Washington, Jan. 14 -- The US State Department is set to pause visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Russia and Iran, as part of a crackdown on those immigrants deemed likely to become a "public charge," Fox News reported.

Public charge is a US immigration standard used to assess whether a non-citizen is likely to become mainly dependent on government support, which can affect entry or green card eligibility. It typically focuses on cash assistance and long-term government-funded institutional care, and generally does not count many non-cash benefits.

According to Fox News, a State Department memo directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting proc...