The Bhutanese Leading the way.
During the State of the Nation Address the Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay asked Bhutanese illegally overstaying in the USA to come back to Bhutan and the government will stand ready to help.
He said if this is not done then it has been made known to Bhutan that in the future Bhutanese traveling to the USA will have difficulty getting visas. He said it also damages the international reputation of Bhutan.
He said Bhutanese staying illegally there may also have to face the legal implications of the immigration laws there.
The Foreign Minister D.N Dhungyel said, “We have requested for Bhutanese in USA overstaying there to come back. We have contacted the association there. It harms our national reputation in a big way on the international stage.”
Lyonpo said every Bhutanese is free to travel, both within and outside the country. He said the Royal Government does not have the authority or the wherewithal to determine the individual visa status of Bhutanese in the US. Bhutan’s Consulate in New York is in contact with the Bhutanese community in the US and they continue to urge every Bhutanese to abide by the US laws and regulations, including by returning to Bhutan if they have overstayed their visa.
The minister said the enforcement of US immigration laws and regulations is the sovereign prerogative of the US government. All Bhutanese travelling and living in the US must fully comply with their laws and regulations, and those who refuse to comply must be ready to face consequences for their violations.
“On behalf of the Royal Government, the Ministry would like to reiterate that the Royal Government expects all Bhutanese, at home and abroad, to always respect and uphold the laws of the land.”
He said the Ministry and the RGoB agencies are working closely with the US authorities to address any concerns the US authorities may have.
On questions over the security and integrity of documents issued by authorities in Bhutan, the minister said the Royal Government can assure that Bhutan has some of the best systems in place to ensure a high level of integrity of documents and records which can be easily traced, authenticated and cross-verified.
“While the absolute number of Bhutanese in the US may be low, the US authorities have noted that the rate of overstay by Bhutanese in the US is higher than their acceptable threshold. This is one of the key metrics that the US authorities may use in the imposition of the possible travel ban.”
Lyonpo said any initiative that will help bring down the rate of overstay will be viewed positively by the US authorities.
“Therefore, the Ministry urges all Bhutanese in the US to uphold US laws and not overstay their visas. Recent notifications have been issued by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.”
Lyonpo said deportation with dignity can happen with self-deportation but if those overstaying do not come forward then they will face the consequences of US Immigration Law.
The government is worried as Bhutan is on a list of 36 countries being considered for travel restrictions to the United States. The main reason being the high percentage of visa overstay.
