Ballarat Courier, Australia - TWENTY-EIGHT Nepalese pilgrims who were to be hosted by Ballarat North families for World Youth Day have had their visa applications denied.
The pilgrims were originally to stay this week for five days in Ballarat before heading to Sydney to participate in World Youth Day activities. The visa applications were refused for a number of reasons, including that the pilgrims did not have sufficient family ties in Nepal.
The Immigration Department maintains that like other visa applications, those attending World Youth Day are required to show that they have incentives to return to their home country, such as employment, assets or family ties. Stacey Aitken of the Ballarat Catholic Diocese said: "We're disappointed that they're not coming."
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Nepali overseas workers double in five years
KATHMANDU, July 21 - In what may be termed an indication of growing unemployment in the country, the number of Nepali youths moving out for overseas jobs has more than doubled over the past five years.
Slim employment opportunities and greater access to labor destinations amid sprouting manpower agencies has contributed to the soaring number of workers leaving for overseas jobs.
The number of Nepalis going for foreign employment has grown at double-digit steadily over this period. In the fiscal year 2007/08, which ended last week, the number of overseas job goers grew by 20 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year. Statistics of Department of Labor shows that a total of 239,637 Nepali job seekers left for different destinations - mostly for blue-collar work - during the year. The number was 199,191 during the fiscal year 2006/07. Only 106,660 workers in total had left for foreign jobs in fiscal year 2003/04. Officials attribute such a remarkable growth of overseas employment to the positive impact of labor pacts signed by Nepal with four recipient countries.
Over the last two years, Nepal has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea, Qatar and Bahrain to ensure greater rights of Nepali workers there.
As a result of labor agreements and change in working environment, the preferences regarding different destinations have also changed over the period. Qatar became the most favored destination for Nepali workers during the last fiscal year receiving 85,411 workers , 47 percent up from the number recorded during a year earlier. Data shows, Malaysia became the second largest country from most preferred destination in the last fiscal year. It received only 50,526 Nepali workers, which was about 28 percent less than the previous fiscal year. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also witnessed double digit growth in the arrival of Nepali workers. However, more than 93 percent of the total outgoing workers are concentrated on the largest four recipients due to lack of diversification of labor destinations.
"Lack of employment opportunities within the country has drive up the number of Nepali workers seeking overseas jobs even for meager remuneration," Dilli Ram Sharma, director of Department of Labor and Employment Promotion (DoLEP) told the Post. "Increasing personal access to the outer world has also helped in finding overseas jobs in recent years, said Sharma.
Slim employment opportunities and greater access to labor destinations amid sprouting manpower agencies has contributed to the soaring number of workers leaving for overseas jobs.
The number of Nepalis going for foreign employment has grown at double-digit steadily over this period. In the fiscal year 2007/08, which ended last week, the number of overseas job goers grew by 20 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year. Statistics of Department of Labor shows that a total of 239,637 Nepali job seekers left for different destinations - mostly for blue-collar work - during the year. The number was 199,191 during the fiscal year 2006/07. Only 106,660 workers in total had left for foreign jobs in fiscal year 2003/04. Officials attribute such a remarkable growth of overseas employment to the positive impact of labor pacts signed by Nepal with four recipient countries.
Over the last two years, Nepal has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea, Qatar and Bahrain to ensure greater rights of Nepali workers there.
As a result of labor agreements and change in working environment, the preferences regarding different destinations have also changed over the period. Qatar became the most favored destination for Nepali workers during the last fiscal year receiving 85,411 workers , 47 percent up from the number recorded during a year earlier. Data shows, Malaysia became the second largest country from most preferred destination in the last fiscal year. It received only 50,526 Nepali workers, which was about 28 percent less than the previous fiscal year. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also witnessed double digit growth in the arrival of Nepali workers. However, more than 93 percent of the total outgoing workers are concentrated on the largest four recipients due to lack of diversification of labor destinations.
"Lack of employment opportunities within the country has drive up the number of Nepali workers seeking overseas jobs even for meager remuneration," Dilli Ram Sharma, director of Department of Labor and Employment Promotion (DoLEP) told the Post. "Increasing personal access to the outer world has also helped in finding overseas jobs in recent years, said Sharma.
Manpower company of Nepal submits false documents
QATAR, July 22 - A manpower company, Destination Overseas, produced fraud documents to step up pressure on the Nepali Embassy here to send employees for underpaid work. The company requested the embassy over phone to send Yug Bahadur and Dik Bahadur Shrestha of Yaku-3 of Bhojpur for work in the guise of their father.
