World Immigration News

Foreign spouses struggle to navigate Nepali immigration laws

Release Date: 2024-11-29
Media: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Summary: In Nepal, children born to Nepali mothers and foreign fathers cannot automatically acquire Nepali citizenship and require visas to stay in the country, often being classified as illegal immigrants at birth. This highlights broader issues of inequality and rigid immigration laws, which also restrict the rights of foreign spouses, such as employment opportunities, property ownership, and residency security.

A group called Family Rights, formed by Nepalis married to foreigners, is advocating for residency status for foreign spouses and equal legal treatment regardless of gender. They aim to address issues like the loss of residency rights after divorce or the death of a spouse, which can tear families apart and leave foreign partners without recourse.

The group draws attention to more flexible immigration models in other countries, such as India's Overseas Citizenship program, and calls for similar reforms in Nepal. Despite limited progress, they continue to petition authorities, arguing that Nepal's restrictive immigration laws fail to reflect modern realities. While some question why affected families don’t move abroad, many insist that Nepal is their home and want to secure their right to live there.
Tags: NEPAL

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