The government has cautioned all citizens to submit official documents containing accurate information when applying for visas to enter foreign countries, particularly the United States.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and four US-based Nepali missions issued simultaneous cautionary statements after finding that some visa applicants’ documents were under scrutiny.

“Some affidavits and documents submitted by Nepali visa applicants have faced scrutiny,” said Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, the spokesperson at the foreign ministry, explaining the reasons for issuing the statements.

Officials at the ministry and Nepali missions in the United States said the US raised concerns regarding the character certificates issued by the Nepal Police. Following this, various government agencies stepped in to issue cautionary statements.

Along with the foreign ministry and Nepali diplomatic missions, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it is mandatory to provide official documents and accurate information during the application process.

If the submitted information or documents are found to be false or misleading, not only may the visa be rejected, but the applicant may also be prohibited from visiting that country in the future, it said.

“In addition, as Nepali law considers such acts to be criminal offences, further investigation and legal action may also be taken. Therefore, applicants are requested to submit only duly obtained official documents to the concerned authorities, without being influenced by intermediaries or consultants,” said the ministry’s notice.

All information related to the visa applications and required documents is available on the websites of the respective embassies and consulates, the notice said.

“You can apply for a visa on your own without the assistance of a visa consultant. Even when using the services of a visa consultant, the final responsibility for verifying the authenticity and accuracy of all submitted documents and information lies with the applicant.

“If the submitted documents are found to be false or misleading, the visa may be canceled, future travel may be restricted, and legal penalties may be imposed, therefore, please exercise caution when using the services of a visa consultant,” reads the statement.

The warning comes after the recent US immigration rule under the Trump administration, which suspended processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Nepal, from January 21.

Under the new rule, the US Department of State paused all immigrant visa issuance to nationals of countries (including Nepal) whose immigrants have a high rate of collecting public assistance at the expense of US taxpayers.

Last week, the Nepali Embassy in Washington DC and three other Nepali Missions in the US also issued similar statements and cautioned Nepali citizens about the new US rules, including overstay and related burden on US state coffers.

“We have advised our citizens not to become a burden by claiming additional services such as education, food, health and other public benefits. We have also urged them not to obtain fake documents to secure a US visa as this can cause serious trouble if discovered,” the official added.

According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, starting January 21, Nepali nationals eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of up to $15,000.

“At the time of the interview, the consular officer will inform the applicant whether they are eligible for a visa and will provide instructions on how to pay the bond,” said the official.

On Friday, the Nepali embassy in Washington, DC, warned Nepali nationals residing in the US that misuse of government-supported benefits or violations of visa conditions could result in the revocation of visas or permanent resident status.

Likewise, the US Embassy, Kathmandu, has also expressed concern over the quality of the police report being issued by the Nepal Police.

In a recent meeting with Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Scott Urbom, the chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Kathmandu also complained about flaws in police reports, according to officials at the Home and Foreign Ministries. “The US side stated that the character certificate that Nepal Police issues should follow the pre-2023 format. Many individuals who were given cleanchit by the police were found to have criminal records or became involved in crime in the US. Even minor offences must be reported,” the official familiar with US concerns told the Post.

Addressing these concerns, the Home Ministry on Friday issued a statement, mentioning that the government follows the National Criminal Record Management and Police Character Certificate Distribution Directive-2020.

“The directive specifies the responsibility, procedures, and criteria for issuing police character certificates. It also includes provisions on whether or not such certificates may be issued, online-based distribution, correction of errors, prevention of tampering or forgery, verification mechanisms, and integration with the National Identity Management Information System.”

According to the directive, character certificates based on false information, or that are forged, altered, or tampered with, will result in action under prevailing laws, said the statement. Additionally, as per Section 25 of the National Penal Code, 2017, offenses related to such acts are punishable under the law.

The US Embassy did not respond to a query by the Post regarding US concerns about the police report.