Kathmandu, 15 Jul: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is currently investigating and has arrested then-Chief Immigration Officer Tirtharaj Bhattarai on charges of sending hundreds of Nepalis abroad on visit visas daily through collusion and manipulation.
A senior official working at the airport immigration office says the issue is not limited to the intentions of a few staff members. According to him, the problem has been fueled by irregularities and “setting” (underhand dealings) because the immigration office has been burdened with more authority than what is legally mandated.
“Our main duty is to verify the authenticity of passports and visas,” the official said. “But here, we’ve been assigned roles ranging from banker and human trafficking investigator to hotel inspector. Every time unnecessary authority is added, it opens the door for manipulation.”
What is the role of Immigration?
The Immigration Act 2049 (1992), Immigration Rules 2051 (1994), and Immigration Procedures 2065 (2008) clearly define the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the Immigration Office. Its primary responsibility is to inspect and record the passports and visas of both Nepali and foreign nationals entering or leaving Nepal.
However, in practice, immigration officers have been compelled to perform many roles beyond these official duties.
1. Role of a Banker
According to the procedures, students traveling on a visit visa must show proof of having exchanged USD 1,000, workers USD 200, and other travelers USD 500.
“This rule has turned us into bankers. It’s not within our jurisdiction to check how many dollars someone possesses,” the official said.
“A network has been actively exploiting this rule by presenting fake documents and stamps of currency exchange to manipulate the system.”
2. Role of an Investigator
Immigration is also tasked with determining whether a person is at risk of being trafficked. Whether the traveler is male or female, going abroad for work or tourism—the responsibility of identifying their true intent has essentially turned the immigration office into a human trafficking investigation bureau.
“This is not our area of expertise,” the official said. “This authority is often misused—genuine travelers are harassed unnecessarily, while those with ‘setting’ (underhand arrangements) pass through easily.”
3. Role of a Hotel Inspector
Immigration officers have also been given the authority to verify whether travelers have hotel bookings. Many are misled by showing fake hotel reservations made through various online platforms. In reality, such bookings are automatically canceled within a few hours. Similarly, return tickets are often forged.
A source stated, “Our system cannot distinguish between real and fake documents, but this loophole has become a breeding ground for ‘setting’.”
Why Has Immigration Deteriorated?
Various procedures and guidelines have burdened the Immigration Office with unnecessary authority. Provisions not clearly outlined in the law but included in procedural documents have created confusion in immigration operations.
“When powers are granted beyond what the law provides, officials become overly powerful, and irregularities increase,” said a source. “The current problem is more systemic than individual. Unless these unnecessary authorities are removed, no matter who is appointed as the chief, the system cannot be reformed.”
What’s the Solution?
For a long-term solution, the source suggests that the Immigration Office should be limited strictly to its core and legally defined responsibilities. The official stated that while the law does not assign them the duty of assessing visit visas, they have been burdened with unnecessary tasks under various procedural directives.
“Our job is to verify passports and visas—nothing more. Matters like foreign currency exchange, hotel bookings, and suspicion of trafficking should be handled by the respective expert agencies,” the official said.
He also emphasized that since immigration is a highly sensitive institution, proper incentives should be provided to staff to keep them motivated and committed to their duties.
“When this institution deteriorates, it damages the country’s image at the international level. Therefore, investigations should not just focus on individuals, but must dig into the root of systemic weaknesses and remove unnecessary authority. Otherwise, the web of ‘setting’ in immigration will never be broken,” the source stated.
Efforts for Reform
Following the visit visa controversy, the government has initiated efforts to address existing problems in the immigration system.
On Asar 9 (June 23), Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak directed authorities to immediately begin necessary actions for immigration reform.
In an internal meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Minister Lekhak instructed that the deployment of immigration staff must follow clear standards and procedures.
He also warned that any misconduct discovered at the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport would result in strict action.
Chief Immigration Officer Bishnu Prasad Koirala stated that various reform measures have been initiated to make service delivery simple, efficient, and accessible.
The Immigration Office has implemented the ‘Integrated Accountability Framework, 2082 (2025)’ for its staff. This framework has been designed and applied to clarify employees’ duties, responsibilities, and authorities, making them fully accountable for their work.
Chief Immigration Officer Koirala explained that the framework was developed to control recurring weaknesses, disputes, and irregularities in the airport’s immigration process. It clearly identifies which staff member will be primarily responsible and who will be ultimately accountable whenever errors or issues arise.
Additionally, immigration employees are now required to provide services to clients politely and courteously. New rules have also been introduced for VIP and VVIP passengers at the airport. From now on, VIP/VVIP travelers must appear in person at immigration and have their photos taken to complete the immigration process.
A new code of conduct has been implemented for immigration staff. According to this code, employees must treat travelers with mandatory politeness and dignity.
The code of conduct aims to align service delivery with international values, principles, and standards related to immigration administration, making it faster, fairer, more transparent, and results-oriented.
Furthermore, the use of scarves, garlands, or any clothing and materials that reveal organizational identities has been banned at the airport. Since the immigration area is sensitive and security-critical, such materials are prohibited.
