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Is it possible to stay in Thailand long-term on back-to-back tourist visa extensions?

Thailand visa rulesTourist visaVisa extensionVisa runExpat adviceNon-O visaThailand immigrationLong-term stayBorder crossing
Dec 5, 2023
a year ago
Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just back in Scotland after an amazing holiday to phuket. I know of another Scottish man who has stayed in Thailand for 8 years I was told when he originally entered Thailand on his 30 day stay he then applied for his 30 day extension for 1900 baht then at the end of the 30 day extension you must leave the country so you cross the border into a neighbouring country and then re-enter Thailand. I was told he has been repeating this for 8 years is this possible and when you cross the border can you re-enter Thailand the same day
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The practice of staying in Thailand long-term through consecutive tourist visa extensions and border runs has become increasingly scrutinized, especially post-COVID-19. While it was once common for expats to repeatedly exit and re-enter Thailand to renew their 30-day stays, recent regulations limit the ability to do so. Currently, travelers can only engage in two border runs a year without a visa, although air entries do not carry the same restrictions. There is no required waiting period for re-entry after leaving Thailand, but some land borders may enforce overnight stays. Immigration officials have been known to ask questions regarding frequent entries, potentially recommending a long-term visa to avoid complications. Overall, while long stays are still feasible, the risks associated with attempting to continuously live in Thailand on tourist visas are higher than before.
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Benny *****
Yes
a year ago
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Joe ******
Yes
a year ago
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Claude *******
Maybe the flying scotsman ? 😆😂
a year ago
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Bent *************
In theorin: yes!
a year ago
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James *********
Roland Winter, You must be a good drinking buddy, as I see that you laugh a lot 😂
a year ago
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Terary **********
I have been in Thailand 8 years on several types of visas, marriage, work, volunteer, tourist. I do not think I would plan to do back-to-back visa exempt/extensions but it's possible to live in Thailand a long time on tourist visas. You assume some risk that you may not be able to get back in but I have found the risk is worth the reward.
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Terary *********
 and could always use FastTrack services on entry if you had an issue
a year ago
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Dan ********
@Todd ********
 can you elaborate on 'FastTrack services' please Todd, either privately, by cryptic coded reply, or just spill the beans....🙏 (and do you stay on Samui ? I thought we drove past each other slowly in opposite directions recently, and I thought 'is that Todd McGowan of the internet ?')
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Dan *******
 haha. Yes - mostly on Samui. FastTrack services are offered by agencies. They arrange for an immigration agent to meet you at arrival and ‘walk you through’ immigration and ensure no complications.
a year ago
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Dan ********
@Todd ********
 ah, OK. I assumed so, as I'd heard this mentioned a few times in recent years. I thought it maybe just the one agency with close ties. And I guess they are still limited in what they can achieve, depending on the individual, the history, the offending matter and of course the IO on the day ? Knowledge is power, Todd 👊
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Dan *******
 your last sentence there is exactly right!!! For BKK, DMK, and HKT I think Thai Visa Centre can very much assist. For other airports, there are local resources (including Samui). And yes, there are likely limits to what they can achieve and cost is aligned with complexity and history. Indeed… knowledge is power
a year ago
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Todd *********
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Nongnuch ********
copied from a statement given by S. Cummings: "Immigration are basically looking for a trend. If you have multiple back to back entries that aren’t typical of a “normal” tourist then they may feel that you’re trying to exploit the tourist visa /exempt entry scheme to stay long term in Thailand without a correct visa (and potentially working here).

Typical tourist activities would be entering Thailand, visiting somewhere else in SE Asia and re entering Thailand to go home. This wouldn’t raise red flags for the officer. Back to back entries and extensions could"
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Nongnuch *******
 this is an accurate appraisal and allows for the fact there are plenty of possibilities
a year ago
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Todd *********
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Darren ******
Many years ago yes but not now.

Over 50 is a retirement but u need 800k in the bank or 65k income monthly
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Darren *****
 ‘many years ago’? You honestly don’t know anyone that is here for years on TV’s and border bounces?
a year ago
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Darren ******
@Todd ********
 I mean years ago , it was easy for visa , now it is 800k or 65k for retirement.

Many years ago , I got a multi entry for £65 in UK same day visa.
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren *****
 was your metv visa valid for 6 months
a year ago
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Darren ******
@Jordan *****
 1 year but that was a long time ago.

