Although the Nepalese have a long tradition of emigration to neighbouring lands, the growth of the Nepali diaspora community in the West is a relatively new phenomena taking place over the last two-and-a-half decades. This growth has largely been influenced by various migration policies adopted by different countries, such as the Diversity Visa (DV) adopted by the United States, the point-based immigration systems of skilled migrants adopted by Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom and the student visa opportunities in different colleges and universities in Europe, North America and Oceania. Student migration is seen as a key pathway to permanent settlement and the formation of diaspora community in the West. Another prominent group of Nepali diaspora is the ex-Gurkha soldiers and their families who are settled in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.