We take security very seriously and we use one of the strongest available security systems to protect your communications with us. 

Whenever you fill in a form requesting personal information, such as information requested on the Immigration  Form Questionnaire, it is automatically protected using something called a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) between your computer and ours. SSL works in the following ways:

• It prevents impersonation - you can tell that you are using a genuine SSL site by the padlock symbol at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on either the padlock or the image opposite will reveal our Registration Certificate that is issued by Verisign, a leading Internet security company.*
• It encrypts data - as soon as your computer has recognised our computer they encrypt all information that is passed between them. Data encryption means that no one else can read or change your information as it travels over the Internet.
• It prevents scrambling - SSL uses a Message Authentication Code (MAC) to prevent anyone tampering with our Internet site. Your computer will always check this code before it takes a message from us. This means that if anyone tried to interfere with a message, your computer would not recognise the code and would alert you.

Credit Card Transactions

For added peace of mind The Consumer Credit Act (1974) also applies to transactions over the Internet. It limits your maximum liability on your credit card to £50, in the event of its loss or fraudulent use. Furthermore, all liability ceases completely once the credit card issuer has been notified of any loss or fraudulent use.

*There are two minor problems with older versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Neither problem has any effect on the actual security in force, but may make it appear to you as if it is not fully secure.

Internet Explorer 4.  The padlock symbol does not always appear at the bottom when it should. A full description of this error, number Q154621, is at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q154/6/21.asp

Internet Explorer 5.  If you click on the padlock symbol to view the security certificate the following message may be displayed: "This certificate has failed to verify for all of its intended purposes". The other details of the certificate shown are correct. A full description of this error, number Q233479, is at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q233/4/79.asp