Did any one have problem renewing passport in Embassy of Nepal in the U S A.


Let me tell you what happen I sent in my passport 3 and half week ago in D C to renew but I was expecting it in a week. That’s how long it took 5 years ago. That’s how long it took for my friend year ago.
So I called after a week, and my trip was in two week.
The answer I got was we just received it week ago so it’s still in process. And I told the person can you do it little faster I am leaving for Nepal in two weeks. Person there said the guy who does it is not in the office, he went hospital cuz he had a head ache. I asked when will it be done then person said it says on the application 2 weeks.
Ok……….. I waited 2 weeks I still didn’t get it and I was getting worried cause my trip was in a week. So I called again and the guy answered rudely “ya.. still in process just call tomorrow so that I don’t for get” I was being nice so that I could get my passport back in time. So I kept saying ok.
So I called back next day and then the person said it’s in process of being done. So I thought ok finally. After 2 day I went to check my mail box it wasn’t there reason I went to check is I sent return prepaid priority mail. I went next day it wasn’t there so I thought may be post office is taking time. So next day just to be sure I called DC again and the person said oh I think it’s mailed I said can you check. The person came back and said it was mailed yesterday. I was so pissed I had 2 days left to go to Nepal.
So I check day before I went to Nepal and thank god it was there. Man three weeks 2 days it took to do 15 min job.
I was in Nepal and I asked the passport making place how many days does it take there they said it takes 2 days……..
Then I was thinking in USA even if all the nepalis living in America sends there passport to renew same time same day. It won’t take that long to renew.
Think about America I am sure they have millions of passport application and they have to do all the background check and all that, even then it doesn’t take them that long. It only took week and a half to get new passport for my kuire friend.

Then I am thinking when will the ways of nepalis working style ever change, even coming to America they work like in Nepal.
I am not talking about us who work here in and live in US I am talking about Nepal government employees.
Not to mention my friend send in his passport to renew and got it in 2 week even when he went to pick it up. The funny part is he called and told them that he is going to be coming to pick it up. When he went to pick it up after 1 and half week it wasn’t done they told him to come next day and when he went there two men were just chatting away doing nothing. And when he went there next day the guy told him it’s not done and he told them he is leaving the city in an hour then they told him wait. And it took them only 15 min to do it………


Please share your story if you had same problem do you guys think we should do something about it…………………..

What’s the buzz, what’s happening?


From Issue #312 (25 August 06 - 31 August 06) |

This may be a good time to start making a glossary of past Nepali ambassadors, where and when they served and reasons for their notoriety.

We all know about the shoplifting plenipotentiary who claimed diplomatic immunity when apprehended red-handed after mistaking a Washington DC bookshop for a takeaway. Nepal’s formerly-royal embassies are still being used as longterm guest houses by Kathmandu’s hoity-toity. During the royal period, our envoys essentially served as buying agents for the palace. The main job of the Bangkok embassy was to ship home rambutans, in Paris it was lingerie and lacy stuff for princesses, and at the Court of St James His Majesty’s Envoy’s role was to be a guardian for various royal brats then studying in English boarding schools.

After 1990, royal-appointed ambassadors were replaced by politically-appointed ambassadors and it is a matter of some debate which kind did more harm to Nepal’s image abroad. These hard-drinking dips don’t stop even when they get back. An appropriately named Mr Nepal, who served as the UML-appointed envoy to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the mid-1990s, was nearly lynched after molesting the minor daughter of a bhatti-owner in Ghattekulo this week.

How such a nobody even qualified to be chosen as an ambassador to a country with which Nepal’s economic diplomacy should be on high-priority is anybody’s guess. But His Excellency is lucky he wasn’t killed when the girl’s mother broke the bottle of San Mig he was drinking over his head and knocked him unconscious.

•••

While Nepal recovers from his hangover and bad-headache, how long is his namesake country going to be without ambassadors? We seem to be doing perfectly well while missing 12 ambassadors, so why have them? They’re terribly expensive, don’t do much to enhance our national image and haven’t yet learnt to tuck their shirts in while presenting credentials.

Still, as we speak, Sharmas, Pyakhurels, Simkhadas. Pudasinis and Khanals are lobbying in the corridors of power to be named ambassadors. (Editor’s note: All men, all bahuns.) Trouble is, with seven parties in government, every party’s candidate gets six no-votes from the other parties. From what we hear, all the candidates are cancelling each other out and hence the delay in the announcement.

•••

It’s official: Nepal’s formal name in English is no more ‘Kingdom of Nepal’. It’s just ‘Nepal’. A cabinet decision to this effect is being circulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This has delayed donor projects which were in the pipeline, bilateral MoUs are all put off because the documents have to go back to lawyers for necessary changes. Whatever we do, can we at least spell check the rubber stamps on our passports? Nepalis are getting jailed all over the world on suspicion of having forged passports because CDO offices can’t spell ‘government’.

