Fox News: US freezes all visa processing for 75 countries, including Georgia

The United States Department of State has announced a pause in immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Georgia, starting January 21. The move aims to tighten screening of applicants considered likely to become a public charge.

According to a State Department memo obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers are instructed to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses procedures for immigrant visa processing and vetting.

In addition to Georgia, the freeze affects countries such as Russia, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, and Egypt, among others. The suspension will remain in effect indefinitely until the review is completed.

The full list of affected countries includes Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.