A Philippines expat, or REALLY a Philippines immigrant? Here's how to tell which you are…
By definition, an expat stays for a short time and intends to go back home. Expats also float around between countries. Immigrants, on the other hand, move to another country long-term, essentially permanently.
So if you're on a 13a visa in the Philippines, you're definitely an IMMIGRANT. If you bought your girlfriend or wife a house because you couldn't put it in your own name, you're definitely an immigrant. If you've lived in the Philippines for years on a tourist visa, fly out for a day after 3 years, and fly back the next day to live another 3 years, you're an immigrant.
If you're like me, spending a few months in the country and then flying to Vietnam or Thailand for months, then by definition you're an EXPAT. Expats don't settle permanently in one place. That would be an IMMIGRANT.
So now that I've explained the difference, which are you: an expat or an immigrant?
Who cares? We're all either on a tourist visa or a retirement/marriage visa
Just my opinion: an immigrant wants citizenship in the country they chose, to move over fully with all the rights and obligations. An expat doesn't chase citizenship.
The way you keep thinking about other people screams insecurity
They say they don't care, but they'd still call themselves expats anyway lol
Yep, I'm an immigrant. I'm here from Australia as a permanent resident, thanks to my wife's Philippine nationality. Just like my wife is an Australian citizen thanks to my Australian nationality. I have no problem with the immigrant label. I've been one ever since I moved from the UK to Australia 22 years ago. And I fully support Australia's multiculturalism, as long as it's done right. The only people uncomfortable being called immigrants are the nationalist, xenophobic, nativist hypocrites who can't come to terms with having become the very thing they've grown to hate.
Economic refugees or brokepats are the most accurate terms for 99% of the blobs who move here
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