISALEX and the Attorneys to prepare and complete Your Matters effectively, You must provide VISALEX with all necessary documentation, information, and other required materials in a timely fashion. You must also otherwise cooperate with VISALEX and the Attorneys, with respect to Your Matters as either may reasonably request from time to time. Failure to provide such cooperation may result in termination of this Agreement.
1.3. Information provided by You to VISALEX will be shared by VISALEX with, where applicable, the Attorneys, Your current or prospective employees, and those government agencies as the filing and processing of Your Matters may require. Your information will be treated in accordance with this Agreement and the VISALEX privacy policy (visalex.com/privacy-policy).
1.4. You may request the return of printed documents and tangible physical materials provided by You to VISALEX or copies of government filings made on Your behalf (to the extent copies of such filings are in the possession of VISALEX), in conjunction with a termination of this Agreement. VISALEX will return the relevant tangible physical materials and/or filing copies in its possession to You within a reasonable time after receipt by VISALEX of Your written request. With respect to information provided electronically by You or filed electronically on Your behalf, You may also make a written request for the deletion of any such information that is in the possession of VISALEX, subject to the then-current VISALEX data backup and retention policy, and applicable law.
2.1. VISALEX represents and warrants that (a) VISALEX has the capability and experience, as well as all applicable title, registrations, licenses, permits, and governmental approvals, if any, necessary to perform the Support Services, (b) the Support Services will be performed to the best of VISALEX’s ability, which shall be no less than a good and workmanlike manner, (c) the Support Services and any and all advice, technology and other products of the Support Services shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, (d) technology and tools do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party, and (e) VISALEX will devote sufficient resources to ensure that the Support Services are performed in a timely and reliable manner.
2.2. “Confidential Information” means (a) any proprietary information that is disclosed to VISALEX under this Agreement, including but not limited to Your actual or anticipated business plans, technical data, trade secrets and know-how, and (b) information provided to VISALEX by or at the direction of You or Your employees that identifies or can be used to identify or authenticate an individual. and (c) any privileged and confidential communications facilitated by VISALEX for You and the Attorneys. Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known and made generally available through no wrongful act of VISALEX or that VISALEX can show was in its possession without any obligation of confidentiality prior to its receipt of that information.
2.3. VISALEX will not, during or subsequent to the term of this Agreement, (a) use Confidential Information for any purpose whatsoever other than the performance of services on Your behalf or (b) disclose Confidential Information to anyone other than Authorized Parties. “Authorized Parties” means (i) VISALEX’s employees and subcontractors who have a need to know such Confidential Information to enable VISALEX to perform its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) the Attorneys, (iii) other agents engaged by VISALEX to assist with the Matters and (iv) third parties, including government agencies, to whom you have authorized VISALEX or AIA to make disclosures for purposes of pursuing your immigration and related goals.
3.1. Fees for the Support Services and technology platform furnished to You by VISALEX, and for the legal representation to be furnished by the Attorneys (collectively, “Service Fees”) and charges for all expenses associated with pursuing the application, including without limitation applicable government form and filing fees, and expenses for related third-party services, will be assessed as set forth in the price quotation generated for You by VISALEX in conjunction with Your acceptance of this Agreement, or, as the case may be, following your acceptance of this Agreement, during the pendency of your Matter. You agree that the charges set forth in that quotation will be invoiced to You (or, if You have a credit card on file with VISALEX, charged to the credit card on Your file) upon Your acknowledgment of acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, or during the pendency of your Matter, as the case may be. Any fees (including, without limitation, ServiceFees) which are not paid in advance will be due and payable by You upon receipt of VISALEX’s invoice to You. In the event that any undisputed amounts due under this Agreement are not paid upon receipt of VISALEX’s invoice to You, VISALEX may set off against, deduct from and recoup any such overdue amounts from Credits (defined below) on Your account, and reserves the right to terminate this Agreement, and cease providing any further services under this Agreement. VISALEX fees do not cover consular application fees, medical exam fees, and any other fees associated with obtaining the required documentation for Your case (e.g., translation fees, advertising expenses, additional fees for overnight courier, etc.). Where necessary to pursue the Matter, such additional fees will be charged to You. You acknowledge that amounts paid by You toward government filing fees will not be held by VISALEX in segregated accounts prior to VISALEX’s payment of those amounts to the appropriate governmental agency.
