The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia says it has identified two organized criminal groups accused of helping Georgian citizens obtain US visas and asylum status through forged documents and fabricated case materials.
Three people have been arrested, while criminal prosecution has been launched against six others. The investigation was conducted jointly with the Regional Security Service of the US Embassy.
Investigators say the first group consisted of four Georgian citizens who, following tighter US immigration rules, allegedly created a scheme to produce fabricated asylum cases for applicants seeking entry into the United States.
The group is accused of identifying citizens seeking asylum and offering to build so-called “cases,” including fabricated stories of political or other forms of persecution in Georgia. These narratives were then supported with falsified documents.
The Prosecutor’s Office says the group identified 366 Georgian citizens who used or attempted to use their services for asylum applications. Fees reportedly included payments for preparing cases, producing fake documents, and additional sums for processing applications, amounting in some cases to several thousand US dollars per person.
Investigators also say members of the group assisted individuals already in US immigration detention, allegedly demanding large sums of money while failing to provide promised support. The group is further accused of preparing fake documentation for Canadian visa applications during undercover investigative activity.
A second group was also identified during a joint operation with US Embassy security services, the Prosecutor’s Office says.
This group allegedly advertised visa assistance through social media, charging clients for document preparation and later demanding additional payments once visas were issued.
Authorities say the group prepared and submitted forged official documents for 65 Georgian citizens applying for US visas. Some applicants initially received visas using the documents, but these were later revoked after the US Embassy identified irregularities.
The Prosecutor’s Office says members of the group received more than $112,000 from clients after visa approvals. Between January 2025 and February 2026, the group is also accused of receiving over $142,000, as well as additional payments in lari and euros, for their services.
The investigation is being conducted under articles related to large-scale fraud, facilitating illegal stay abroad, and the preparation and use of forged documents for asylum and visa applications.
