Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 18, 2026

NEW START USA DIGITAL LLC operates NewStart USA. This Privacy Policy explains how the service accesses, uses, stores, protects, and deletes information when you use the NewStart USA apps, this website, and related services. Features vary by app version. The iOS app is in pre-release testing; automated SOS SMS is not yet active.

Information we process

Account information: email address, display name when available, and Firebase user identifier.
Information you choose to enter: relocation checklist progress, journey details, status preferences, important dates, and trusted-contact information.
Protected documents: files placed in Emergency Vault are encrypted on the device before upload. The service stores encrypted file content and the metadata needed to retrieve it.
Notifications and security: device registration tokens, app installation identifiers, security-event records, and notification preferences.
Trusted contacts and SOS: contact details, invitations, consent and decline records, delivery results, and the emergency message you choose to share. Only provide contact information you are authorized to use.
Location: when you enable SOS location sharing and grant permission, location updates are processed for your selected recipients. Ending SOS stops that sharing; device settings and connectivity affect availability.
Support and optional AI features: information you email to support, and questions you submit to the cloud service used by an AI Guide feature, where available. Do not include sensitive identifiers, passwords, or identity documents in chat questions.
Local-only information: important-date reminders are stored privately on the device unless a future feature clearly asks for permission to synchronize them.

Optional USCIS case tracking

Case tracking requires permission and confirmation that a case is yours or that you have authority to track it. It processes a receipt number, optional label, published case information, consent records, monitoring preferences, check times, and service errors. It does not ask for your myUSCIS password. The current iOS test uses the USCIS sandbox and test cases; production monitoring is not yet available.

The service sends receipt numbers to the official USCIS Case Status API. Saved receipt numbers, labels, status details, and history are encrypted on our server. The service can decrypt them to provide tracking; this is not end-to-end encryption. Case notification previews are designed to avoid displaying receipt numbers or decisions.

You can pause monitoring, disable alerts, or remove a case. Removal stops future checks and deletes its active records. While a case is saved, the feature retains up to 100 events from the latest API response and the latest 50 changes observed by the app. Account deletion also removes these records. Notifications already delivered may remain on a device.

Why we use information

We use information to authenticate accounts, provide selected app features, synchronize progress, deliver requested alerts, protect Emergency Vault access, support trusted-contact and SOS features, prevent abuse, troubleshoot problems, and respond to support or deletion requests.

Service providers and external links

NewStart USA uses Google Firebase services for authentication, database storage, encrypted file storage, app integrity, cloud functions, and notifications. School Finder may open Google Maps, Niche, civil-rights data, or official state education websites. Those external services apply their own privacy policies. NewStart USA does not sell personal information and does not use it for targeted advertising.

Apple services support iOS notification delivery where enabled. Resend processes configured SOS email delivery. Twilio is the planned provider for SOS SMS when registration and integration are complete. Providers receive information needed to perform the relevant service.

During an SOS, selected contacts may receive your emergency message, configured contact details, and a temporary location link. Someone who obtains or is forwarded that link may be able to view its contents until it expires or is deactivated. Protected Vault documents are not included in that public link; document access requires the app and authorized trusted-contact access.

Mobile numbers and messaging-consent records are not shared with third parties or affiliates for advertising or promotional use. Service providers may process the information needed to deliver requested messages and maintain consent or suppression records.

This website

This website provides product, support, and policy information. It does not collect SMS subscriptions or accept document uploads. Hosting providers may process IP addresses, browser information, and operational logs to serve and secure the site. We have not added advertising trackers or marketing analytics. Email links open your email app; a message is sent only when you send it.

Security and retention

We use access controls, encryption in transit, and additional client-side encryption for Emergency Vault documents. No system can guarantee absolute security. Account information is retained while an account is active and only as long as reasonably needed to provide the service, meet security obligations, or resolve a deletion request. Service-provider backup copies may remain for a limited disaster-recovery period and are not used for other purposes.

Your choices

You can decline optional notifications, remove Vault documents, edit supported profile information, sign out, or request deletion of your account and associated data. The app is not directed to children under 13.

You may also manage location permissions, revoke supported sharing, and remove saved cases. Contact newstartusa.support@gmail.com for access, correction, deletion, or privacy questions. We may verify ownership before acting. Information may be processed in the United States and other locations used by service providers. Copies already received by other people are outside our control.