Do anybody knows about the total population of Nepalese people in the USA???? Today's News on Nepalnews.com: No. of Nepali students to US doubles in five years The number of Nepali students studying in various US universities and colleges has more than doubled over the last five years, an independent New York based agency said. The Institute of International Education (IIE) said that the academic year 2003-04 witnessed the largest ever number of Nepali students (4,384) in the US. It was 18 percent increase from 2002-03. "Nepal is in the top 20 among countries with the largest percent increase in students studying in the US, most studying at the undergraduate level," said the Institute. The number of international students in the US has grown from about 34,000 in the 1954-55 academic year to nearly 600,000 in 2003-04, according to the IIE. Meanwhile, in a message to prospective Nepali students-- carried by major Kathmandu-based dailies on Tuesday-- US ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty, said international students bring cultural and intellectual diversity to our campuses and communities and promote greater understanding between U. S. citizens and people in other societies, an important U. S. policy goal. Pointing towards tough visa regulations imposed by the US authorities in the aftermath of September 11 terrorist attacks in the country in 2001, the US ambassador said, "Although we have implemented new measures to make our borders and the traveling public more secure, we have not changed the basic criteria for visa eligibility to visit or study in the United States." Moriarty quoted outgoing US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, as saying that the motto (of the US government) is "Secure Borders, Open Doors." Powell announced on Monday he was resigning as the 65th secretary of state of the US. Agency reports have quoted Powell as saying that the time had come for him to step down as secretary of state and return to private life. In his message, ambassador Moriarty, reminded the prospective Nepali students that annual costs of tuition, fees and living expenses vary from $10,000 to $40,000. "Some of the more than 3,000 American colleges and universities offer international students full or partial merit or need based scholarships, opportunities for which increase significantly at the graduate level where assistantships are available," he said. The US envoy has also advised the Nepali students to make full use of information being offered by the US Educational Foundation and The American Center in Kathmandu if they wish to study in US universities or colleges. nepalnews.com by Nov 16 04 Do anybody knows about the total population of Nepalese people in the USA????