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 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.
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