Migration, Immigration, Emigration -Expats vs Immigrants

[August1991]

Some foreigners living abroad are described as "expats"

Other foreigners living abroad are "immigrants".

What's the difference? 

Americans living in the Philippines are referred to as "expats" (expatriates)?

But Filipinos living in the US are referred to as "immigrants"?

Choose your country: what's the difference between an expat and an immigrant/emigrant?  

[Michael Hardner]

One is a wealthy white person, the other a hard-working person trying for a better life.

[I am Groot]

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

One is a wealthy white person, the other a hard-working person trying for a better life.

That's an awfully left-wing answer for a 'conservative'. 

If they come in and do no work, are they still hardworking because they're brown?

 

 

[herbie]

6 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

One is a wealthy white person, the other a hard-working person trying for a better life.

Good explanation to people who refuse to read a dictionary,

[August1991]

On 10/18/2025 at 8:25 AM, Michael Hardner said:

One is a wealthy white person, the other a hard-working person trying for a better life.

I equate wealthy and hard-working - whether a person is left-handed, or right-handed.

[User]

On 10/18/2025 at 5:25 AM, Michael Hardner said:

One is a wealthy white person, the other a hard-working person trying for a better life.

Why bring race into it? 

[August1991]

On 11/23/2025 at 10:41 PM, User said:

Why bring race into it? 

I suspect Michael was being sarcastic.

=====

User, do you understand irony?

Both Michael and I are laughing at you.

[User]

1 hour ago, August1991 said:

I suspect Michael was being sarcastic.

=====

User, do you understand irony?

Both Michael and I are laughing at you.

Yeah, I get the sarcasm... but it doesn't explain why bring race into it. 

I have a feeling you spend a lot of time laughing, because you are insane. 

[August1991]

On 11/25/2025 at 11:15 PM, User said:

Yeah, I get the sarcasm... but it doesn't explain why bring race into it. 

I have a feeling you spend a lot of time laughing, because you are insane. 

Race? Laugh?

A hard working person moves/lives abroad to work - an immigrant, or an expat?

Have you seen the term "digital nomad"?

[Michael Hardner]

On 11/23/2025 at 9:39 PM, August1991 said:

I equate wealthy and hard-working - whether a person is left-handed, or right-handed.

There are wealthy layabouts 

The point is to expunge narratives, personas, stereotypes and take a systems view when looking at our political economy.

 

Is it working? 

 

Are the wealthy investing in things that provide Mutual benefit? 

Is there incentive to work and improve oneself? 

I feel that in this great poker game, many people are throwing in their cards lately. 

 

[August1991]

On 11/28/2025 at 6:46 AM, Michael Hardner said:

...

The point is to expunge narratives, personas, stereotypes and take a systems view when looking at our political economy.

...

 

Systems view?

====

Individuals live abroad for many reasons.

Some are expats, others are immigrants.

[Nationalist]

On 10/18/2025 at 8:25 AM, Michael Hardner said:

One is a wealthy white person, the other a hard-working person trying for a better life.

Well that's bullshit.

Next!

On 11/23/2025 at 10:41 PM, User said:

Why bring race into it? 

Because without it, he's dumb-founded.

[August1991]

13 hours ago, Nationalist said:

Well that's bullshit.

Next!

Because without it, he's dumb-founded.

Nationalist,

I have not looked at your posts. Dunno.

I am not American.

======

Some foreigners living abroad are described as "immigrants".

Other foreigners living abroad are described as "expats".

What's the difference?

[Nationalist]

5 hours ago, August1991 said:

Nationalist,

I have not looked at your posts. Dunno.

I am not American.

======

Some foreigners living abroad are described as "immigrants".

Other foreigners living abroad are described as "expats".

What's the difference?

That comment was directed at @Michael Hardner I believe. It nonsense. There is no racially based reason for using one term or the other.

[I am Groot]

On 12/4/2025 at 7:35 AM, Nationalist said:

That comment was directed at @Michael Hardner I believe. It nonsense. There is no racially based reason for using one term or the other.

The terms are more useful as motivational indications. An expat is not coming to work, for the most part, but to enjoy the weather and scenery, and never for a moment considers themselves a local. They rarely take out papers and become citizens. They don't generally move their family. They usually return home after a time.

Immigrants intend to permanently relocate their lives and go through all the bureaucratic rigmarole of gaining citizenship. 

