Double Entry Visa

[willfreeman]

my plan was to obtain a double entry visa, enter and activate first 60 days then get 30 day extension, border run, re enter activate second 60 days and then get final 30 day extension. after double checking with the local consualte in adelaide the gentleman tells me the double entry they issue only has a 90 day use by on it, why is it that some have six months validity (allowing my outline to work) and some only issue visas with three month must enter before dates? ultimately ill still get in the vicinity of 150 days not 180 but was curious why this so

[MJCM]

Lets break it down

1st Entry gets 60 Days

After 60 Days get 30 Days extension at Immigration

after these 30 Days (before the visa runs out) you do a visa run to activate your 2nd entry.

Then again after 60 days you go to Immigration for your 30 days (Your visa is expired by then, but Immigration doesn't care)

6 months validity are only needed for 3 Entries

[lopburi3]

Actually you will still get almost 180 days if you obtain visa just prior to travel. The only limitation will be the first extension of stay a bit less than 30 days to return for second entry during validity of the visa. You can still extend the second entry 30 days.

The reason is such visas are not designed to allow long term stay in country but for those travelling and return for a second stay, which for most tourists would be measured in weeks. The six month validity allowed freer usage but was often seen as a mis-use by those planing long term stay, rather than using non-immigrant visas/extensions, so most often is limited to 3 months validity now.

[willfreeman]

so as long as i activate the second entry before 90 days are up i can still obtain a thirty day extension on the second entry?

[MJCM]

so as long as i activate the second entry before 90 days are up i can still obtain a thirty day extension on the second entry?

Yep !! A valid (not expired) Visa is needed for a border to allow you entry but the visa can be expired when applying for an TR extension.