sonlymewalter

The facts are that particular visa is a 3 month visa meant for people taking a long holiday, not abusing it by staying 3 months, going off shore then back again for another 3 months etc, etc. Which is what you said. I don't think the OP intended playing any games either -it was your suggestion not theirs

Anyways I think we've made it clear this is not what the visa is for so at least that's sorted

Sunshine7

I really, really didn't mean anything dishonest If it is a three month visa though, then why does it last for a year I wonder, why not just three months?

Pollyana

It lasts for a year with the intention that people can visit more than once without having to pay for another visa - I did it years ago, a trip in the April, than another trip the following February. I then got a new evisitor before my next trip in September.

Not saying that this is what you were suggesting at all but......there are some people who use evisitor visas as a way round the system; they come on a 3 month visa, leave and hop to NZ, re-enter the next day for another three months....at the end of the year they apply from NZ for a new visa and do the same again. They are the people that are trying to "establish residence"and live in Aus while only on a tourist visa. DIAC naturally don't approve of this as evisitor visas are designed for visitors not migrants, and so if someone tries this too often they may get refused entry. For a start you can't work on an evisitor, so it raises questions for Immigration as to where the money is coming for the visa holder to live on - eg are they working illegally? We've had many people on here asking about situations like this in the past, and wanting to live in Aus holding no more than a tourist visa.

Hope that makes it a bit clearer

Sunshine7

Ah, but they don't pay for this visa at all, it's totally free. Maybe it's just what it "says on the tin", the visitor can stay up to three months on each trip, and the visa lasts for a year - so it's ok and quite legal to have a few trips if you like, as long as no trips lasts for more than three months?

Thanks for that Polly - so my dear old Pa can come twice or three times a year (for a few weeks at a time I must add, though he could stay longer) to see his grandbabies and there is no problem. I reckon that is exactly what the visa is designed for, and he definitely is not planning on living here - loves the UK and would never consider for one moment moving here - couldn't afford to either but that's another thread for another day (he is partial to bananas)

I didn't mean to imply the visa could be misused in my earlier post ....................

Pollyana

When I used to use it the cost was about £8 but I'm going back a few years, it may be free now. Your understanding is right though, exactly what it says on the tin, and sounds like just what would suit your dad