Bagram, AFGHANISTAN -IOM co-led a rescue effort involving 10 Nepalese citizens that had overstayed their visa and helped them to get back to their country safely. English

At the request of the Embassy of Nepal in Islamabad, the joint rescue effort was launched together with the Afghan Ministry of Interior. An investigation team was sent to Bagram, who brought the 10 Nepalese men to Kabul. Last week they flew back to Kathmandu, where they were received by Nepalese government officials at the airport.

According to the investigation, they arrived in Afghanistan less than a year ago, allegedly with the help of an agent in Nepal who promised them jobs as security guards at the Bagram-based US military base and was paid almost USD 5,000 by each of these individuals. According to their statements, the work never materialized and the agent escaped with some of their passports.

Based on reports, they entered Afghanistan on a tourist visa and had overstayed the maximum number of days allowed. As they had not been able to find work or change their legal status, they were hiding from law enforcement authorities and feared prosecution. They were found living in a guesthouse in Bagram, 40 kilometers northeast of Kabul, whose owner provided lodging and food on credit.

Also in 2011, IOM helped a number of Nepalese citizens that had overstayed their visa in Afghanistan.

“IOM does not have the funds to bear travel and lodging expenses for foreign nationals that overstay their visa in Afghanistan,” said Marco Boasso, IOM Representative to Afghanistan. “Fortunately, we were able to help out this time at the request of the Embassy of Nepal,” he added.

For further information, please contact akhurana@iom.int or +93 793 206 076