| Username |
Post |
| nuts |
Posted
on 26-Nov-02 11:12 PM
Hi all,
can some of you please share your experiences about taking (Personal) electronic stuff to nepal from US. DO they give you a hard time at the TIA customs? I will be taking my laptop and my digital camera home when i go for winter. Should I take the reciepts of these items with me ?
Also, where and how can i get the best exchange rate for my US dollars in Nepal and how much money is one allowed to carry in cash?
Any responses will be appreciated.
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| Rastaman |
Posted
on 26-Nov-02 11:45 PM
Hey brother. It is very easy and no problem... If you have a nose that is over 2 inches,lots of body hair,know someone at the TIA, know someone at Bhansar, related to any of the ministers or whatever in Kathmandu. If you are related to the royals you can take the goddamn dead body so they wont have the victim here (in the US) to prove that you have committed a crime.If you are short with stubby nose and came here to work to make some money for your family or future then you are f_cked. That is what happened to I everytime I went back.even if you dont have to spend any money you still have to go though humiliation and hassle.They will even ask you how much you make. But you may be safe if you are one of the priviledge class(caste). So let me know because I have been travelling back and forth for last 20 years and I have seen it all and all. I have travelled from everywhere to Tribhuwan airport and I have seen changes but not for I. And I and I is a rastaman
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| bajai |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 09:54 AM
actually, one is allowed to carry one camera anyway, so don't worry abt your camera. just don't mention to any officials there that it is a digital one. the point is, if you open up your secrets, they will pounce on you in every way possible to rid you of your money.
as far as your laptop is concerned, i believe one is also allowed to carry at least one electronic item per visit. but get your income proof ready incase they ask you for customs tax. you could have it made by your employer . if you've got that document, you will get a certain percent discount.
but make sure to ask for a receipt after you pay the customs tax and keep it safe because you won't have to pay a second time round even if you visit nepal time and again, if you show that document.
and, check whether the amount you paid matches with what's written on that paper because if it shows a lesser amount, you'll know where the remainder went..haakim saab ko paaket maa. just make sure not to give in to any unscrupulous demands..
good luck!
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| chipledhunga |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 09:57 AM
Nuts, don't worry about the camera. As for your laptop, are you planning to bring it back upon your return or leave it there? If you are planning to bring it back, explain the customs officials accordingly, and they might let you go by simply endorsing so on your passport. Bon voyage.
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| nuts |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 04:08 PM
How about cash...anyone?
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| khyal_thatta |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 04:32 PM
Nuts, I don't know if you know this or not but you can withdraw money outta ATM Machines in Kathmandu using your Bank Card and you can even cash your personal check @ Himilayan Bank. About cash its up to you, and as much as you can manage in your Lookaunay Khalti. I've seen People traveling with $20000.00 in cash. Again you can take any amount of cash you want but you should be able to present the documents @ the custom that you earned that money. Rest is up to you. Bon Voyage!!!!
Hari Om
Khyal_thatta
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| rabi |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 08:49 PM
nuts:
Last year they made me pay customs for my laptop, though I explained to more than one customs folk that I was going to leave Nepal with the laptop after the short visit. I argued "laptops are like pens in your pocket these days" and that I did not intend to leave it in Nepal. I even offered to leave it at the airport. Didn't work.
They made me pay around 1000 Rs (with proper receipts). The actual customs charge would have been more, but I claimed some kind of "subidha". If you stay abroad more than certain time (a year or so??) and have proof of overseas income (*important*) you can get a good break in customs.
I wouldn't worry about camera because one camera is allowed as per the rules. You should be ok, unless the camera looks obviously very expensive.
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| Arnico |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 10:08 PM
I have taken laptops belonging to my university, with a letter stating so (including serial #). I go up and explain that it is not mine, that I have to take it out again, and show the letter. Never had to pay anything.
Apparently I could have also had it entered in my passport when arriving, and that too would have allowed me to bring it in without paying. Instead at one time they waved me through on arrival, and I had it entered in the passport when leaving, so now everytime I come in with one they see that I am just bringing it back...
Cameras: no problem. To reduce curiosity, just have the lens facing up in your bag, rather than the LCD screen!
One tip: if you want to do things legally, they usually let you go without paying a penny. Go to red channel, and tell them you have a computer that you are bringing in temporarily and they should enter it in your passport and do the rest of the kagajpatra. Even be willing to pay officially what it takes (even if that is more than a bribe). Usually that is too much work for them to bother about (hey, no bribe if you do things legally), so they just let you go.