3.2. If governmental agencies increase filing fees or impose additional costs for filing of Your application(s), these costs will be added to the original Service Fees. Additional amounts arising under this Section, if any, will be invoiced to You as set forth above (or, if you have a credit card on file with VISALEX, charged to Your credit card at the time of filing or invoiced to You), depending on the payment terms agreed by VISALEX for Your Matter.
3.3. In the event of termination of the Matter by You or VISALEX prior to completion of all work related to your Matter, the percentage of fees that will be owed by You or retained by VISALEX if prepaid by You, will depend on the status of Your case and shall be calculated as follows:
| Case Status | Refund % |
|---|---|
| Terminated within 24 hours of initiation | 100% of service and filing fees |
| Terminated after 24 hours of initiation but before submission to Government | 20% of service fees; 100 percent of filing fees |
| Terminated after 6 months of initiation but before submission to Government | No refund of service fees; 100 percent of filing fees |
| Terminated after submission to Government | No refund |
Any filing fees to be refunded include only such fees as were paid to VISALEX but not yet disbursed to the government. You shall not be entitled to the refund of any fees already disbursed to the government.
Further, notwithstanding the above, in the event that, within one calendar year of You making the first payment of any Service Fees on Your Matter, You fail to provide VISALEX with any or all necessary documentation, information, and/or other materials relevant to Your Matter, VISALEX shall: (a) terminate Your Matter without further notice; (b) close your case in the VISALEX platform without further notice; and (c) refund to You any filing fees paid to VISALEX but not yet disbursed to the government. In such event, You shall not be entitled to, and shall not receive, the refund of any Service Fees already paid to VISALEX.
4.1. If You and VISALEX are unable to resolve any dispute or claim arising between You and VISALEX pursuant to this Agreement through informal discussions, You and VISALEX agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration or, if possible, small claims court, rather than to a court of general jurisdiction. Any arbitration under this Section will take place on an individual basis; class arbitrations and class actions are not permitted. You agree that, by entering into this Agreement, You and VISALEX are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action. You and VISALEX agree that this arbitration agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”).
4.2. For the purpose of this Agreement, “dispute or claim” means any assertion of a right, dispute or controversy between You and VISALEX arising from or relating to this Agreement and/or the relationships resulting from this Agreement. This includes claims of every kind and nature including, but not limited to, initial claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party claims, and claims based upon contract, tort, intentional tort, statutes, regulations, common law and equity. VISALEX will not compel arbitration under this Agreement for any individual claim that You properly file and pursue in a small claims court of competent jurisdiction, so long as Your claim is pending only in that court.
4.3. A party intending to seek arbitration must, before commencing arbitration, send a written Notice of Dispute (“Notice”) to the other party via U.S. certified mail, return receipt requested. A Notice to VISALEX should be addressed to: VISALEX, LLC, Notice of Dispute, 300 S. Orange Ave #1150, Orlando, FL 32801, ATTN: Chief Legal Officer. The Notice must (a) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute and (b) set forth the specific relief sought (“Demand”). If VISALEX and You do not reach an agreement to resolve the claim within 30 days of its receipt, either You or VISALEX may commence an arbitration proceeding.
4.4. The arbitration will be governed by the Commercial Arbitration Rules (the “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”), as modified by this Agreement, and will be administered by the AAA. The arbitrator is bound by this Agreement. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, except issues relating to the scope, enforceability, and interpretation of the arbitration provision. The parties agree that in any arbitration of a dispute or claim, neither party will rely for preclusive effect on any award or finding of fact nor conclusion of law made in any other arbitration of any dispute or claim to which VISALEX was a party.
4.5. The arbitrator may award injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party’s individual claim. Further, unless both You and VISALEX agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. The arbitrator may award any relief that a court could award that is individualized to the claimant and would not affect other customers. Neither You nor VISALEX may seek non-individualized relief that would affect other customers. If a court decides that applicable law precludes enforcement of any of this paragraph’s limitation as to a particular claim for relief, then that claim (and only that claim) must be severed from the arbitration and may be brought in court.
