Kathmandu, June 28

A figure maintained by the Department of Immigration shows that Nepal expelled as many as 41 foreiners from 20 countries in the past one year for violating immigration laws.

Ten deportees were from China, four from the US, four from Uzbekistan, three from Philippines, two from Pakistan, two from Canada, two from South Korea, two from the UK, and one each from Taiwan, Mexico, Russia, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Australia, Mali, Netherlands, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and France.

An official at the DoI informed that the office had deported more than 1,300 foreigners over a period of five years, many of them for overstaying their visas.

According to the Immigration Rules-1994, the government may deport any foreign citizen in case he/she overstays without extending his/her tourist visa in excess of the period of 150 days.

The offender is also liable to a fine of US 5 dollars per day after the visa expires.

The tendency of overstaying visa has increased for the want of mechanism to keep tab on foreigners staying in Nepal. Meanwhile, the DoI has initiated the process of developing a special software to maintain records of all foreigners arriving in Nepal.

The software linked to all hotels in the Kathmandu Valley will help the immigration officials keep tab on the activities of foreigners staying in Nepal. Concerned hotels are required to scan the passports of their guests and upload them into the system.

Any foreign national residing temporarily in Nepal is not allowed to engage in activities other than the purpose for which the visa was obtained.