Which brings us to the national anthem. The committee set up to find a new anthem hasn’t yet submitted its shortlist. But at the South Asian Games in Colombo, it was still the “Sri Man Gambhir” that rang out in the stadium when our karate, wushu and taekwondo champs bagged golds. I guess since “Prachanda” gets a mention even in the royal anthem, it’s ok to keep the old one as a caretaker anthem.

•••

What a historical irony that interim chief of army staff Rukmangat Katuwal, the soldier responsible for quelling the Okhaldhunga Uprising in 1974, is now Chief Sah’b. Although there was an effort to kick him upstairs and get him out of the way by naming him ambassador to the US, it looks like the Nepali Congress has put the man who put down its own armed struggle in 1974 as army chief. The militant wing of the NC at the time was led by none other than a younger and more radical Girija Koirala. As a baby, Katuwal was adopted by King Mahendra from Okhaldhunga and raised inside the royal palace.

Katuwal’s unit was in hot pursuit of the NC militants, and after killing 10 of them captured the leader of the rebel force, ex-serviceman CaptainYagya Bahadur Thapa who was later executed. It was after that defeat that the NC abandoned its armed struggle and decided to go for ‘national reconciliation’.




ass@nepalitimes.com

don't worry suvachintak1. very soon maoist would come to US of A and blew up the Nepali Embassy in D.C.

that would be fantastic to see that day!

It has been 15 days I sent my passport for new passport. But Havent received any info.....everyday I track the USPS but find there is no record............

BornFree....

Dont worry it aint gonna happen.... they ( MAOIAST) never touched any big crook Political leader's in NEPAL then forget about coming here in US of A. If you are lucky then you will get your new passport with in a month... I live in DC and when i needed to change my passport, i went there and dropped by myself even the guy told me to come tomorrow and when i went to next day.... they told me to come next day... i told them that i dont have time to come every next day so i argue with them.... ani balla aatua thupro bata mero application khojera passport banayera diyo.......so if you are lucky will get within a 15 days.

यहाँ लेखिएका आछेप हरु लाई मैले श्रोता हरु लाई किन्न मनाही त गर्दिन । मेरो अनुभव मा नेपाली राज्दुतबास् का कर्मचारीहरु अ्रि^का मा रहेका नेपाली हरु को काम नियेम् कानुन ले मिलेसम्म छितो छरितो भयेको देखेको सुनेको छु। के तपाइ हरु ले येउता कुरा बिचार् गर्नु भयेको छ कि छैन-- यधेपि नेपालि रज्दुताबास् मा कर्मचारि को सन्ख्या गत तिस् बर्स मा जत्ति को तत्ति छ भने येहा अ्रिक मा नेपलि हरु भितृने सन्ख्या भने तिस् गुन ले बढेको छ। यो सान्खिक् तथ्य लै मध्येनजर् राखि कमेन्त् गरे राम्रो हुने थियो कि।

i think best thing to do if you have problem is write email to embassy of nepal in washington dc.

they are very good in responding to emails. (O:
i got all my queries resolved via email but .. cannot renew passport by email yet )O: k garne .....

Yes, we all understand lack of required staffs in embassy, but my the cocern is the way mr Tamang who has been deep rooted in the embassy so long, his way of behave once you call and ask some information, he just buhave like Mad dog, my case is is that my passport was hold more than two month even I had to change my ticket. He is main problem in the Nepalise embassy in Washington DC. I had notified to MOFA in Kathmandu, let call MOFA, Kathmandu and keep send emails for send back to Nepal.He is really bully and does rude behave to not only fellow Nepalis living in US but also does to fellow his coworkers and senior staffs. he has lack of proper communication skill and arrogant type of personality are the major causes to delaying our issuing passport and other services, we do not need him there any more. here is following contact information:

OFFICE OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY | Email: fso@mofa.gov.np | Fax: 4416016
Mr. Bhagirath Basnet Acting Foreign Secretary 4416002, 4416006 (110) -
Mr. Bhupendra Ghimire PA 4416002, 4416006 (110)

I have never known Mr. Tamang behaving like a mad dog as someone here has senselessly accused him to be. Nevertheless, what I do know from my little contact I have had with him is as follows:

Not only is he the one who gets things done in the Embassy, he is probably the only one who knows how to get things done be it a consular work or making contacts with outside for the Embassy. If there were to be an objective evaluation of the work by a third party (without the inherent Singhadurbar type bias) with a careful analysis of the time spent on the tasks pertaining to the Embassy's consular and other routine work by each employee, local or otherwise, I am sure they will find that Mr. Tamang's time is well spent even beyond what he is paid for as compared to his colleagues and supervisors. Many other employees are just the chair warmers like the type we have in Singhadurbar.

