00:00The Trump administration is pausing immigrant visa appointments worldwide.
00:04The State Department says it is conducting training for U.S. consular officers
00:09aimed at strengthening screening procedures and assessing whether applicants could become reliant on U.S. public assistance.
00:16The move comes as the Trump administration steps up its broader immigration crackdown.
00:23Both Reuters and AP report that training is being rolled out at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world
00:29as the department updates its guidance on how visa applicants should be assessed.
00:35Some scheduled visa interviews have already been cancelled, with applicants told they will be given new dates.
00:41The U.S. had also introduced other measures, including reviews of applicants' social media histories and higher visa processing fees.
00:49This week, the Trump administration also announced plans to revoke the visas of some asylum seekers
00:55who originally entered the U.S. on tourist or business visas.
00:58Up to 200,000 asylum seekers could be affected.
