US President Donald Trump's administration has issued a pause on visa appointments for applicants worldwide.
A US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that it launched a global training initiative at all US embassies and consulates worldwide and that appointments for visa services will be adjusted to accommodate the training.
Trump administration says the aim is to improve domestic security.
The visa clampdown has faced some legal setbacks. A US judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, saying that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority.
The State Department did not specify details of the training or its timeline, beyond saying the training aimed to help consular officers screen out applicants deemed likely to become dependent on US public benefits and to ensure the evaluation of visa applicants "comprehensively and consistently."
'More prosperous America'
The pause on visa appointments was first reported on Tuesday by the Financial Times, which said immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews at US embassies and consulates have received emails saying their appointments were being rescheduled and that they would receive further notice of a new date.
"A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge, as defined under US law and regulation, and not likely to become dependent on US public benefits reserved for qualified Americans in need," a State Department spokesperson told FT.
US immigration crackdown has been widely condemned by human rights groups as being discriminatory and in violation of free speech and due process rights.
Rights groups also say the clampdown has created an unsafe environment in the US, especially for ethnic minorities who have raised concerns about racial profiling.
