8 USC § 1734 - Improved training for consular officers

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t8/s1734"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "8 USC § 1734 - Improved training for consular officers"
title_number: 8
title_name: "ALIENS AND NATIONALITY"
section_number: "1734"
section_name: "Improved training for consular officers"
chapter_number: 15
chapter_name: "ENHANCED BORDER SECURITY AND VISA ENTRY REFORM"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "VISA ISSUANCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 107–173, title III, § 305, May 14, 2002, 116 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 108–458, title VII, § 7203(c), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3814.)"
---


# § 1734. Improved training for consular officers

**(a)** **Training** section 1776 of this title

The Secretary of State shall require that all consular officers responsible for adjudicating visa applications, before undertaking to perform consular responsibilities, receive specialized training in the effective screening of visa applicants who pose a potential threat to the safety or security of the United States. Such officers shall be specially and extensively trained in the identification of aliens inadmissible under section 1182(a)(3)(A) and (B) of this title, interagency and international intelligence sharing regarding terrorists and terrorism, and cultural-sensitivity toward visa applicants. In accordance with , and as part of the consular training provided to such officers by the Secretary of State, such officers shall also receive training in detecting fraudulent documents and general document forensics and shall be required as part of such training to work with immigration officers conducting inspections of applicants for admission into the United States at ports of entry.

**(b)** **Use of foreign intelligence information** As an ongoing component of the training required in subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall coordinate with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, Federal law enforcement agencies, and the intelligence community to compile and disseminate to the Bureau of Consular Affairs reports, bulletins, updates, and other current unclassified information relevant to terrorists and terrorism and to screening visa applicants who pose a potential threat to the safety or security of the United States.

**(c)** **Authorization of appropriations** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to implement this section.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 107–173, title III, § 305, May 14, 2002, 116 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 108–458, title VII, § 7203(c), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3814.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2004—Subsec. (a).  inserted at end “In accordance with , and as part of the consular training provided to such officers by the Secretary of State, such officers shall also receive training in detecting fraudulent documents and general document forensics and shall be required as part of such training to work with immigration officers conducting inspections of applicants for admission into the United States at ports of entry.”