an immigrant vs an expat.

Hi usp,

While the two terms are almost the same in English there is a subtle difference between the two.

The word EXPATRIATE (expat) simply means someone who does not live in his/her own country. (customarily we use this in referring to temporary situations)

The word IMMIGRANT (MIGRANT- Australian English) means someone who comes to another country to live permanently.

So basically it is all a matter of time or motivation that distinguishes between the two terms. All immigrants are expats, but not all expats are or become immigrants. I was an expat at first, now I live in Brazil permanently so I'm an immigrant. Hope this clears up things for you. I'm also an English teacher, by the way.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

@ Wjwoordward: are you an immigrant or an citizen?

Just an immigrant at the moment Primadonna. I've got permanent residency, a Brazilian wife and child, but I haven't become a citizen. I really don't know if I want to do that because the only thing that I can't do as a permanent resident that a citizen can do is to vote or run for certain elected offices. Here I wouldn't want to do either of those anyway. If you have ever seen a Brazilian politician you'd know why. LOL

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

Yes, you are right, the same here.
Although I am an citizen I don't feel that way: I am to much Duth or Western as you can call it to be an Jordanian.

hello wjwoodward,
thats what i thought as an English student of thoughts.. however, the idea of this post is to help me understand some different mentalities/point of views on the issue described above.
it seems weird but cant help to notice that some expats especially those of western countries background do not like to be called the word.. "immigrant" even when their 3month "tourist" visa is up!  lol

so at this point, your either an immigrant or a tourist if u still withing your visa status.. while an expat is just a "fancy" little word that those skipping the reality like to use.. right?

No, I'm not a tourist because I don't have a tourist visa. I have a permanent visa so I am officially a resident or an immigrant. I've been here for eleven years, I'm married to a Brazilian and have have a Brazilian born son who is five years old.

Expat is just a fancy term for 'gonna work here for a bit then skip back home'. LOL

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

the words also depend on what perspective you're approaching the issue. You're an immigrant TO a country but an expat FROM a country.

I think some people think the word immigrant has connotations of poor uneducated farmer types who moved away from their homelands for good in search of opportunity, rather than educated people from wealthy countries simply choosing for personal reasons to live elsewhere. I'm not saying this is the correct view of the word but I think that's why some people might not like the word.

Personally I consider myself more of an expat than an immigrant because I am not tied to one single country. I'm an expat from my birth country but I don't think my life story is going to end in my current country of residence.

I wouldn't call myself an immigrant because I'm not planning on staying here.  It's only temporary.  I'm definitely not a tourist because I'd never be able to stay here this long on a  tourist visa.