NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

On The Rule Book

Growing public complaints rooted in misunderstanding of US immigration laws

By KESHAB POUDEL

As the number of Nepali citizens visiting the United States increases, the queue at the US Embassy in Panipokhari is getting longer. Also increasing is the number of people who complain of unfairness in the embassy's decision on who gets a visa.

Embassy officials say a large number of people who feel that they have been unjustly and/or intentionally denied a visa do not understand the US immigration laws. "People start to complain because there is a misunderstanding among them regarding the process of issuing a visa," said Paul M. Cantrell, visa consul at the American Embassy.

Last year, the US embassy received 13,000 visa applications, but fewer than half of the applicants were granted visas. Embassy officials say the problem experienced in Nepal is nothing more than a misunderstanding of US immigration laws.

As the embassy issues non-immigration and immigration visas under the act passed by the US Congress, there is no question of discrimination against anyone, embassy officials say.

In recent times, stories about visa denials to women married to Nepalis who hold a US green card have been reported. According to embassy officials, they have not denied visas to genuine people, as the embassy does not issue immigrant visa as requested by such women.

"People often misunderstand the complexity of the visa laws as we issue visa following US immigration laws. We try our best to inform the people about rules on procuring the visa," said consul Cantrell. "We normally issue the non-immigration visa taking very short span of time."

Whether small or big, every country has its own immigration laws regulating the number of visitors. Issuing visa to a foreigner is the privilege of the host country.

"Everyone who applies for a visa considers that it is their right to obtain it. If some do not get the visa, the individual starts accusing the officials working in the embassy," said an official.

Compared to other embassies in South Asia, the annual increase of non-immigration visa applicants in Nepal is very low.

INDIAN SECURITY REPORT
Clean Chit To Nepal

At a time when the Indian media grabs any opportunity to describe Nepal as a fertile ground for anti-India activities, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of India has come out with a report hailing Nepal's security agencies. The IB report specifically praises Nepalese attempts to prevent activities that could lead to armed or terrorist strikes in India.

According to a report published in The Statesman on Wednesday, December 20, 2000, the IB, in a five-page confidential report, stated that due to the Nepalese government's strict law enforcement, militants are confined to the North-east.

The IB report has asked the central Indian government to take urgent steps to combat "Sino militants' illegal infiltration, supply of huge quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunition and contraband from China to India's north-eastern parts."

However, this is not the first time an Indian intelligence agency has rejected allegations that Nepalese territory is being used to destabilize India.

Former chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Jogendra Singh, during a recent visit to Kathmandu, ruled out the possibility of the use of Nepalese territory by the Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

Following the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 a year ago, the Indian media portrayed Nepal as a sanctuary for hard-core terrorists. Strategic analysts saw such media reporting as a reflection of India's security perception.

Last June, India Today published "Nepal Game Plan" in which it described Nepal as a safe haven for the ISI. This report was widely criticized for its unsubstantiated materials.