Fortunately yes, it does, but I would not satisfy 90 days out within 180 day period rule.
Acknowledged. I extend my apologies if I was out of line.
That makes a whole lot of difference.
Accepted! Let’s move forward with due civility.
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I take it you’ve never lived in the US on a visa then? Because that’s exactly how US visas work.
For example a Chinese student admitted to a US PhD program (typically 5 years long) would often only be issued a 1 year student visa sticker in their passport. But the student visa validity only mattered for entering the US.
So during the first year with valid student visa the student is free to travel in and out of the US. But once the student visa expires, many people would assume that means they must leave the US. This is incorrect, they are still legal to remain in the US as long as they’re studying and the school keeps them registered in the international student database (SEVIS). The student visa is only necessary for entry. If they leave the US with an expired visa, then yes they must renew it to reenter the US.
In practice given the cost and uncertainty of visa renewal (which could be worsened by a change of administration any time) many opt to just not travel outside the US until they have a more secure status, like a green card. Especially since the US is so big, there are many places you can travel inside despite an expired visa.
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Never had the displeasure of tangling with the US immigration system.
Springtime, and time for new Portuguese national elections and government! 
Any bets on whether AIMA will use “Political crisis and imminent fall of the Government” as an excuse for more delays and indecision?
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Of course they will use this as a perfect excuse. Why not utilising all cards on the table? Now from middle of nowhere they find an excuse that is 100% valid and bulletproof!
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Perspective is everything here. Ive lived, done business, owned property, brought up kids, etc in West Africa, Middle East, Far East, Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union … and yes AIMA is inefficient but Portugal is far from the Champions League of Evil Bureaucracy. About Division 2 I’d say. I have not yet been beaten, arrested, thrown in jail, threatened physically or even insulted here. Just back from a 940 km road trip to Castello Branca to meet AIMA. Cancelled. 3 weeks ago we were in Figueira da Foz (900 km round trip) for the same meeting. Cancelled. Now have one scheduled in Faro, just 5km away! Woo-hoo! All very annoying, but in the greater perspective, do-able. Meanwhile, my wife and I live here since November with expired documents and, apart from flying abroad, we do whatever we want. We own land, which we work on, live in a beautiful old house, enjoy seclusion but can walk into the village. The weather is just perfect, people are friendly and fun, food is brilliant. And it all costs very little (by UK working-class standards). Compared to previous lives we’ve lived, it feels as if we’ve just wandered into Paradise. This can’t be without cost. And the cost of entry is dealing with the bureaucracy. Look on the experience as a struggle to enter Paradise, not as an expensive holiday where you paid for First Class and were treated like Economy. Having said all that, yes, I hate having my time wasted by people who just cant be bothered to do their jobs - all the more now I have not much more left - and find all this pointless re-checking of papers exasperating. But still I’m voting with my feet for Portugal. I believe it is all too good to last and in 10 years time, when the price has risen 5- or 10-fold, people will say to those that toughed it out with AIMA - " you lucky, lucky b*stard …"
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Good info, I didnt know that. Its our position now in Portugal. Slightly annoying but certainly manageable.
This made me laugh so hard I startled the dog out of a sound slumber.
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Very funny analysis and outlook. I have to concur with your overall assessment. Good luck on starting your new life in Portugal! 
If your benchmark for paradise is a place with reasonable prices, friendly people, nice weather, and where you are unlikely to be assaulted or threatened, I can introduce much more efficient bureaucracies than Portugal. 
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Good point. And further … if you look at the huge stack of documents (originals, copies with apostille) provided to the PT embassy to receive the initial visa (D7 in my case) and compare that to what you present to AIMA at the meeting the extra work is … nothing. They just re-check what has already been approved. OK, they take biometrics … It is a cottage industry. Bureaucracy is a national sport here, like caber tossing in Scotland.
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Its an interesting discussion. I am very attracted to Panama or Costa Rica but its a long way from most of my kids, who are Europe-bound. Perfect for US citizens I guess. My elder son says Colombia is wonderful and the dangers are overstated. Then there’s Namibia, and Thailand. Turkmenistan was lovely for a few years, before the madness started. And I have to admit, the older I get, the less I’m up for real travel and being a proper foreigner. Portugal is not really abroad for a Brit, its almost another county in the South West. So, here we are. Where else do you have in mind?
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There is still a huge civilisational difference between the western European country and not. Brits will feel at home at Portugal compared to some of the 3rd world countries you mentioned, no offense. Rightfully so. The ‘danger is overstated’ is one of many dimensions of a 3rd world country.
Most countries in East and Southeast Asia have functional governments without absurd wait times. Outside of Singapore and HK, the cost of living is far less than in the UK. All of them have less violent crime than Latin America. And the ones with less functional bureaucracies tend to have shortcuts available for those of means.
Thailand is an example, though tends to be messier and noisier because of its popularity.
But distance and cultural differences matter to many, certainly.
Great to know that our applications are stuck behind this car-crash…
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Car crash? It is an epic train wreck with GV applicants as it’s only casualty.
After this mess, there is another:
After that, there is yet another to come…