The U.S. State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia, in an effort to crack down on applicants deemed likely to become a public charge, according to a Fox News report.
A State Department memo, seen first by Fox News Digital, directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people”, State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.