February 24th, 2025 – Travellers looking to enter the United States of America for an extended stay may now be required to undergo a full visa interview, as the U.S. Department of State announces new rules surrounding visa renewals.

First announced earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State originally allowed visitors to the US to renew their visa if they previously held a visa withing the last 48 months. Now, this timeline has been tightened significantly, only waiving the interview process for those who have held a US visa within the last 12 months.

This timeline was first held pre-pandemic, with visa restrictions loosened over the last few years in order to minimise in-person contact. With the rules tightening once more, it means Australian’s who are looking to visit the US but last held a valid visa over 12 months ago may now need to attend an in-person interview once more.

What Does It Mean for US Travel?

While the changes to the restrictions don’t necessarily mean huge changes to a person’s ability to obtain a visa, it does mean that the visa process is likely to be longer and more time-consuming, as professionals and frequent travellers line up to have formal interviews completed.

If you’re considering travelling to the US in the coming months, speak to your Travel Agent around whether this will impact you, and ensure you leave enough time to obtain the required visa before travelling.