Georgia Among 75 Countries to Face Suspension of U.S. Immigration Visa Issuance
Georgia is among 75 countries whose nationals will face a temporary suspension of U.S. immigrant visa issuance starting January 21, 2026, under a decision announced by the U.S. Department of State on January 14.
The list of 75 “high-risk” nations spans several continents and also includes Georgia’s neighbors – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, as well as Moldova, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, alongside a number of African, Asian, and Latin American countries.
“President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans,” the State Department said in the statement. “The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge.”
The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas, including tourist, business, temporary work, or study visas. The State Department also clarified that immigrant visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, and appointments will still be scheduled, “but no immigrant visas will be issued to these nationals during this pause.”
The decision includes several exceptions. Dual nationals applying with a valid passport from a country not on the list will be exempt from the pause.
The decision comes amid a broader immigration crackdown by the Donald Trump administration. In December, the U.S. also suspended the issuance of visas to applicants under the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, commonly known as the Green Card lottery.
The United States has been among the increasingly popular destinations for Georgian emigrants over the past decades, with an estimated 40,000 Georgians living there by 2020 and a further surge in emigration reported since. The U.S. has also consistently topped the rankings of remittances to Georgia, accounting for 19.3% of all money transfers in November.
Following the State Department’s announcement, on January 15, the Georgian Dream Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia met with U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Alan Purcell to discuss the decision.
According to Georgia’s Foreign Ministry, Purcell said the pause in visa processing for citizens of more than 70 countries, including Georgia, applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect visas issued for other purposes.
Note: The news was updated on January 16 to include meeting between Georgian Dream Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Alan Purcell.
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