This Response replaces GGA31342.E of 29 March 1999. The Second Secretary at the Embassy of Georgia in Washington, DC, stated in a 2 October 2003 telephone interview that the first 2 digits of the 11 digit individual number in a Georgian passport are a district code and correspond to the Georgian passport bearer's residential district. The 3 next digits indicate a Ministry of the Interior office in the district of residence (ibid.). The next 6 digits represent the personal identification number of the passport bearer that also appears on his or her national card (ibid).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of Georgia, Washington, DC. 2 October 2003. Telephone interview with Second Secretary.