While getting the multi-entry visa was not such a surprise, the fact that it has a 3 year validity certainly was. Up till now, all her previous visas have been for 12 months, which meant that for the last 2 applications, a visit to Bangkok or Chiang Mai was required to complete biometrics.
Hopefully this is the new norm for other Australians who wish to take their wives with them to Oz for tourism/visit family reasons.
