But there is serious concern whether these foreigners are actually involved in the businesses for which they have been issued visas. Officials admit that a majority of them may be misusing the business visa for other purposes. Yet most of the visas are extended upon expiry without making the mandatory inspection of the businesses in question. For visa extensions, they are required to furnish tax clearance certificates from the tax department. Many such certificates show zero tax payment because of lack of any transaction. Still, the Department of Industry makes recommendations to the Immigration Department for visa extensions for these foreign nationals.
If the tax clearance certificates show zero tax payment, it means the business ventures have not seen any business at all. And there should have been no need to recommend any visa extension. But the recommendations are made anyway, understandably for a consideration. The Department of Immigration has also not been fulfilling its duty. Immigration officials say they have no choice but to grant visa extensions once the foreigners come with the required recommendation from the Industry Department. But that´s not a valid explanation. Under the law, the Immigration Department is supposed to make inspections of such business ventures and enlist the help of the National Investigation Department (NID) for keeping an eye on the activities of the foreigners. This a classic case of failure, by three departments of the government-- Industry, Immigration and National Investigation. But more than a systemic failure it´s a simple case of corrupt officials not fulfilling their duties.
Misuse of business visas can have serious ramifications. Even police officials complain that failure to effectively implement immigration rules is posing a serious threat to law and order in the country. In the absence of strict vigilance, some foreigners can misuse business visas for drug smuggling, running counterfeit currency rackets and intelligence purposes. Even some foreign missionaries are reportedly using business visas to stay in Nepal and promote their religion. Such massive misuse of business visas is not just a violation of the immigration laws. It´s about undermining Nepal’s sovereignty, and should be taken seriously.
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