If you have not entered the laptop in your passport at arrivals, then do so at departure (customs counter, near the check-in). That will avoid getting hassled by bribe seeking police at the departure security check.
Have receipts as well as paperwork showing overseas income with you, but only show it when asked for. I have needed overseas income statements more often when leaving Nepal than when entering...
OFFICIALLY: anyone who enters Nepal with more than $2000 in foreign currency is supposed to declare it. That includes cash and travellers checks. There is a line on the customs form to declare so. I have heard of people having money confiscated when they try to leave with much more than $2000 that they had entered with without declaring.
As kt mentioned above, it is also increasingly easy to access overseas bank accounts via ATM machines in Kathmandu. There are at least six Standard Chartered Bank Nepal (That's the former Nepal Grindlays Bank) ATM machines scattered around town that can access VISA, MC, Cirrus, Plus etc. systems. If you have a debit card (VISA, MC), you may be able to get cash with that at Bank counters as well.
Hope that helps!
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 11:11 PM
Most important item you need is :
INCOME SOURCE. THAT CAN RELIEVE a lot of stress on you. You can get Rs. 6000(?) ko bhansar subidha... I can indeed carry some electronic item that are taxable. I think if you have some May be few thousand dollar annual income source, that is enough. US $ 2000. is enough to avoid custom officer's hand inside your khalti .... I mean you can show him your purse/(wallet re kya, kasle ho malai purse hoina wallet bhannu parcha bhantyo... nani dekhi lageko bani ...) and all dollars ... Well, I hardly carry even 1 thousand in cash because I transfer via Bank .. . avoiding all risks e.g. chori hune and future me Khum Bahadur or Wagle le ghus khayera income source dekhauna garoh hami kamayera income source dekhauna garoy ke. ... bidesh ma ta kamayo tara kasari desh bhitra ayo chai thaha chhaina.... .... If you have income source paper, you can even have your account in US dollar in most of the private banks. So, that formal paper is very useful.
Digital camera: I have taken my Still digital camera with me. The custom personnel said, its no problem. When I asked him whether he can kindly endorse in Passport he said still digital camera is no problem if it does not fall into video camera ... He warned me that one person one camera rule will apply, so, if you are alone and have more than one camera, then, it will be troublesome, and if you are returning it: you can deposit some amount in custom and get it back at the time of return .... or else you can use that Bhansar Subidha of Rs. 6000. (privilege of being Nepali, heheheh..). .....
When you talk to them, be kind, mannered (chakadi garnu bhanna khojeko hoina) and stick to rule. Be bold whenever required, nabiraunu nadaraunu..... The items you take for your home use, should not leave any possibility of misinterpretation that you are talking them to sell in market. This is Nepal, and there are some bad guys roaming to find some defects in your side, so that they can get benefit of doubt and put in trouble atleast waste your time......... Just remove that stickers. Read, Ashu's article on GIFT. "yo ta Made in China yahi paihaltyo ni!". At least for me most of the time this problem does not arise, because Made in China is written in Chinese character ..... That article is worth reading.
Bon Voyage.
HG
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| Yatree |
Posted
on 27-Nov-02 11:26 PM
Has anyone used www.thamel.com's service for sending money to Nepal? That seems to be an easy and safe way to transfer money - instead of carrying in person at your own risk.
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| nuts |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 12:02 AM
Thanks everyone for the detailed information.
I didn't quite get the bhansaar subidha thing..Could you please explian how this thing works? and about that Rs6000 amount ? What is it all about ?
Here's something that is going to sound silly, but I can't resist asking as I have no clue on it: When you use the ATM's in kathmandu, do you have to punch in the amount you want to withdraw in US dollars or in Rupees? and how much do they charge you for that electronic transaction? somewhere around 1 or 2 dollars like here?
Thanks for your help again.
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| bajai |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 12:30 AM
here's an answer to your first question:
if you have an income proof, you are entitled to a discount upto 6000 rupees.
what that means is, if you are supposed to pay , let's say, around 11000 for a certain model of electronic item according to the custom's regulations, you will have 6000 deducted, and pay the balance of 5000 rupees only.
in reply to your second question,
you can only withdraw in nepali currency, i guess. if you are an account holder of that particular bank, then you can withdraw upto 50,000 rupees from an ATM without additional charges. at least that was the case until august!
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| nuts |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 12:59 AM
Thanks Bajai.
