Why is John an expat when he decides to live in my country, working a job that I would like to do, and Abdul an immigrant when he decides to study abroad in my country while working a job I wouldn't?
Lol, the English in Spain refer to themselves as ExPats, everyone else refers tot hem as immigrants.
When I was younger, though, there was kind of a real definition that an expat went to a country for specific work in a specific job, and if that status were to change (you get shitcanned, for example) your immigration status would change as well and you were no longer welcome.
Expats generally have no intention of integrating into the host society. It also generally excludes students. Basically living there indefinitely, without true intent to remain permanently.
Beyond that, it's so slightly racist. English in Spain are expats. Spaniards in Britain, immigrants.
Expat means someone who doesn't (or can't) pursue citizenship and has no intention of living there permanently.
Immigrant is a person who moves to a new country and intends to stay there permanently and gain citizenship.
Common examples are people moving to China or the Philippines (or Korea / Japan) for work or whatever. They can't gain citizenship so they are an expat.
8 Comments
gray@lemmy.ml · 15 pts · 4d
Expat = white fluent english speaker
immigrant = the rest
Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 4d
Congratulations. You have completed the United States Citizenship test with a score of 100%
Welcome to America!
gray@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 3d
Gracias, estoy muy felice!
The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org · 7 pts · 4d
Lol, the English in Spain refer to themselves as ExPats, everyone else refers tot hem as immigrants.
When I was younger, though, there was kind of a real definition that an expat went to a country for specific work in a specific job, and if that status were to change (you get shitcanned, for example) your immigration status would change as well and you were no longer welcome.
valar@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 4d
cynar@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 4d
Expats generally have no intention of integrating into the host society. It also generally excludes students. Basically living there indefinitely, without true intent to remain permanently.
Beyond that, it's so slightly racist. English in Spain are expats. Spaniards in Britain, immigrants.
luthis@lemmy.nz · -2 pts · 4d
Expat means someone who doesn't (or can't) pursue citizenship and has no intention of living there permanently.
Immigrant is a person who moves to a new country and intends to stay there permanently and gain citizenship.
Common examples are people moving to China or the Philippines (or Korea / Japan) for work or whatever. They can't gain citizenship so they are an expat.
neo2478@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 4d
You just described the difference between an immigrant and a migrant.
Expat is a bullshit term white people use because they think either word above is too dirty to apply to them.