Last time, I went to Nabil Bank to submit application for US visa and I wanted to share my experience with Nabil Bank. I have been living in USA and last time I went to Nepal to visit family and get visa. I prepared all my documents from USA together with Application form and photographs. But when I submitted my application at Nabil Bank, the person in the counter told me that my PHOTO is not valid and I need to take photo from specific place near Nabil Bank. Name of that photo shop is ORCHID DIGITAL PRINT, Maharajagunj, Chakrapath, Tel: 4720461. I saw everyone was being told same thing and being sent to same photo shop. This photo shop charges Rs.150 for 2 photos. Now, you image if 100 people apply at US embassy per day and Nabil Bank is open for 6 days a week then this photo shop will be making 100 person x 24 days x Rs 150 = Rs. 3,60,000 per month which is very huge amount of money. And I am definitely sure somebody from Nabil Bank is having a big commission out of it.

I was even more upset because I developed the photographs in USA and this photo is valid to be used everywhere in USA but Nabil Bank staffs told me that it can not be used in US embassy in Nepal. And this was not my first visa stamping for USA. I even had visa stamping in Toronto, Canada with same quality photo. But the problem is only with Nabil Bank management and this is big inconvenience for everyone applying visa at US embassy in Nepal.

good work bkshre...

Nabil Bank is taking advantage of monopoly. Since they are only bank to process sevis and visa application. Addition to the photograph, they take exorbitant amount of service charges per person.

bkshres....why don't you let everyone know about fleecing done by nabil bank to students and other people...
you can write your complains to The Himalayans Times colums...

send it to

email: edit@thehimalayantimes.com

Letters
C/o Edit Page Editor
The Himalayan Times, Post Box 11651, APCA House
Baidya Khana road, Kathmandu, Nepal
email: edit@thehimalayantimes.com
Fax 0977-1-14771959

Good topic guys......!!!

Ive directly contacted Nabil bank staff in Kathmandu (Head office and Maharajgunj branch) will update later.

There are thousands of Nepalis in Sajha who applied to Nabil bank @Maharajgunj branch for US visa. Were you also victimized like bkshres n PJrules. If its so there must be few hundreds if not thousands in Sajha. Please share your experiences. Otherwise it might be just they were not satisfied with your photo requirements, just being professional.

Waitin to hear from you guys.
------
P. S.
I will be here again with replies from Nabil Bank Management.

Hey bkshres bro !

good thread. thanks for bringing it out... i hope the concerned officails of hte bank will look into it and sak that bastard or even change the bank.....wanted to share similar experience of mine with teh german embassy last year (which reject my visa for the first time-making me pay the visa fee again and gave it on the second time)....though not by the legitimate professional staffs of the embassy or the bank..it was the guards..probably for some money...same thing....u know..ppl who are applying for visa..tend to be over-sober and soft..and that too inside the embassy premises..so though not needed (unless instructed from inside)..the guard asked me to show my application/with the photo...then the next second he handed me a coupon directing me to the nearby photo studio....and i ended up paying Rs. 200 or somethign for 4 photos...and needless to say there were few more following my way....soon....  so i guess the same story..you know the calculation.....

so this seems to be 'grand design' of the embassy-related guys..:-)... let's hear from other ppl with experince of otehr embassies..besides forcing ppl cough up the application fee twice by rejecting in the first place for no reason ...photos..application forms..bank balances, insurances etc....

Here is the reply from Ms Samjhana Shrestha, Branch Manager (Maharajgunj Nabil).

Dear Amazing Fren,

 

This is absolutely rubbish! If you want to enquire about this, you are always welcome at my office during office time.

 

Thanks n regards

Samjhana Shrestha

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Amazing Fren [mailto:fren_amazing@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 6:31 PM
To: samjhana.shrestha@nabilbank.com
Cc: anil.shah@nabilbank.com
Subject: Fraud at Nabil bank? Just curious

 

Hi Samjhana Jee @ Maharajganj Nabil bank
Namaste

Just found this news on website about your branch..Would be nice to hear your comments. If you need I can also provide the direct link.