Now I pay 6000b for my renewal retirement visa but I have the money
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren *****
 was it a 90 day visa run for 1 year
a year ago
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Jordan ******
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren *****
 is that all
a year ago
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Melissa *********
@Jordan *****
 the amounts are Thai baht so not too horrible
a year ago
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Andy **********
@Jordan *****
 if money isn't a problem, just look into getting a Thailand Elite Privilege Visa.
a year ago
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Darren ******
@Jordan *****
 that is my visa , I know u can get education visas
a year ago
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Darren ******
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Brooke ***********
Dont believe everything you hear. Talk to a reputable agent.
a year ago
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Don *****
Pay 1000 dollars for the visa service and call it a day.
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Don ****
 It's a bit more than that! 🤣🤣🤣
a year ago
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Steve ********
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Jacob ********
urban legion? yea in the meanwhile many expats hiding here for years with criminal records are finally getting tossed out.
a year ago
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Christopher ***********
@Jacob *******
 Asking for a friend; will an outstanding arrest warrant in home Country now cause a problem?
a year ago
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Doug *********
@Christopher **********
 If they catch you on something else and check, it will cause a serious problem. Do you want to take that sort of risk?

For example, when a foreigner applies for PR status (I had this before acquiring dual Thai/US nationality), I had to complete a from asking the FBI to release my background records to the Thai authorities. The Thai authorities take this seriously.
a year ago
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Christopher ***********
@Doug ********
 Agree, it becomes a problem if linked with/for something else. Entering a U.K. airport with an outstanding U.K. arrest warrant isn’t a problem because U.K. Border Force aren’t police and have no access to or interest in the Police National Computer. However, there are police patrolling airports and if you raised suspicions……….
a year ago
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Christopher ***********
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Jacob ********
@Christopher **********
 You could try there are thousands of other foreign criminals who have been hiding here for decades. It all depends on the official when you arrive whether or not they decide to check. Thailand has always been famous as a criminal hideout. Just check any bar in Pattaya on any given day could likely find a whole plane load to ship out.
a year ago
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Jacob ********
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Andy ******
I don't think he manages to do this now and Immigration clamping down on long stay tourists now since post COVID,they prefer them to have long stay visa like Non O visa
a year ago
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Dominic ************
No more than 6 months in a year I’ve been pulled by immigration for it had to book a flight out of the country
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Dominic ***********
 it’s no problem to stay over 180
a year ago
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Dominic ************
@Todd ********
 tell the immigration officer that stopped me then 🙄
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Dominic ***********
 he didn’t stop you from doing that…
a year ago
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Dominic ************
@Todd ********
 I’m not here to argue the immigration office told me it’s not legal to stay in Thailand more than 6 months they will let me off this time but don’t come back without a visa
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Dominic ***********
 ur not arguing. You just don’t really know what you are talking about. I just told you that they didn’t stop you. And they factually didn’t. As you now admit.

And nobody at immigration told you ‘it’s not legal to stay in Thailand more than 6 months. Because it is legal Having forward flight is one of the 3 standard immigration demands. You have a long stay history already or they wouldn’t have asked
a year ago
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Dominic ************
@Todd ********
 they did you clown immigration officers took me in to a room interviewed me asked why I was coming to Thailand so often and not supposed to spend more than 6 months in country in a year with tourist visa
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Dominic ***********
 at least you are sorting out your understanding. Much to learn still
a year ago
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Dominic ************
@Todd ********
 shut up ya bellend 😂
a year ago
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Dominic ************
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Craig *********
@Todd ********
 if you have proper visa etc. Other complications with your originating country too
a year ago
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Todd *********
There is no such rule about 6 months. Many enter on TV, extend 30, border bounce, extend 30 for 150 days. Then exit, obtain TV in nearby country and repeat process for another 150 days. How long you could continue that is debatable
a year ago
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Todd *********
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Brandon ************
@Dominic ***********
 there is no 6 times per year rule.
a year ago
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Dominic ************
@Brandon ***********
 I never said there was!

I was pulled by immigration in Bangkok,

I had spent more than 6 months in Thailand per year for the last 2 years and was told I wasn’t allowed entry I spent hours with them pleading with them they searched all my bags etc thinking I was working in Thailand, and they let me in eventually but had to book a flight out before the 30 days exemption was up, they said I wouldn’t be allowed entry again without a visa,

