Hello and Namaste from Nepal!

We’re thrilled to bring you our latest edition of Nepali Dias Express, your trusted weekly digest of what’s happening back home, why it matters, and how it connects to Nepalis living around the world.

🔍 Deep Dive of the Week

TPS for Nepalis Ends. The Countdown Has Begun.

After nearly a decade, the U.S. has decided to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepalis. Over 7,000 people now have until August 5 to figure out their next move; find a new visa, leave the country, or risk becoming undocumented.

These are people who’ve built full lives in the U.S.; jobs, families, taxes, communities. They didn’t sneak in. They were invited in during Nepal’s crisis. And now, they’re being told to quietly leave.

It’s not just a policy shift. It’s a personal crisis for thousands of Nepali families.

We break it all down in today’s deep dive. Scroll down for more!

🇳🇵 Nepal Highlights

1. A New Stock Exchange for Nepal? Not Everyone’s Buying It

There’s been talk of starting a new stock exchange in Nepal, something to give NEPSE a bit of competition. But not everyone's on board. RPP lawmaker Gyanendra Shahi called the idea a distraction, saying we should fix what’s broken at SEBON first before adding more complexity.

And honestly, it’s a fair point. NEPSE isn’t exactly a model of efficiency, but would another exchange push it to improve, or just create more room for confusion and manipulation?

If you were thinking of applying for IPOs or have been, it’s worth asking: is Nepal ready for a second stock exchange, or are we just doubling down on a system that still needs serious fixing?

What’s your take?

2. Goodbye State-Backed Pension, Hello SSF: A New Era for Government Employees

Starting mid-July 2025, new government employees in Nepal will no longer receive the old-school lifelong pension. Instead, they’ll be enrolled in the Social Security Fund (SSF), just like their private sector counterparts.

This finally levels the field between public and private employees. But the doubts still remain: Is SSF reliable? Can it earn trust?

3. Credit Scores Are Finally a Thing?

Nepal Rastra Bank says it’s time to stop lending based on vibes and family connections. The latest monetary policy promises that soon, your credit score will determine your loan, not how many times you’ve had tea with the branch manager.

It’s a great idea. Revolutionary, even. But the problem is, most people don’t even know what a credit score is. And those who do probably already have loans they regret. So unless there’s a crash course on credit literacy coming soon, this might just be another system that sounds fancy but helps the usual suspects.

4. Dollar Exchange Limit Raised to $3,000, But Don’t Get Too Smart

Nepal Rastra Bank just raised the foreign travel exchange limit from $1,500 to $3,000. Finally, some breathing room for students, tourists, and business travelers. And yes, it’s worth celebrating.

Something that doesn’t make sense, though, is you can spend that money on hotels, shopping, or even amusement parks abroad, no problem. But try using it to invest in a foreign startup, though? Illegal.

Nepali law still bans citizens from investing abroad. Doesn’t matter if you earn in dollars, have PR elsewhere, or want to fund something productive. If you hold a Nepali passport, your money isn’t going global (As per section 3 of the Foreign Investment Prohibition Act, 2021) and no, that’s not A.D., it’s 2021 B.S.

So, $3,000 for a vacation? Sure. $3,000 to invest and grow? Not allowed.

Make it make sense.

🌐 Global Affairs

1. Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS Allies. China Says “Relax.”

Donald Trump’s throwing tariffs again. And this time, he’s warning countries that cozy up to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) that they’ll face a 10% tax for being too “anti-American.”

China, cool as ever, basically shrugged: Trade wars help no one.

BRICS is now trying to play the “we’re not here to fight” card.

Donald Trump is back on the global stage with a familiar move: tariffs. This time, he’s threatening a 10% tax on any country that sides with BRICS; the rising bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Trump says they’re being “anti-American.”

China, cool as ever, basically shrugged: Trade wars help no one.

BRICS is now trying to play the “we’re not here to fight” card

Nepal’s not directly in the mix, but if a global trade war kicks off, the ripple effects could be huge; from trade, remittance, and even our favorite Chinese electronics getting more expensive.

2. South Korea’s Ex-President Arrested (Again). This Time, for a Failed Power Grab.

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for the second time this year, over his attempt to impose martial law back in December.

He tried to block lawmakers with armed soldiers and cling to power. It didn’t work. Parliament removed him, and now prosecutors are going after him for abuse of power, rebellion, and breaking the constitution.

It’s giving full-blown political drama, except it’s real. And this time, the court’s not playing around. If convicted, Yoon could face life in prison.

Deep Dive of The Week: TPS Ends. 7,000 Nepalis Given 60 Days to Pack Their Lives and Leave.

Imagine living in a country for nearly a decade.
You’ve filed taxes. Raised children who know no other home.
You’ve cared for patients, trained coworkers, volunteered at shelters.

You’re not a visitor. You’re part of the fabric.