here is an extract from the site.
----------------------------

Last time, I went to Nabil Bank to submit application for US visa and I wanted to share my experience with Nabil Bank. I have been living in USA and last time I went to Nepal to visit family and get visa. I prepared all my documents from USA together with Application form and photographs. But when I submitted my application at Nabil Bank, the person in the counter told me that my PHOTO is not valid and I need to take photo from specific place near Nabil Bank. Name of that photo shop is ORCHID DIGITAL PRINT, Maharajagunj, Chakrapath, Tel: 4720461. I saw everyone was being told same thing and being sent to same photo shop. This photo shop charges Rs.150 for 2 photos. Now, you image if 100 people apply at US embassy per day and Nabil Bank is open for 6 days a week then this photo shop will be making 100 person x 24 days x Rs 150 = Rs. 3,60,000 per month which is very huge amount of money. And I am definitely sure somebody from Nabil Bank is having a big commission out of it.
I was even more upset because I developed the photographs in USA and this photo is valid to be used everywhere in USA but Nabil Bank staffs told me that it can not be used in US embassy in Nepal. And this was not my first visa stamping for USA . I even had visa stamping in Toronto , Canada with same quality photo. But the problem is only with Nabil Bank management and this is big inconvenience for everyone applying visa at US embassy in Nepal .

--------------
Other guy wrote

Last December, I had applied for visa through US Embassy in Nepal . I had taken picture in US itself, " US passport application standard picture". But surprise, the lady at Nabil bank said that's not valid. She said it’s slightly darker than me. It was true, but shouldn't be of any concern as it wasn't much significant. I asked her why it could be any problem; she replied "that picture doesn't look exactly like you". I argued with her as my passport had exactly the same picture. She then said "it's harder to print your darker picture in visa". I asked her what people in Africa do for their picture then, they already are darker to start with. She had no answer, but simply wouldn't allow me to use my picture.
I then took a new picture (they however didn't suggest me any places). Paying extra cost for emergency picture I returned next day to her, she accepted that picture. The new picture had me fairer, tad lipstick on (I'm male), tad foundation. What the hell? That doesn't look similar to me than the one I had taken in US.
Judging by this thread, either some sucker in that bank are making hefty amount on commission or its “बिरालो बांधेर श्राद्ध
”, they are used to people bringing picture from “Photo Concern” which are pimped up.

----------
Thanking you

Well wisher of Nabil as well as Nepalese
Mr Amazing

 

-------------------

DISCLAIMER:

This message may contain confidential and privileged information which is intended for the named person or entity only. Any use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you receive this in error or otherwise please immediately delete it from your system, and notify the sender.

Although NABIL Bank Limited operates anti-virus program, it does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this message. The contents of this message may contain personal views, which are not the views of the bank.

And its from CEO of Nabil Bank, Mr. Anil Shah. I am at least happy that the news reached to responsible people. I hope things (Visa photo process) will be smoother in days to come. The staffs will realise those small things and also applicants will take extra care on photos. Im very thankful for his kind response.

Its just copied and pasted email. And I just underlined few sentences to stress.

Here is the email.

From:	"Anil Shah" <Anil.Shah@nabilbank.com>  Add to Address Book  Add Mobile Alert
To:	"'Amazing Fren'" <fren_amazing@yahoo.com>
CC:	"'Samjhana Shrestha'" <samjhana.shrestha@nabilbank.com>, "'Rajendra B Malla'" <Rajendra.Malla@nabilbank.com>, "'Neelam Tuladhar'" <Neelam.Tuladhar@nabilbank.com>
Subject:	US Visa Photo
Date:	Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:56:42 +0545

-------------------

DISCLAIMER:

This message may contain confidential and privileged information which is intended for the named person or entity only. Any use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you receive this in error or otherwise please immediately delete it from your system, and notify the sender.

Although NABIL Bank Limited operates anti-virus program, it does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this message. The contents of this message may contain personal views, which are not the views of the bank.

Cheers for Amazing!!

Great Job

Hopefully  there will be some change,

The two letter shows the difference between a "managar" and a "Leader" Look how committed a leader is towards his organization. Here Anil Shah tried his best not to harm reputation of Nabil bank on the other hand Samjhana Shrestha "Manager" closed this issue stating "This is absolutely rubbish!"

Anil Shah is a great guy, I have been in his guest lecture class once in my college.

 

Nepali

 

 

Great Job  Amazing and thanks  to bkshres and PJrules !

let's hope for a change. i wish we could do teh same with those of other several reputed organizations troubling and treating people like shit though ..they 'eat' the salary on the money paid by teh same commonsers like us for e.g the Qatar Airways....

i can only copy and paste whatever Nepali thita said above.. i truly respect the email response by Anil Shah..that's the true spirit of a leader..

kudos to Anil Shah. hope all others learn lessons, well ahead in time for good.

let's make sajha a 'true' forum..with 'real and authentic' informations...which can be read by ppl as high as Anil Shah and others.. so that 'our voices' are really heard...for a change...

jay nepal..