Due to lack of division of labour based on one's responsibilities, it is observed that Mr. Tamang is overworked in many occasions. That is not an ideal time to deal with the callers from outside inquiring on the consular work. He does not have to take the brunt of someone else's anger on the delay of the passport work that is not only his sole responsibility. However, it cannot be said that everyone demonstrates the common courtesy in using the language when calling the Embassy inquiring about the passport renewal or one is already worked up particularly when you are talking with the clerical staff. Therefore, the mad dog approach goes to both sides of the callers.

Granted that Mr. Tamang needs to improve his communication skills. Who does not need to improve it? Obviously, his bosses need even more. May be Mr. Tamang is too straightforward in his approach that is not the norm in the bureaucracy. May be Mr. Tamang needs to sugarcoat a little when he answers the callers. It is for his supervisors to decide and bring about the needed changes, but before the supervisors contemplate on the reforms, they had better learn to take the dose of their own medicines by not asking him to jump the line for passport work for their friends and acquaintances.

Who knows what probably irks him is the way people behave as if after the Janadaolan II, all the Embassy staff would change overnight to customer service. If the system is not computerized, ask his bosses, not him After all, isn't it that almost everyone worth his or her salt has a relative in Kathmandu in a sucker sarkari jagir or in politics?

Finally, it all boils down to who you are. I am sure Mr. Tamang, although a poorly paid local employee is the only one from his ethnic group working not just in the US but also in any Embassy or Mission abroad from Nepal worldwide. That does not say much about Nepal's well-publicized integration of all castes and ethnic groups in the mainstream. No wonder Mr. Tamang is a target of certain groups who find it difficult to bypass him or deal with him.

Almost everything in Nepal is viewed by certain people with caste prejudiced lens. So, this should not come as a surprise to those who practice it.

If I have a way, based on his work, I would designate Mr. Tamang to be the first secretary handling the consular work. You would even make an excellent ambassador given the type we have seen in the past. Keep up the good work Mr. Tamang; you do not have to be a run-of-the mill type. There is a price to be paid for calling a spade a spade. My unsolicited advice to him would be just tone down a bit, exercise extreme patience and work towards being even more polite and courteous than you already are.

It is time that Nepal appointed an Ambassador from an ethnic group who is not from a few castes or groups that have monopolized the post for last several decades.

Durga Prasad!

Durga Prasad you have chosen good name of Durgamatha, but you are talking nonsense, After reading your comment on Sajha you may have personal animosities with Dig Bahadur Tamang, if you think he is that much rude, why don't you go to embassy, submit written complain to the Ambassador, or his immediate boss against him. It is not wise just barking behind curtain, you are just assassinating somebody else good character who is serving his country even though he is in foreign country with meager salary working like Goru, Durga Prasad your from that culture, Kam Garne Kami, whom
you kept as untouchable, Luga Seune Dai, whom you kept untouchable, those days has gone, Durga sham on you, you must learn what is good and what is bad, Why don't you write your real name Purushhottam, or Prakas, whatever you have given by your parent,

I do not know who Mr. Tamang is or even Durga Prasad. But it sures sounds ugly when Embassy holds pasport for over two months with no proper explanation. I saw at the Nepalase Embassy web site that they issue visa within 7 days of recept of visa application. So why over 2 months for passport renewal? Underpaid staff is no excuse! They chose to work for that wage (whatever they make!), they should peform their duty diligently. No one forced them to come to the US! If they are not hapy with their work load or salary, they are free to go back.


But by the way, whu you all think Durga Prasad is fake name? Sounds like real name to me!

I had no problem doing mine. I dropped mine on Wed and they asked me to pick up Monday after 4. I asked them why cant i pick it up today? They showed me a huge pile of passports, about 3 boxes of passports only. Then i couldnt complain.

Slash: Arn't you lucky you got passport within less than a week? Some are complaining it took them over 2 months! 3 boxes of passports merely indicates nothing but
procastination-at-work. I do not think they got three boxes of passport on a single day. I do not mind if the embassy charges special handling fee for processing passports within 3 days or so. That is what United States does to iossue its passports! If someone wants passport in a hurry, make them pay extra bucks to get it done within 3 working days!

Jhilka & Birkhe

I don't know if Durga Prasad has any personal grudges, but from what I and couple of my friends have experienced, I can assure you that Mr. Tamang gave us a hard time and a really bad one on that.

Personally, nothing against him, things should be taken care of in a timely fashion.