And then, one day, without warning, you’re told:
“You’ve got 60 days. Pack your bags. Say goodbye.”

No hearing. No review. Just a quiet notice buried in the Federal Register.

Sounds dystopian?
For thousands of Nepalis in the U.S., it’s not fiction. It’s the expiration of something called Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

What Is TPS, Anyway?

TPS is America’s way of saying:
“Your country’s in crisis. You can stay here for now.”

It’s granted to people from countries affected by war, disaster, or humanitarian emergencies. TPS doesn’t lead to a green card or citizenship, but it gives legal permission to:

• Work in the U.S.

• Stay without fear of deportation

• Travel (with approval)

Nepalis received TPS after the devastating 2015 earthquake.
And over time, “temporary” became the scaffolding for full lives: jobs, homes, families, community.

A Timeline of TPS for Nepal

Who Does This Affect?

Estimates suggest 7,000 to 12,700 Nepalis have benefited from TPS.
These are not undocumented migrants. These are legally protected residents. Many have:

• American-born children

• Full-time jobs

• Homes and businesses

• Years of tax returns and community service

And now, with just 60 days, those lives are being legally erased.

What Happens to Their Jobs?

Short answer: They vanish.

Once TPS ends:

• Work permits become invalid

• Employers must legally terminate workers

• Unemployment benefits stop

• Deportation risk skyrockets

Even loyal, essential workers in healthcare, elder care, transport, food services, are suddenly liabilities. Businesses will suffer too.

Can They Stay Legally? Maybe. But It’s Hard.

Legal pathways exist, but they’re narrow, costly, and not guaranteed.

1. Switch to Another Visa

• F-1 Student Visa: Requires admission + proof of funds

• H-1B Work Visa: Lottery-based + employer sponsorship

• R-1 Religious Worker Visa: For clergy/faith workers

• B-2 Tourist Visa: Temporary and risky fallback

2. Apply for a Green Card

• Through U.S. citizen family (spouse/child/parent)

• Through employer sponsorship (if eligible)

• Through Diversity Visa lottery (if selected)

• Through asylum or humanitarian categories

But: Most options require having been “legally admitted”, which TPS doesn’t count as. Leaving the U.S. to fix this can trigger long-term reentry bans.

3. Seek Asylum or Humanitarian Relief

• Only if return to Nepal risks your life

• Requires strong proof and legal help

This Isn’t Just Policy. It’s Personal.

Let’s be honest. This feels like a betrayal dressed up in bureaucracy.

TPS holders didn’t sneak in. They were invited in during crisis.
They followed every rule. Paid taxes. Built lives.
And now? A silent “Thanks, but your time’s up.”

This is not just immigration news. This is emotional devastation.

For the Nepali Diaspora

Even if you’re not in the U.S., this hits close.

Maybe your brother in Boston just lost his job.
Your cousin in Chicago is panicking.
Your aunt in Dallas is making frantic legal calls.

Visa decisions made in Washington echo through living rooms from New York to Kathmandu.

This is a shared crisis. Not just legal, but human.
Diaspora isn’t about distance. It’s about connection and responsibility.

What Should You Do Right Now?

If you or someone you know is affected:

• Talk to a licensed immigration attorney

• Prepare applications now, not later

• Download the CBP One app (if planning to leave)

• Gather all immigration records and employment documents

• Employers: Reverify I-9s and prepare transitions

Don’t wait until August.

Useful Resources

• USCIS TPS Nepal Page

• National TPS Alliance

• Local Nepali community organizations and legal clinics

Final Word

For nearly 10 years, TPS gave Nepalis in the U.S. a fragile kind of security; a space to breathe, rebuild, and contribute.

Now, that space is closing.

And it’s not just the law that’s failing them, it’s the silence.

No community deserves to be erased without acknowledgment.
Let this be our reminder: even legal protection is a borrowed roof.
It can be taken away. No explanation, no apology, just a deadline.

We must speak up, not just with empathy, but with action.

If you know someone affected, check in.
Share this post. Share resources. Lend a hand.

Because when one part of our community hurts, we all do.

Before We Wrap Up,

We just launched the Nepali Diaspora Professional & Business Directory Nepali Dias!

Whether you’re an immigration lawyer in Texas, a tax consultant in Dubai, or a real estate agent in Sydney, if you offer a service, this is where the diaspora can now find you, trust you, and reach you directly.

Whether you want to grow your practice or simply help your community find the right expert,
This directory is where it starts.

It’s built for trust. It’s built for growth. And it’s free to join.

🔗 Get listed here and grow your presence in the global Nepali community.
Let’s make sure our people can find and support our people, wherever in the world they may be.

Let’s Talk

We looking to collaborate with partners and sponsors who believe in this mission of bold ideas, diaspora engagement, and economic reform.

Want to work with us? Let’s talk.

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Until next time,
Stay grounded. Stay global.
— Team Nepali Dias