The Shrestha brothers along with one Om Prakash Kewat of Nawalparasi are taking refuge at the embassy now after they were paid 550 riyal monthly, which is lower than the labor agreement signed between the two countries. Furthermore, the company filed an application in the name of Yug's wife at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking to take initiatives to send them for work. It is learnt that the application was fraudulent.
"My wife cannot read and write. But the application bears her signature," Yug Bahadur claimed.
In connection with the application, a Counselor Officer at the ministry, Rajendra Pandey, issued order to the embassy to provide necessary help for the victims.
The victims said that they could not get the job the overseas company had promised in Nepal.
Nepali Ambassador Dr Surya Nath Mishra said the embassy had not signed any labor agreement below 600 riyal since last January. "We have no objection if they want to work," he said, adding, "But the embassy won't sign labor agreement below that amount."
The Shrestha brothers along with one Om Prakash Kewat of Nawalparasi are taking refuge at the embassy now after they were paid 550 riyal monthly, which is lower than the labor agreement signed between the two countries. Furthermore, the company filed an application in the name of Yug's wife at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking to take initiatives to send them for work. It is learnt that the application was fraudulent.
"My wife cannot read and write. But the application bears her signature," Yug Bahadur claimed.
In connection with the application, a Counselor Officer at the ministry, Rajendra Pandey, issued order to the embassy to provide necessary help for the victims.
The victims said that they could not get the job the overseas company had promised in Nepal.
Nepali Ambassador Dr Surya Nath Mishra said the embassy had not signed any labor agreement below 600 riyal since last January. "We have no objection if they want to work," he said, adding, "But the embassy won't sign labor agreement below that amount."
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Fake US visa racket busted in Nepal
By Hari Dahal (Kantipur)
KATHMANDU, NEPAL - Nepal Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) has busted two individuals notorious for their involvement in producing forged American visas and duping people. Police said the two had duped a significant number of people with forged American visas, fake job offers and illegal documents. They were running a big racket under the name of Channel Educational Foundation in the capital. Acting on an initial tip-off by the American embassy, a team from MPCD arrested Shankar Dahal, 34, a permanent resident of Dharan, Sunsari and his Philipino wife Kristina Patrinio, 22, on the charge of forgery and embezzlement.
Police investigations showed that the two had returned from Dubai a year ago and started running the racket.Police said they were arrested after the US embassy expressed particular concern and shared information about the big racket taking place in the capital. Selling people American dreams with pledges of attractive jobs in the US the two had conned under-graduate students and other semi-skilled people with counterfeits of American visas and other essential documents. Superintendent of Police Devendra Subedi said they targeted and victimized college-level students and people who were desperate to go abroad. Our preliminary investigation showed that they had already victimized at least seven persons and they were in contact with another 40,” SP subedi said, adding that a detail investigation report going beyond the racket is still awaited as some of those involved are on the run.Police said Bhola Dahal, who had been working as a public relations officer at the illegal educational center, Bikash Thapa and Bhola Raut are also on the run.
Earlier on April 15, Dahal was arrested by police on the charge of kidnapping and freed on bail. They used to tell their victims that the visas were issued by the American embassy in Nepal. “Their victims were so confident they would land in the US with the forged documents that they hesitated to contact police,” SP Subedi said. Channel Education Foundation operated out of Lazimpat, put out advertisements in newspapers and used to take over Rs 0.7 million per person for documentation.After learning about the police investigation, they closed down and then re-opened as another office, named Horizon, at Tangal in Bhatbhateni, police said. They are in police custody at Hanumandhoka.
KATHMANDU, NEPAL - Nepal Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) has busted two individuals notorious for their involvement in producing forged American visas and duping people. Police said the two had duped a significant number of people with forged American visas, fake job offers and illegal documents. They were running a big racket under the name of Channel Educational Foundation in the capital. Acting on an initial tip-off by the American embassy, a team from MPCD arrested Shankar Dahal, 34, a permanent resident of Dharan, Sunsari and his Philipino wife Kristina Patrinio, 22, on the charge of forgery and embezzlement.
Police investigations showed that the two had returned from Dubai a year ago and started running the racket.Police said they were arrested after the US embassy expressed particular concern and shared information about the big racket taking place in the capital. Selling people American dreams with pledges of attractive jobs in the US the two had conned under-graduate students and other semi-skilled people with counterfeits of American visas and other essential documents. Superintendent of Police Devendra Subedi said they targeted and victimized college-level students and people who were desperate to go abroad. Our preliminary investigation showed that they had already victimized at least seven persons and they were in contact with another 40,” SP subedi said, adding that a detail investigation report going beyond the racket is still awaited as some of those involved are on the run.Police said Bhola Dahal, who had been working as a public relations officer at the illegal educational center, Bikash Thapa and Bhola Raut are also on the run.