Great Job  Amazing and thanks  to bkshres and PJrules !

let's hope for a change. i wish we could do teh same with those of other several reputed organizations troubling and treating people like shit though ..they 'eat' the salary on the money paid by teh same commonsers like us for e.g the Qatar Airways....

i can only copy and paste whatever Nepali thita said above.. i truly respect the email response by Anil Shah..that's the true spirit of a leader..

kudos to Anil Shah. hope all others learn lessons, well ahead in time for good.

let's make sajha a 'true' forum..with 'real and authentic' informations...which can be read by ppl as high as Anil Shah and others.. so that 'our voices' are really heard...and help bring a change...

jay nepal..

Thanks a lot everyone supporting this thread. At least its good that our voice went all the way to right person.

I think in Sajha we should post more of these kinds of issues and try to resolve it. Who knows someone might have access to right people like Mr. Amazing did. Thanks a lot Mr. Amazing.

about the song above i was just testing.

sorry for confusion,......

SKH

 

Now its time to raise the biggest issue we all face when going back home at Tribhuwan International Issue (for paying taxes unnecessarily) Last time I paid Rs 5000 for my personnel laptop.

Lets try the same for this too.

What do you guys say ?????????????

 

you guys did a very good job.  so what was the outcome?  as for posing others, we can't complain every single issue otherwise they may not take this very seriously.  we should be very careful and earn credibility.

good job.

Thanks Manepali, Nepalithita, bkshers, gurkha's atlanta and sajhakohero.

Amazing,

Keep on doing the good job!!

You will always be appreciated.

 

Nepali Thita

 

 

 

I am applying for the student visa this December.Why should Nabil recommend a photo studio if an applicant fulfills all the photo requirements stated by US embassy?If Nabil does not know the requirements stated by embassy,then it goes like:

• Photographs must show the subject’s full face, from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin, and from ear to ear. The applicant cannot be looking down or to the side.

• The photo must have been taken in the last six months.

• The size of the photo should be 2” x 2” square.  The face should cover approximately 50% of the photo area.

• Photos should be in color and must be taken against a white or off-white background.  Photos taken in front of busy, patterned or dark backgrounds will not be accepted.  Photos should be printed without borders.

• 
  
  Applicants should not be wearing hats, except when required by specific religious beliefs.  Photos of military or airline personnel wearing hats as part of their uniform will not be accepted.  Hats worn for religious purposes may not obscure any portion of the face of the applicant.

• 
  
  Photos of applicants for A or G visas wearing head coverings as part of a national costume may be accepted at the discretion of the consular officer, provided the face is clearly visible.

I think US embassy should also speak against it because "The Right to maintain own policy" is clearly in danger of extinction.

same experience here. my brother went to the Nabil Bank in Butwal and they charged him extra RS 1,000 saying there was a minor mistake in the filled up form. i checked several times before sending there.

I guess the Nabil Bank CEO is just trying to protect his corporation from this message. In PHOTO case we need to contact Embassy and get confirmation. If i were the CEO of same company i would have done the same thing in order to stop spreading this kind of message despite the fact what was mentioned by the victim.

 I am pretty sure they are getting comission so they are advertising that photo studio ( nothing was done on free). This CEO is trying to be little smarter on the process, like Nepali politicians, to hide the reality. Same service is provided by different photo studio too but why they demand the photos from the same studio WHY????????

If not comission should be some one on his relative has opened that studio.

But, still there is somethig which is compelling them to force applicant to get service from that studio.

 

What I really found even more shocking than the original post was Samjhana Shrestha's response.

This is what she wrote in her reply :

"

Dear Amazing Fren,

 

This is absolutely rubbish! If you want to
enquire about this, you are always welcome at my office during office time.

 

Thanks n regards

Samjhana Shrestha"

A branch manager of one of the biggest banks in Kathmandu making a downright claim by "rubbishing" an inquiry instead of showing some hints of taking a steps to get detailed information is absolutely comic and horrible.

That woman certainly needs to take 3-4 advanced Business Communications classes! A branch manager with such communication skills! Dear O Dear!