Disclaimer

• The Short Messaging Service ('SMS') provided to visa applicants is to update them on the current status of their visa application process. The information provided by SMS is based on the information received from the Embassy. While BLS ensures that information is made available to the visa applicant promptly and accurately, the visa applicant shall at all times be responsible for providing and maintaining an SMS-compatible mobile phone number where BLS can send text messages regarding the status of the visa application to the visa applicant. The visa applicant is responsible for ensuring a connection to a mobile network capable of receiving the SMS services. The visa applicant understands that if their mobile phone is switched off, disconnected for any reason, or is out of coverage for a period of 24 hours or more, the mobile network provider may delete any SMS messages to be received by the visa applicant.
• The time to deliver the SMS is dependent on several factors such as traffic on the mobile network and whether the visa applicant’s mobile phone is within reach and switched on, and cannot therefore be guaranteed by BLS. BLS is not a mobile network operator and does not guarantee the delivery of SMS text messages.
• The visa applicant confirms that they have provided an accurate mobile number for receiving SMS and that they are the owner or legitimate user of, or have the consent of the owner or legitimate user of, the mobile phone used for the services. The visa applicant acknowledges that using another person's mobile phone/providing an inaccurate mobile phone number/unauthorized use of a mobile phone number for receiving the SMS may entail the disclosure of the visa applicant’s confidential information, and such disclosure shall be at the sole risk of the visa applicant.
• The services, once purchased, will be available to the visa applicant from the time of application until the complete processing of the application or such other period as BLS may advise via our website located at https://irl.blsgermanyvisa.com/. BLS reserves the right to withdraw this service at any time and without notice.
• The visa applicant must not use (or permit any third party to use) the SMS service to send any message or communication that is spam, illegal, offensive, abusive, indecent, obscene, menacing, or causes annoyance, inconvenience, needless anxiety, or infringes the rights of third parties. BLS reserves the right to withdraw the SMS service from such visa applicants if they are in breach of this paragraph. BLS may also withdraw the services if BLS, in its sole discretion, apprehends that the SMS service is being used for such purposes.
• For operational reasons, BLS may vary the technical specification of the services with or without notice. In the event of any change to the service, these terms and conditions are to be treated as varied accordingly.
• The visa applicant acknowledges that the SMS services may, at any time, be adversely affected by problems with the visa applicant’s mobile phone network, force majeure events including, without limitation, interference with network coverage. BLS is not responsible or liable to the visa applicant for any loss, damage, or expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the visa applicant as a result of any difficulties experienced by the visa applicant’s mobile phone service provider. Subject to the constraints described within this paragraph, BLS shall carry out the services with reasonable care and skill.
• If the visa applicant does not receive SMS relating to these services, they should inform BLS through email or helpline numbers.
• The SMS service delivers the visa application status based on the information received by BLS from the Embassy.
• To use the services, the visa applicant should refer to the instructions available on the https://irl.blsgermanyvisa.com/ website. The visa applicant agrees to comply with all instructions we may give concerning the services, including any security instructions. We will be entitled to treat any failure by the visa applicant to comply with these instructions as a breach of these terms and conditions, which will entitle us to deny the visa applicant access to the services.
• The visa applicant is responsible for paying charges for message origination. Charges once paid for the SMS service will not be refunded under any circumstances.
• The visa applicant shall, at their sole risk, be responsible for taking all reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to the services.
• While BLS takes every precaution to transmit information, BLS shall not be responsible or liable for any unforeseen events and circumstances beyond the reasonable control of BLS.
• BLS may, in its sole discretion, temporarily suspend the provision of the services if such provision could materially affect the quality of any telecommunications service, including the services, provided by BLS.
• BLS specifically excludes all liability of any kind (including negligence) in respect of any third-party information or other material made available on, or which can be accessed using SMS text services.
• These terms and conditions are governed by the law of Ireland, and both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Ireland.

Data Protection Notice

• Collection of Data: The privacy and protection of personal data is very important to BLS, including all its other brands and affiliates. BLS complies with mandatory data protection legislation when collecting and processing personal data. Whenever you are in the process of applying for SMS service through a visa application center, we may collect and store (subject to Embassy guidelines), as the case may be, the following information: your full name, mobile number, email address, language preference for SMS, and the country for which you have applied for a visa for the purposes of processing your visa application.
• Disclosure to Third Parties: In accordance with mandatory data protection legislation, your data may be disclosed to third parties processing data on behalf of BLS. In this context, your data may also be transferred abroad. Your data may be disclosed within BLS to entities other than the collecting entity. Data may be used by these other BLS entities to the same extent as the collecting BLS entity is entitled to use it. Your data is treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties, except for the purpose of BLS fulfilling its contractual obligations, or if required under mandatory law, particularly if requested by competent authorities or for the purpose of enforcing BLS’s rights.
• Use of Data: Collected data will be processed in good faith and will be used in order to transmit your visa application status via SMS and email. We do not intend to use your information for any other purpose.

Beware of Fraudulent Job Offers

• It has come to BLS International's attention that individuals misrepresenting themselves as BLS International agents or representatives have approached people to offer fraudulent or fictitious employment opportunities, with the intent to steal personal information or solicit money from people. We encourage you to exercise caution and common sense when receiving any such employment offer that requires payment of fees or promises a work visa in exchange for money. Such offers are completely fake and not valid. BLS International is not a recruitment agency and does not offer recruitment services. Scammers operate primarily via the internet, email, phone, etc. We warn people to beware of such scams.
• Please be advised that BLS International is a visa processing company and works only with government and diplomatic missions to fulfill their administrative requirements of visa application processing. Neither BLS International nor its representatives will ask for money from individuals under any circumstances to lure them with employment opportunities either in BLS International or outside. If you receive any offer that purports to be from BLS International and asks for money, these types of offers are fraudulent.

Warning Signs of Recruitment Fraud

• The following are some examples of recruitment fraud which are in violation of BLS International's processes and ethical practices:
  • The email is not sent from an official BLS International email address but from a free email service such as Hotmail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. It is also possible that the email is sent from a fake email address.
  • You are asked to disclose private or confidential information.
  • You are asked to be interviewed over the phone or via an instant-messenger type program.
  • You are asked to be interviewed over the phone or via an instant-messenger type program.
  • You are requested to pay fees or money.
  • You are requested to complete bogus recruitment documentation such as an application or employment visa forms (the BLS International name and logo could be forged or fabricated and featured on the documentation without authority).
  • Insistence on urgency.
  • Money will be requested for processing work permits, visa applications, or similar.

Such actions are presumably intended to defraud or obtain personal information from the victims. The activities of these individuals involve criminal and civil liabilities. While BLS International takes such matters seriously and reserves the right to contact competent law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute such illegal activities, it is often difficult to locate and prosecute these individuals.

Therefore, if you receive a request, either in writing or verbally, for an interview or a job offer that you believe is or might be fraudulent or suspicious, please disregard them. You may also verify the same with BLS International at complaints@blsinternational.net

If you come to know that a fraud is being perpetrated, we encourage you to promptly contact your local police and/or any competent authorities and also keep us informed by reporting the fraud at complaints@blsinternational.net

Under no circumstances will BLS International be liable or responsible for any loss, damages, expenses, or inconvenience resulting from these unauthorized persons and/or activities.