Now this is just luck I’d say because I’ve been doing exactly the same since and nothings ever happened since that one day but on that day I was told you can’t spend more than 6 months a year in Thailand without a visa 👍🏻
a year ago
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Craig *********
@Dominic ***********
 because you then are a permanent resident. It’s basically the same rule worldwide.
a year ago
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John ********
@Craig ********
 permanent residence is something totally different
a year ago
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Dominic ************
@Craig ********
 I know that I’m just letting someone else know what may happen if you do it doesn’t always happen I know people who have spent more time in Thailand than there home country for years and never had issue but you may get pulled on it it’s luck of the draw and the mood of the immigration officer on the day
a year ago
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Dominic ************
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อาบิด ***********
You can't stay more than 180 days out of 1 year.
a year ago
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Todd *********
@อาบิด **********
 you sure can. And thousands do
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 on what visa
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Jordan *****
 enter on Tourist Visa for 60 days, extend 30, border bounce, extend 30 for 150 days. Then exit, obtain TV in nearby country and repeat process for another 150 days. How long you could continue that is debatable
a year ago
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Todd *********
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Luke *******
@อาบิด **********
 100% incorrect
a year ago
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Tin **********
@อาบิด **********
 flight or train
a year ago
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Bent *************
@Tin *********
Walk
a year ago
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Bent *************
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Brandon ************
@อาบิด **********
 there's no rule that says this.
a year ago
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อาบิด ***********
@Brandon ***********
 you can try, I must know better cause my wife is an immigration officer 😊
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@อาบิด **********
 even if your wife was the prime minister, there's no law or regulation that says 180 days.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Jim ***********
I had few TR visa stamps. Gpt stopped Subvarnabhumi asked what doing . They want you on proper visa nowadays
a year ago
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Brandon ************
This used to be possible. People stayed for years in Thailand on back to back border runs getting 30-60 days at a time then repeating forever. But this hasn't been possible since before Covid. You are limited to leaving and re-entering Thailand only 2 times per year without a visa. Unlimited times by air but sooner rather than later passport control will start asking you why you're trying to live in Thailand without a long-term visa.

To more directly answer your question, there's no minimum time you have to be out of the country before returning. The requirement is that you stamp out of Thailand, stamp into another country through their passport control, and then can return back to Thailand. Some land borders tend to require you stay overnight especially in Malaysia. And if you plan to go to Cambodia, avoid the Poipet border as they love to deny entry to people.
a year ago
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Gerry **********
@Brandon ***********
 I have been to Thailand more than 12 times in the past 2 years
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 so it would be 30 days then another 30 days by extension leave by air then come back and there is no rule to the amount of times you can do this. I wouldn't be looking to live there just to do this until money runs low then back to the uk
a year ago
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John **********
@Jordan *****
 the problem you will come across is Thai immigration. Every entry is up to them and once it becomes obvious you are abusing the system they will deny entry. Much better to work out how long you want to be in Thailand for (until my money runs out isn't an answer) and get the appropriate visa for your needs. Look at the multiple entry tourist visa which can get you almost 9 months inside Thailand with a couple of border bounces than to try and play the system.
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I looked at that you can only get a metv visa with a 60 day visa run didn't see anything for 9 months
a year ago
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John **********
@Jordan *****
 not sure if you understand how the METV works. Each entry gets you stamped into Thailand for 60 days and can be extended by another 30 days at immigration should you want. When that period is finished you need to leave Thailand, stamp into another country and then return to Thailand for another 60 days which you can do for the 6 months validity of the visa. If you stamp out and back in just before the validity of the visa expires you get another 60 days which can also be extended by 30 which gives you 9 months if used judiciously. Just to be clear these are not visa runs, you're not having to obtain a visa as you already have one. They are known as border runs (or border bounces)
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 fellow highlander I see I'm in Fort William
a year ago
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John **********
@Jordan *****
 yes indeed, although originally an islander. But been living in Thailand for a good few years now
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 so basically every 60 days extend by 30 days and you will get a 3 month stint each time
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Jordan *****
 yes
a year ago
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Jordan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 thank you finally some useful information this is good to know
a year ago
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Jordan ******
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Paul *******
@Brandon ***********
 Its 6 times per year by air now, according to the Thai embassy website.. each time obviously extendable for 30 days.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Paul ******
 there is no 6 times per year by air rule. There is no rule by air at all. The only rule pertaining to visa exempt is 2 times per calendar year at a land border. Even if an embassy says it's 6 times per year, it's not. That embassy doesn't make the rules and the rules haven't changed.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Brandon ***********
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Paul ******
 there is no 6 times per year rule. As I said just because an embassy puts it on their website doesn't change Thai immigration policy. The MFA is the department over the embassies. The immigration department are the ones who make entry rules.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Brandon ***********
 Okay mate, I assumed the Thai Embassy would be showing the correct information for Visas..

So where are you supposed to find out the correct information?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Paul ******
 the Thai embassies issue visas. Visa exempt is not a visa.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Brandon ***********
 Where do you get your information about Visa Exemption then if not the Thai Embassy?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Paul ******
 reference the most recently posted rule
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Brandon ***********
 and I arrived twice a year by air this year and got stopped and questioned on the second flight told to get the proper visa. Times have changed big time
a year ago
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อ้วน *********
@Nigel *************
 been in by air 7 times each year the last 2 years in a row and never stopped at all.
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@อ้วน ********
 good for you everybody is different. I have no idea at all why I was questioned except maybe that I planned to stay 5 months and u obviously only stay a few weeks
a year ago
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อ้วน *********
@Nigel *************
 no doubt that was the reason. But I'm not sure how staying for 5 months has anything to do with a conversation about going in and out more than 6 times in a year. I was responding to the idea you are saying things have changed "big time".
a year ago
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อ้วน *********
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