5.1. VISALEX MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT: (A) THE WEBSITE AT VISALEX.COM OR CLIENT.VISALEX.COM (“SITES”), THE FUNCTIONALITY CONTAINED THEREIN, OR ANY OTHER APPLICATIONS OR MATERIALS FURNISHED BY VISALEX, WILL BE AVAILABLE ON AN UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR ERROR-FREE BASIS; (B) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SITES, APPLICATIONS, OR MATERIALS FURNISHED BY VISALEX WILL BE ACCURATE; OR (C) THE QUALITY OF ANY SERVICES, INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE SITES OR THEIR ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONALITY WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS. ALL MATERIALS, INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS OR FORMS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH YOUR USE OF THE SITES OR OTHERWISE FURNISHED TO YOU BY VISALEX ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, VISALEX EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
5.2. ACCESS TO THE SITES AND USE OF THE APPLICATIONS, MATERIALS AND FUNCTIONALITY CONTAINED THEREIN IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. IN NO EVENT WILL VISALEX BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DAMAGE TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS, LOSS OF DATA, OR INTERFERENCE WITH THE OPERATION OF ANY SYSTEM OR NETWORKS THAT RESULTS FROM YOUR ACCESS OF THE SITES, OR YOUR USE OR DOWNLOAD OF ANY CONTENT, MATERIALS, INFORMATION OR FUNCTIONALITY CONTAINED THEREIN.
5.3. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AGREE TO HOLD VISALEX, TOGETHER WITH ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES AND AGENTS (“THE VISALEX PARTIES”), HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF CLAIM, DEMAND, OR ACTION FOR SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SUPPORT SERVICES OR THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY CLAIM FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE,EVEN IF VISALEX HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
5.4. ADDITIONALLY, YOU AGREE TO HOLD THE VISALEX PARTIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS, LOSSES, AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COURT COSTS) ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO: (A) YOUR VIOLATION OF ANY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAWS, STATUTES, RULES, OR REGULATIONS; or (B) YOUR FALSE STATEMENTS, MISREPRESENTATIONS, FRAUD, OR NEGLIGENCE.
5.5. IN NO EVENT WILL VISALEX BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU TO VISALEX PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, FOR THE SUPPORT SERVICES GIVING RISE TO YOUR CLAIM. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, YOU AGREE THAT VISALEX, TOGETHER WITH THE VISALEX PARTIES, SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SUPPORT SERVICES OR THIS AGREEMENT.
5.6. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMERS, WAIVERS, AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY ARE MATERIAL INDUCEMENTS FOR VISALEX’S ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND ITS FURNISHING OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOU PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
6.1. This Agreement, together with each price quotation issued pursuant to this Agreement, and the VISALEX Privacy Policy at visalex.com/privacy-policy, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, comprise the complete agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter therein. No modification of this Agreement will be valid unless made in writing and signed by both parties, except that VISALEX may modify the VISALEX Privacy Policy, provided such modifications will apply prospectively only.
6.2. You grant VISALEX the right to add Your name and company logo to its customer lists and website.
6.3. The parties hereto are engaged as independent contractors, and this Agreement does not create any agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between the parties. This Agreement does not and is not intended to confer any rights or remedies on any person or entity other than the parties hereto.
7.1. VISALEX represents and warrants to You that neither VISALEX nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, or other representatives has engaged or will engage in any form of commercial bribery or otherwise offer any incentive to be made directly or indirectly to any of Your employees or associates of such in exchange for or otherwise in an attempt to procure or retain business for VISALEX. VISALEX shall comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act and all other local or otherwise applicable laws dealing with the bribery of government officials or employees.
7.2. You represent and warrant to VISALEX that none of your Matters pertain to entities or individuals who are (a) designated on any U.S. Government or other governmental list of restricted parties, including the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons administered by the Office of Foreign Asset Controls at the U.S. Department of the Treasury; (b) located in or otherwise ordinarily resident in any country where U.S. or other governmental sanctions or embargo provisions prohibit the provision of the Services; or (c) otherwise prohibited from using, benefiting from or accessing the Services.
8.1. Except for the arbitration agreement contained in Section 4, which is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, You and VISALEX each agree that this Agreement is made pursuant to and governed by the substantive law of Illinois, without giving effect to its rules for conflicts of laws.