Visa run allowed to renew Australia eVisitor?

[tdimdad]

A question about the eVisitor (651) visa to Australia. It's granted for 12 months but allows max 3 month stays at a time in Australia. In other words, to stay for longer, the visa holder needs to visit another country and gets a new 3 month period on return to Australia.

Are there any limitations on how short the trip overseas must be? Technically, the visa page says only that "You can enter Australia any time your eVisitor is valid and stay for up to 3 months at a time. The eVisitor is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while it is valid." but there's no limit to how soon you can come back.

There are rumours on the street of the Border Control questioning or even rejecting return to Australia from a short "visa run". But does that hold any truth or is just an urban legend? Would anyone know what the actual rulebook says? And if there are no limitations, then, at least technically, a morning flight to NZ and return the same evening should be all good. Right?

 

[yachty]

Hiyo, a lot of this is probably contingent on circumstances of the visa holder, the reason for travel, and why they're in Australia. In that sense, you probably won't get a 'rulebook' answer because it will be considered in line with individual circumstances.

You're probably aware that the visa page goes on to say that:

If you stay in Australia for long periods or make frequent visits to Australia, we may ask you about your travel purpose next time you enter Australia. If you are found not to be a genuine visitor, your ETA may be cancelled.

Which can be interpreted to mean as long as the visa holder is compliant, e.g. is actually travelling around Australia or visiting friends/family, then there wouldn't be an issue.

That being said, doing a day trip seems to be - at the very least - not in the spirit of the visa. The 601 visa page does note that another visa should be applied for if the intent is to remain in Australia for longer than 3 months, which it could be argued is the case here - especially after a single day visa run.

 

[tdimdad]

In this case, as often may be, it'd be an overseas parent visiting their child & grandkids, but wanting to stay for closer to 6 months (through the northern hemisphere winter). That would still keep them firmly in the 'visiting friends / family' category and usually it'd also involve domestic sightseeing so it's not 100% just living in someone's house in a single location.

 

[glasszon]

It might be best to repost your question in an Australia immigration forum, you will get a much better response there.

Given 651 visa is only offered to countries that are deemed to be low-risk, doing one visa run should be fine as long as they don't make it a habit.

If the passport they hold is eligible for egates, then just go through egates and they won't even need to talk to anyone.

If not, they should still have a very good chance of being waved through on the second visit, perhaps with a warning to not do it again. Contrary to what you see on TV, cancelling someone's visa on entry is a big deal (it is akin to a deportation, which has serious consequence on the ability to travel anywhere in the future, not just Australia) and not something ABF would consider without a warning, especially given they have family ties in Australia.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you use smartgate for Aust, when they collect the small ticket off you, with the IPC, (if you make too many entries), that small hard cardboard slip can have a code, and you can still be chatted with.
Usually, after baggage reclaim, at the last stage, before you get out into the open area, they will have 3 or 4 of them, collecting the cards, they will have a look at your smartgate slip, and your IPC.
Best of luck anyway!
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Parents who are not Aust citizens, but their adult children are Aust citizens/Aust PR holders, can get a 5 year stay visa, and can go out and come back for 90 days slots.
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Parent visa Aust # 103.
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Would anyone know what the actual rulebook says? And if there are no limitations, then, at least technically, a morning flight to NZ and return the same evening should be all good. Right?

Doing this will pling that person for sure.
First one trip, "might" be ok.
Second trip, "might" be ok still.
Third trip, they probably will want a chat.
I don't dare to be too chatty though, ...
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Also if on an ETA, best to delete any incriminating evidence if any on stuff on mobile phones.
Wink wink, if you are asking for a friend Tdimdad.