What separates an expat from an immigrant

Got me but interesting question

unity100 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than their native country.

What separates then, an expat from an immigrant.

An immigrant is someone from a poor country who enters another country (usually illegally) with the express purpose of gaining residency of that country and to escape from poverty and repression.

An expat enters another country legally and usually to work, has all the correct visas and work permits.
After their contact has finished the expat will head home if their employer has no more work. Or stay on if there is more work for them.

stumpy wrote:

unity100 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than their native country.

What separates then, an expat from an immigrant.

An immigrant is someone from a poor country who enters another country (usually illegally) with the express purpose of gaining residency of that country and to escape from poverty and repression.

Then is a rich immigrant who immigrates to a richer country from a poor country still an immigrant? Or is s/he an expat?

An expat enters another country legally and usually to work, has all the correct visas and work permits.

That is also valid for majority of immigrants.

After their contact has finished the expat will head home if their employer has no more work. Or stay on if there is more work for them.

But quoted definition says permanently.

Again, it depends on your dictionary.  Lots of definitions out there. 
I just Googled and this popped up first.  I guess everyone is correct?  Also, an Expat doesn't always have to be employed.  For example,  there are hundreds of thousands of Brits over here that simply retired here but call themselves Expats.  What is interesting about the definition stressing the word temporary is that it appears to relate to being employment related. 
ˈɪmɪɡr(ə)nt/Submit
noun
a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country generally fleeing from an unsuitable condition in their home country.

synonyms:    newcomer, settler, incomer, new arrival, migrant, emigrant; More

And this?

Expat vs Immigrant. ... An expat or expatriate is simply defined as a person who lives outside their native country. Similarly, an immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country. Only one distinction is made here – immigrants intend to stay in their new country indefinitely.Jul 13, 2016

I guess the amount of definitions depends on how many dictionaries there are?  We all win!

Then how would you define a Mexican National in the US there only to work, temporarily, not fleeing an oppressive situation?  A Mexican Expat?  Are immigrants always illegal?

It is a controversial topic throughout the world. But to face it without fearing to live up to the truth, it is strongly linked with race and social status as how the outsider is viewed and appreciated in the new country.

Not appreciated: Immigrant
Greatly appreciated: Expat

However, in France for example, whether you are highly integrated or not, whether you have a good social status or not, if you are black or muslim, you are tagged as "immigrant".

- Expat = someone who lives outside of his/her home country
- Immigrant = someone who moved to a foreign country
The dictionary meaning of these two words is basically the same.

However, they are often used in different contexts:
- Expat is most often used for someone who works temporarily in a foreign country (usually sent by his/her home country employer and having a fat pay package)
- Immigrant is most often used for poor, social-benefits-hungry people who are trying their luck in a foreign place (and cause problems there)

If you see, hear or use any of these words, better clarify what you actually mean!

btw not all ppl travel for work or running for money, maybe for love, or he/she cant adapt with the environment around so he\she decided to choose a better one....there are so many reasons

if u abandon on what u have and decided to go like for ever ===>immigrant
if u gonna travel for a while evenif for a long period "whatever the purpose of ur travel" and coming back again to ur home country===>expat

In Addition of all the above comments, I'd like to add the below summary

Both are the same, the only difference is time

Expat is an temporary immigrant

Both are searching for better life

Better life expression has different perspectives

- Social perspective
- Financial perspective
- Political perspective
- Religious perspective
- Sentimentally perspective ..... etc

So actually the refugees coming to Europe (and elsewhere) in the last years are Expats, because they want to return as soon as their country is at peace again?
And as soon as someone decides he likes the host country and could stay on for the rest of his life, he suddenly switches from Expat to Immigrant?
And how about those who don't know how long they will stay and keep their options open?
Well, at least in the common perception and mass media, the words are used differently!

Let's make it simple


When life conditions change, plans changing


No matter what is the correct or actual meaning of " Expat & Immigrant", already explained above in previous comments

What matters is the correct usage of both

To use it correctly, search for the current / actual status without considering the future plans

ThellOne wrote:

To use it correctly, search for the current / actual status without considering the future plans

And what is, in your opinion, the current status that makes one an expat or immigrant?

beppi wrote:

ThellOne wrote:

To use it correctly, search for the current / actual status without considering the future plans

And what is, in your opinion, the current status that makes one an expat or immigrant?

Current status is always related to the purpose of leaving home country

Purpose of leaving home country is leading to time " how much time you need to get your purpose done?"

Then you can find out if you are expat or immigrant