Earlier on April 15, Dahal was arrested by police on the charge of kidnapping and freed on bail. They used to tell their victims that the visas were issued by the American embassy in Nepal. “Their victims were so confident they would land in the US with the forged documents that they hesitated to contact police,” SP Subedi said. Channel Education Foundation operated out of Lazimpat, put out advertisements in newspapers and used to take over Rs 0.7 million per person for documentation.After learning about the police investigation, they closed down and then re-opened as another office, named Horizon, at Tangal in Bhatbhateni, police said. They are in police custody at Hanumandhoka.
More than 3,000 illegal immigrants face UK boot in visa scam
By James Millbank
More than 3,000 illegal immigrants face being deported after cops smashed an £11million visa racket.
The huge scam was exposed when police raided a bogus computer college in west London. The school churned out fake diplomas to help Indians get UK work visas.
Insiders say at least 3,000 people paid more than £3,000 each to join. Cops seized computers, documents and forged visa stamps in the raid in Southall - and later arrested three people. A source said: "It was a massive success." The fake qualifications tricked the Home Office into granting visas under the UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
Whitehall insiders fear the scam had been going on for 18 months - and netted crooks at least £11million. A source said: "Most of the 'students' can hardly speak a word of English and range from the elderly to the very young."
More than 3,000 illegal immigrants face being deported after cops smashed an £11million visa racket.
The huge scam was exposed when police raided a bogus computer college in west London. The school churned out fake diplomas to help Indians get UK work visas.
Insiders say at least 3,000 people paid more than £3,000 each to join. Cops seized computers, documents and forged visa stamps in the raid in Southall - and later arrested three people. A source said: "It was a massive success." The fake qualifications tricked the Home Office into granting visas under the UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
Whitehall insiders fear the scam had been going on for 18 months - and netted crooks at least £11million. A source said: "Most of the 'students' can hardly speak a word of English and range from the elderly to the very young."
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Couple arrested for issuing fake US visas in Nepal
KATHMANDU, June 28 - Nepalese police on Saturday arrested two persons on charges of running a fake US visa trade. 
The police nabbed Shankar Dahal, a resident of Sunsari district, and his Filipino wife Christina Patiniyo charging them with issuing fake US visas through a consultancy called ‘Channel Education Foundation’ at Lazimpat in the capital.
According to the Metropolitan Crime Division, the couple was arrested following a tip-off from the US embassy in Nepal.
The police recovered various fake documents including fake letter pads, copies of fake visas, contract letters and bills.
The crime division claimed that the company was charging Rs 700,000 for fake visas.
Another three accomplices of Dahal, Bikash Thapa, Bhola Raut and Bhola Dahal , residents of Dharan, are still at large.
The police nabbed Shankar Dahal, a resident of Sunsari district, and his Filipino wife Christina Patiniyo charging them with issuing fake US visas through a consultancy called ‘Channel Education Foundation’ at Lazimpat in the capital.
According to the Metropolitan Crime Division, the couple was arrested following a tip-off from the US embassy in Nepal.
The police recovered various fake documents including fake letter pads, copies of fake visas, contract letters and bills.
The crime division claimed that the company was charging Rs 700,000 for fake visas.
Another three accomplices of Dahal, Bikash Thapa, Bhola Raut and Bhola Dahal , residents of Dharan, are still at large.
British rickshaw adventurers facing Indian jail threat after trek
By Nick Meo
Ten British adventurers are facing the prospect of being locked up as illegal aliens at the end of a 2,800 mile rickshaw journey from Katmandu in Nepal to Madras in southern India.
The ten were taking part in a 15-day trip organised by a Bristol-based company called the Rickshaw Run which promises "adventures on three wheels" for charity fundraisers.
But they got more adventure than they had bargained for after discovering they could not leave India because they did not have an entry stamp in their passports.
Douglas Bell, 26, a publisher from Newcastle, said that at first the group had thought their problem was a bit of a joke but in the last couple of days have become increasingly worried.
Ten British adventurers are facing the prospect of being locked up as illegal aliens at the end of a 2,800 mile rickshaw journey from Katmandu in Nepal to Madras in southern India.
The ten were taking part in a 15-day trip organised by a Bristol-based company called the Rickshaw Run which promises "adventures on three wheels" for charity fundraisers.
But they got more adventure than they had bargained for after discovering they could not leave India because they did not have an entry stamp in their passports.
Douglas Bell, 26, a publisher from Newcastle, said that at first the group had thought their problem was a bit of a joke but in the last couple of days have become increasingly worried.
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