Migrants come to make money, send as much home as they can, and then return home. Canada has a growing number of migrants here.

Edited December 12, 2025 by I am Groot

[Nationalist]

38 minutes ago, I am Groot said:

The terms are more useful as motivational indications. An expat is not coming to work, for the most part, but to enjoy the weather and scenery, and never for a moment considers themselves a local. They rarely take out papers and become citizens. They don't generally move their family. They usually return home after a time.

Immigrants intend to permanently relocate their lives and go through all the bureaucratic rigmarole of gaining citizenship. 

Migrants come to make money, send as much home as they can, and then return home. Canada has a growing number of migrants here.

Huh...disagree. as far as im concerned, the terms are interchangeable. I know a lot of expats in Europe who'd feel the same.

[I am Groot]

Does anyone know anywhere in the world where Muslims live as peaceful neighbours without suspicion, threats of violence, or demands for sharia law?

Does anyone know of a time in the last 1400 years when Muslims have not been attacking, murdering, raping, and trying to loot from or conquer Christians?

[Barquentine]

On 12/13/2025 at 1:18 PM, I am Groot said:

Does anyone know of a time in the last 1400 years when Muslims have not been attacking, murdering, raping, and trying to loot from or conquer Christians?

Yes. When 'Christian' crusaders took Jerusalem, they slaughtered almost every person there. When the Muslims under Saladin retook it, they let the "Christian' crusaders retreat and killed very few.

Read some history.

AI overview

The sack of Jerusalem during the Crusades primarily refers to the brutal capture of the city by the First Crusaders on July 15, 1099, following a bloody siege, resulting in a massacre of thousands of Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, with Crusader soldiers slaughtering civilians and repurposing holy sites like the Al-Aqsa Mosque into Christian shrines. Later, in 1187, Jerusalem fell again, but this time to Saladin's Muslim forces, in a relatively peaceful surrender after negotiations, with limited bloodshed.

[I am Groot]

13 hours ago, Barquentine said:

Yes. When 'Christian' crusaders took Jerusalem, they slaughtered almost every person there. When the Muslims under Saladin retook it, they let the "Christian' crusaders retreat and killed very few.

Excuse me, Sir. But hadn't Jerusalem, along with the entire area, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, etc., been Christian until the Muslims attacked it and killed just about every Christian that wouldn't convert or flee? Weren't the crusades about taking BACK an area the Muslims had stolen? Wasn't Saladin invading to conquer it again? Doesn't that count as killing Christians? His armies then went on to conquer other parts of Byzantine Rome, did they not? Weren't a lot of Christians killed there?

Didn't Saladin agree not to slaughter them all if they surrendered because otherwise the attack would have half destroyed his army and laid waste to Jerusalem?

 

 

[August1991]

On 12/12/2025 at 11:00 AM, I am Groot said:

The terms are more useful as motivational indications. An expat is not coming to work, for the most part, but to enjoy the weather and scenery, and never for a moment considers themselves a local. They rarely take out papers and become citizens. They don't generally move their family. They usually return home after a time.

Immigrants intend to permanently relocate their lives and go through all the bureaucratic rigmarole of gaining citizenship. 

Migrants come to make money, send as much home as they can, and then return home. Canada has a growing number of migrants here.

Strongly disagree.

1. Expats frequently work - like immigrants.

2. Many immigrants move home - like expats.

3. Both migrants and expats come to make money. 

[August1991]

On 12/12/2025 at 11:41 AM, Nationalist said:

Huh...disagree. as far as im concerned, the terms are interchangeable. I know a lot of expats in Europe who'd feel the same.

Agree, Nationalist.

[August1991]

On 12/13/2025 at 12:18 PM, I am Groot said:

Does anyone know anywhere in the world where Muslims live as peaceful neighbours without suspicion, threats of violence, or demands for sharia law?

Does anyone know of a time in the last 1400 years when Muslims have not been attacking, murdering, raping, and trying to loot from or conquer Christians?

Groot,

I am real. You are fake.

[I am Groot]

11 minutes ago, August1991 said:

Groot,

I am real. You are fake.

You are real senile. I am not.

[August1991]

On 1/12/2026 at 9:31 PM, I am Groot said:

You are real senile. I am not.

Returning to the OP:

-Expatriate vs Immigrant

We now live in a world where these terms are the same.