Hellacious,

I agree with you, you have mentioned about your friend but I have experienced it myself. I had done the passport renewal for me and my wife. I personally dropped my passport at the embassy. This is my personal experience and I don’t have any ego against anybody working at the embassy. People at the embassy, I think 80% of them, don’t know how to speak in a nice way (including the recent ambassador); they think they are the so called HAKIMS. I think whoever goes there in person can see how the passports are handled and are always scared till they actually get their passport on their hand. I was too scared to leave my passport there but I had no choice. Mr. DB Tamang thinks he is the boss and nobody knows his working hours. After calling them (not less than 15 times) I was told that it’s ready and I also asked whether he will be in office or not and he said he will be there but when I went there that so called boss (Mr. Tamang) wasn’t there. He had gone out and no body knew when he was going to be back. And one guy other than the receptionist said “you can wait as you won’t be going back to work today isn’t it?” I said that whether I have to go back to work or not is none of his business. I waited for some time and after that I talked with Mr. Aryal, I think he is DB’s supervisor (I’m not sure though) and he told someone to look in DB’s table and he gave the passport to me. I suggested him (Mr. Aryal) that they need to be more organized and responsible and he was thanking me for the suggestion and that they will try but I don’t know whether it was of any use and he can do anything….. Compared to other people he was kind of polite, I don’t know whether he is like that to all or not. He was saying that they have tools to keep track of all passport that come for renewal but I don’t know whether they really have it or is not being used. Finally I got my passport. And I am happy that I don’t have to see the face of so called HAKIMS for another 10 years. I hate to go to embassy and most of the people there might be bad but DB is definitely the worst guy working in the embassy as per my personal experience. Not only me I have heard about this guy from my other friends also.

Its surprising that somebody getting passport in 2 or 3 days even when there are piles of passport, I smell some NataBad Kripa bad. There is no premium process.........and how come somebody get so earlier while others are waiting 2-3 months. It took whole 2 months to get my passport.

slash,

That's great that you saw passport atleast in boxes. When i was there it was a mesh just spread around just like papers for trash. I was really surprised, that was the first time i had seen Nepali office outside Nepal and in such horrible shape. I don't know how people can work keeping their own working table like that and the more i don't know whether they are lost or not, i feel lucky i got both new and old passport. It wasn't lost. I don't mind sending email/Fax to OFFICE OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY but i doubt anything will happen complaining to bureacrates, i think it should go to Foreign Minister directly. Whatever the case be i''m going to email and will complain about Mr. DB and also about the work culture of the embassy. Let's try and see if it makes any difference. I think Mr. DB's supervisor know about it and i myself complained to them but i don't know why they don't/can't do anything. And i bet most of the people who had meet Mr. DB for any officical work are not happy with that guy.

Ak1169 and Nepalko Lato
Open your blind eyes then only comment to somebody elese.

How come all of you accusing to only DB ? Why not Ambassador, why not DCM, Why not First Secretary? Everybody should understand DB is working for them not you guys, if DB punishable, he deserve punishment but you have no authority to punish him only those above mentioned authority have, Is DB Ambassador there? Of course not, he is obeying order to First Secretary Krishina Aryal? Do you think you are brave by accusing? one person who works sincerely, why don't you guys go to the embassy and relieves DB and replace yourself to DB's post ? You know nothing about DB ? Those Officers are responsible to perform Embassy duties not DB, you guys are after death fish, whom people say Namarda. Is DB came from Ministry as Counsellor? Does DB have any chance to become an Officer of MOFA? Chorilai Pitera Bohari Taha Laune Chalan Gaisakyo Bhai Ho.

birkhe03 : YOU SAID - "Everybody should understand DB is working for them (DB'S BOSSES) not you guys"

You are wrong. DB is there to serve Nepalese people. Yes, he is there to serve us. Not only him, even his bosses are also there to serve Nepal and Nepalese people. Even Prime Minister Koirala is there serve Nepalese people! Every official is assigned certain duty. DB's duty to process passpprt and visa! So it is very fair to critisize him for his clumsiness! Yes, people will not hesitate to critisze ambassador if he fails to perform his assigned duty in a proper manner (whatever that might be!). Didn't we laugh/critisize one of our ambassadors for a book store incident? So if you think DB Tamang should be immune from criticism/complaint simply because he is on the bottom of the barrel, you are wrong. Even if we criticize the ambassador for passport problems, who do you think the ambassador will go after? It is DB Tamang!

I hope embassy staffs are reading these posts and take proper actions!

birkhe03,

I think you are blind supporter of Mr. DB. Grow up... I had mentioned about my expericence while renewing my passport. If i myself faced the problem then why not to mention that. And also i had mentioned other people are bad but DB is the worst one in the embassy. That is a fact. I complained about that guy to his supervisor too. Will definitely do more and i don't know whether anything happens or not but it's right thing to do as i faced the problem (It will be for my satisfaction) and if he is reading this thread hope he will change himself and he needs to change. If you are so much sympathic and close to him then why don't you let him know. The only thing we expect is good service. Nothing more.

Keep writing more may be somthing will happen about this issue