So is there any way I can get to know how much I am supposed to pay as per customs regulations for my laptop which I bought about a year ago for $1240 ( turns out to be
somewhere around Rs 96,000). How do they determine the how much I will need to pay? Is there a percentage thing or something associated with it ? And I do have the receipt for the computer and my pay stubs from my work when I bought it. Also, is there anyway to figure out how much "subidha" I will get on my computer at the customs? I am now having second thoughts on taking my computer to nepal .
Also, how much is the transaction fee for cash withdrawal from the ATM of the Banks in KTM.? [ I am trying to come up with a figure ..like here they charge you somewhere between 1 to 3 dollars fee for using the ATM for cash withdrawal unless the ATM machine is of the same bank that you have account with].
I think it is unlikely for someone to be an account holder of the same bank in KTM as abroad. I may be wrong since I am not too sure which bank in KTM offer ATM services.
Just out of curiosity,[although i realize it is unlikely], does HSBC bank have a branch office/ATM in KTM?
Any help will be appreciated
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| KALANKISTHAN |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 07:38 AM
NUTS,
"Welcome home!!" when you put your first step out of the aeroplane and on the land of kathmandu, Remember me, and remember I said these two precious words to you.
Come over to kalankisthan, we will hit on sauni ki chori together... you hit on sauni, and ill hit on her daughter... what say?
can you hear me now????
:P
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| khyal_thatta |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 05:43 PM
Nuts, Most of the ATM's are of Standard Charterted Bank but you don't have to have your own bank's ATM to withdraw money. Its like using any ATM in US. About the transaction fee for ATM is NRS 500.00 per transaction and you can withdraw upto NRS 50,000.00 per day but you make sure to call you bank and let them know that you will be traveling to Nepal and will use Bank card so that way they won't block your account for security reasons. And other way out is go to Alpine Travels in Durbar Marg they will give you cash back on your credit card and will show the transaction as a purchage which will help but they do charge a 3% fee. If you want to cash the dollars just go to Thamel, form Sarangee rataynee to Kapal Catnay "hajam" will cash it for you, but you'll get only couple of more rupees than the bank rate.
As for the Kathmandu Customs, just put your Laptop inside your baggage and let it go thru Green channel (In X-ray machine) do not answer more than what they ask and talk only to officials not to those khardar and nakchhuchay peons. Act like you know stuff and don't be polite, speak in louder voice. Thats how they've learn to talk. Rest forget about how many years you've spent to US and get youself back to Nepal as you were and you'll be fine."Just be like one when you're there" and In Kathmandu if you'll be hanging out late nite be sure to have some kind of Nepali ID ( Drivers License, Even its expired )but do not show the green cards to any army officials cause they don't have no idea what that is. You can get a nepali Drivers License by showing your American DL but you'll have to pay some fees but if you talk to the bharautay police officers in Baggi Khana and throw them a thousand rupees bill on their face you might be able to get it same or the next day otherwise it may take weeks to get one. If you need more info to get one let me know. Just remember one thing as long as you got enough $$$$ you can do and get anything in Kathmandu. Have a wonderful trip.
Bon Voyage!!!!
Khayl_Thatta
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| khyal_thatta |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 05:51 PM
Hey Kalankisthan,
As I've heard someone from Lampati, that your Sauni ko Chori ran away with one of those Tampoo Driver. Since all the Vikram Tampoos been gone from Kathmandu...I belive she's gone too. Take care and do not become a Dharmender in Solay and throw your self down from Kalanki Pani Tankee, cause she is not going to show up but saunee might.:>)
Khayl_thatta
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 29-Nov-02 06:50 PM
Kalanki,
are you in Nepal and right in kalankisthan. You are naming your room as Kalankisthan, as two british newly married couple did a few years back. They made a sketch of hawai in front of their home in England and put TENT there and had honeymoon.... They said that they had quite good memory of Hawai, they have no feeling of any differences going to that big real Hawai or that cloned-Hawai..... I am wondering whether you are talking about cloned Kalanki.
HG
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| babaal |
Posted
on 04-Dec-02 01:14 AM
I am also going home for the first time after I got my green card recently. Could anyone tell me what documents i need to show/carry at the immigration and at TIA, kathmandu?
I had heard you have to fill out a form saying how long you will be outside the US or something lke that. Thanks for your response in advance.
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| babaal |
Posted
on 12-Dec-02 03:29 AM
anyone?
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