KATHMANDU: The Nepali Embassy in Washington, DC has launched a consular and passport camp in San Francisco, California.

The five-day event, organized with support from the Nepali Association of Northern California (NANCE) and the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) California Chapter, aims to provide essential services to Nepali nationals in the region.

The passport renewal application process, which opened on January 14 in San Francisco, just a six-hour flight from Washington, DC, was fully booked within two hours. The camp kicked off with 700 applications, according to Sharad Raj Aran, the embassy’s acting ambassador and deputy chief of mission.

“The camp has proven to be extremely beneficial in terms of time and cost, as it eliminates the need for people to travel to the embassy,” said Aran during the brief inauguration. “We feel we made the right decision to organize this event in line with the government’s priority of offering services at people’s doorsteps.”

Aran emphasized that the camp was made possible through the efforts of local organizers. He also mentioned that although the passport renewal slots filled up quickly, the embassy is extending the camp to accommodate additional demand, as hundreds of people are still seeking services.

“We are committed to serving the community, even if it takes two or three more days, based on the requests from local residents,” he said. “Foreign Minister Arzu Rana and Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai have given clear instructions to ensure everyone is served.”

Rishi Dhakal, Honorary Consul General of California, explained that the camp is crucial due to the large Nepali community in the Bay Area. He noted that previously, people from San Francisco had to travel to Los Angeles for similar services, underscoring the positive impact of the camp.

Pritesh Karki, president of NANCE, requested an extension of the camp, highlighting that not everyone who needs services will be able to get them within the five-day period.

At a similar camp in November 2022, 746 people received services, and many expressed their gratitude to the government through the embassy.

Hari Ojha, president of NRNA California, also thanked the embassy and local volunteers for their efforts in making the camp a success.

In addition to passport services, the camp is providing other services, including marriage licenses. On the first day, 200 individuals received assistance.