Self-present at immigration a must
Tribhuvan International Airport has introduced a new regulation for the arrival and departure process of VIPs and VVIPs.
According to Bishnu Prasad Koirala, Chief Immigration Officer of the Immigration Office at the TIA, now, VIPs/VVIPs will have to be presented themselves for the immigration process and having photograph of those dignitaries is made mandatory for immigration records, saying the immigration process of any VIP or VVIP will no longer be completed in their absence. However, those VIPs and VVIPs will not have to give biometrics (fingerprints), the notice clarified.
“All dignitaries arriving/departing using the said VIP/VVIP desk (except those mentioned in any act or law that does not require biometrics during the immigration process) are cordially requested to complete the immigration process (by appearing at the VIP/VVIP desk in person and taking a photograph),’ stated in the notice.
Those mentioned in the Nepal Gazette have also requested to use the said VIP/VVIP desk to facilitate their immigration process. The new rule for VIP and VVIP’s arrival and departure process will make it simple, easy, quick and convenient along the airport’s immigration system systematic, transparent and secure, said the press release.
VIP (Very Important Person) and VVIP (Very Very Important Person) are those dignitaries who receive special services having privileges because of their important status.
VIP dignitaries include celebrities, political figures, business leaders, or other influential individuals.
But, VVIP is an even higher level of exclusivity and privilege and honor due to their exceptional status or influence.
Besides these lounges, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu has both a CIP (Commercially Important Person) lounge too.
The CIP lounge is available for high level business travelers to be used for their travel comfort and convenience.
Meanwhile, recently an ethical code of conduct for Tribhuvan International Airport’s Immigration Office staff has been implemented aiming to improve the quality and experience of immigration services.
The new code aligns with international standards, encouraging staff to uphold national laws and cultural values intending to ensure immigration service is effective, faster and fair, transparent, objective and predictable, results-oriented through professional and responsible behavior that the general public can experience deeply.
This will upgrade the immigration services at the international values, norms and principles making the employees responsible and sensitive to the existing national laws, social and cultural values, the Immigration Office at TIA lauded.
According to the department, now staff have to say “Have a nice journey” to departing passengers the same as “Welcome to Nepal” should be expressed to arrival passengers, probably asking for the shortest queries.
The code of conduct also stressed to use respectful and sweet words to those going for work/labor in Gulf countries and try to be friendly with all the departing passengers.
The office has also stated that a survey has been arranged in 15 rooms of the office to express satisfaction with the service received by the passengers so that they can immediately express their views on whether or not they have seen behavior in accordance with the said code of conduct.
Referring to the wide range of travel experience, most of the world’s airport immigration provides services to the passengers within a couple of minutes. So, it can be expected that Nepal’s TIA also could be listed as one of the best airports in terms of every sector in future.
