Difference between expats and immigrants

G

Gabriels Horn

Member
Can somebody explain this to me as i'm confused

Been watching youtube clips who are living in spain who voted to leave, complaining how they will lose bank accounts, lose pescription services etc

I'm baffled how they don't consider themselves as immigrants, does the word 'expat' just apply to british white peple?

Did these idiots seriously think when they voted to leave it would only affect people from other countries coming/living in the UK and not the other way around?

Are people really that stupid?
 
Yes They are stupid.

My neighbour here is English and would consider himself an immigrant, he voted remain and like me couldn’t understand why many many Brits here voted leave.

Theres a residential area the other end of town where many ‘ex pats’ live, you see them strutting around on a morning with the daily mail under their arms and sitting in their ‘Brit’ café. When they yell a stout good morning to me I only ever respond in Spanish.

I‘d say an ‘ex pat’ is someone who doesn’t bother to integrate, and ironically they’re the type of people who complain about those who don’t integrate in the UK.
 
There is nothing divisive about the word expatriate. By very definition an 'expat' is an immigrant and an immigrant is an 'expat' what ever viewpoint you look from.

"No Mr. Farage that person is not an 'illegal' that is simply a Syrian expat" :)
 
This one is hearsay, never having been to the far East, but my mate who has been lots of times, reckons the Philippines has places crammed with such people. They read their Daily Mails and Suns, then gather in the bars on a night to spout their sh1te about England being invaded by foreigners. Sounds like hell.
 
Ingleby_Flash said:
Yes They are stupid.

My neighbour here is English and would consider himself an immigrant, he voted remain and like me couldn’t understand why many many Brits here voted leave.

Theres a residential area the other end of town where many ‘ex pats’ live, you see them strutting around on a morning with the daily mail under their arms and sitting in their ‘Brit’ café. When they yell a stout good morning to me I only ever respond in Spanish.

I‘d say an ‘ex pat’ is someone who doesn’t bother to integrate, and ironically they’re the type of people who complain about those who don’t integrate in the UK.
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Not so much here in Malaga City (in fact not at all here in Malaga City) but in the villages and towns up and down the coast (e.g. Nerja, Mijas, and especially down towards Marbella) there are loads of those enclaves with retired, white-haired, Daily Express/Mail reading Brits who voted leave and are now bricking themselves
 
Soutra said:
Expat is used to denote people from your country who live in a different country

Immigrant refers to someone from a different country who lives in your country.

So if Joe is a Brit living in Spain then he is an expat as far as other Brits living here are concerned, and an immigrant as far as the Spanish are concerned
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Technically you are correct, but I think the OP was looking more at the stereotyping. My neighbour would consider himself an immigrant because he’s been here so long he would see himself as naturalised, therefore by your definition an immigrant.

I on the other hand, possibly unfairly, refer to expats as the stereotypical white Mail reading sorts that you see so many of here, with their expat walking groups and bingo nights. Maybe I’d see it differently in a different part of the world. Here I’m definitely using it as a term of derision, as do many others.
 
Fortunately there are less of these people in France, but they do exist, usually in areas of high concentration like the Dordogne.

Historically an ex-pat was someone living and working in the country on a temporary basis (i.e. with no intention of putting down roots), such as company staff posted abroad. So most of these people are immigrants whether they like it or not.
 
Feel like a lot of these people think the rules only apply to “foreigners” and not the English.
Same with freedom of movement, don’t think people realise how much that will impact them In the future.
 
pierrequiroule said:
Fortunately there are less of these people in France, but they do exist, usually in areas of high concentration like the Dordogne.

Historically an ex-pat was someone living and working in the country on a temporary basis (i.e. with no intention of putting down roots), such as company staff posted abroad. So most of these people are immigrants whether they like it or not.
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That's the definition I would use - I am not an immigrant as I never had any intention of taking US citizenship - the whole flag-worship thing sticks in my craw, for one. I am, however, an ex-pat as I have been here for more than 20 years and, no, I don't read the Daily Mail or go the St. George's society or any of that little Englander shït. I like to think we have integrated to some extent. My kids, on the other hand, are immigrants - US citizens.
 
My interpretation slightly to yours NY in that it is the act of settling permanently in another country, rather than the application for citizenship that defines an immigrant. I have lived in France for nigh on 30 years (on and off) but have never seriously thought about applying for citizenship although I have no desire to return to the UK. I class myself as an immigrant.

I'd be interested to know the percentage of UK citizens living in France that have taken out french citizenship, but my guess is it would be less than 10%. The language test alone would put many off, so the percentage may be much higher in english-speaking countries.
 
I worked in Qatar, Yeman, Saudi, Dubai and Nigeria. I was an immigrant, not a friggin expat. No different to anyone else who chooses to reside in another country without taking up citizenship. Its just a nicer word than immigrant that Brits use to feel integrated. Its just stupid.
 
pierrequiroule said:
My interpretation slightly to yours NY in that it is the act of settling permanently in another country, rather than the application for citizenship that defines an immigrant. I have lived in France for nigh on 30 years (on and off) but have never seriously thought about applying for citizenship although I have no desire to return to the UK. I class myself as an immigrant.

I'd be interested to know the percentage of UK citizens living in France that have taken out french citizenship, but my guess is it would be less than 10%. The language test alone would put many off, so the percentage may be much higher in english-speaking countries.
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Rolling stone I think this may answer your question. Seems a lot did. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200904/nu...ench-citizenship-increases-tenfold-since-2015
 
NYboro said:
That's the definition I would use - I am not an immigrant as I never had any intention of taking US citizenship - the whole flag-worship thing sticks in my craw, for one. I am, however, an ex-pat as I have been here for more than 20 years and, no, I don't read the Daily Mail or go the St. George's society or any of that little Englander shït. I like to think we have integrated to some extent. My kids, on the other hand, are immigrants - US citizens.
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I would agree somewhat with that. I worked over here before I moved here and then I would have classed myself as an ex-pat.
Now I'm here and a dual-citizen ( by choice as I pay taxes here so why not have an active role) I am an immigrant but I've never waved an American flag nor been made to.
What if my kids move to the UK -will they be 'plastic Brits?' maybe that would depend upon how good they are at sport!
 
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Thanks for the link tophat although it only partly answers the question. I was aware there was a big spike after the brexit result, but it's nice to have actual numbers. However, as there are an estimated 150,000 brits living in France I still believe the percentage with french citizenship is still fairly low.
 
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