Do you feel like an immigrant or an expatriate ?

[ICELANDMAN]

I have been reading the ThaiVisa forum for a couple of years to improve my English even if sometimes what I write becomes incomprehensible and it seems to me, except for errors, that there are two counter posed fields that were addressed on the forum, on the one hand expatriates and on the other other immigrants and now the time has come to clarify in order to avoid unnecessary discussions on various topics, for clarity,

 

From https://dictionary.cambridge.org/fr/dictionnaire/anglais/expatriate

 

relating to people who do not live in their own country:

The company has eight expatriate staff working around the world.

 

 

1)  expatriates are those who plan to stay a certain period of their life in Thailand

 

 

2)   immigrant

 

a person who has come to a different country in order to live there permanently:

 

while for immigrants they are those who want to integrate completely and stay forever in Thailand.

 

For many of us who have lived in Thailand for several years I would have a question to ask.

 

Do you feel like an immigrant or an expatriate? 

 

 

 

 

[Pilotman]

I see myself as an international man of mystery.  I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you.  ????

 

Seriously, I see myself as neither; I am on an extended holiday. 

[KhunKenAP]

In Thailand and when going to the Thai Immigration office, you feel guilty until proven innocent.

[WineOh]

I'm past caring now what the locals think of me.

 

I keep myself to myself and will keep it that way.

 

I ignore just about everybody these days, locals and expats alike. 

[Neeranam]

Immigrant

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

I am an alien on extended holiday with my Thai wife.

????❤????????

[Jingthing]

I'm a realist. 

As I have no path whatsoever to citizenship here (which I don't want) or permanent residence (which I would want) and I live here based on a non-immigrant visa with conditional one year extensions, I'll never be an immigrant here even if I never leave. Not sure if expat is the term I would use but it's much closer to the truth than immigrant. Maybe very, very, very long term tourist?

 

If I had moved to a country that had offered me a path to permanent residence I definitely would have taken that and possibly even citizenship. Then I would be an immigrant. 

But never in Thailand. 

Edited December 17, 2020 by Jingthing

[ExpatOilWorker]

I feel like a guest.

 

Immigrant kind of implies you will settle down and integrate, neither of which I have any plans of doing.

Edited December 17, 2020 by ExpatOilWorker

[Oldie]

Long stay tourist. 

[Lacessit]

Sorry, I don't pigeonhole myself on some Procrustean bed of classification.

[bkk6060]

Expatriate, but I never think about it.

Just enjoying my time and life here who knows what is down the road.

[Pravda]

A guest. A tourist.

 

And even though I am married to Thai woman I am thankful that my visa is extended and have the luxury of choice in life although I am not wealthy.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Hehe, you’re never an immigrant. You’re always on “extensions of stay”, for which you must beg and grovel, with more and more ridiculous paperwork each time. They even go so far as to call it a NON-immigrant visa, just in case you forgot.

[polpott]

I live in Thailand with my wife and son and have no intention of leaving. I am financially secure and very happy, thank you. End of.

 

No labels for me thanks, they are unwarranted, inappropriate and unwelcome and won't be accepted by me.

 

 

[tonray]

24 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

I'm past caring now what the locals think of me.

 

I keep myself to myself and will keep it that way.

 

I ignore just about everybody these days, locals and expats alike. 

Especially Expats 

[tonray]

16 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Sorry, I don't pigeonhole myself on some Procrustean bed of classification.

The one thing I haven't been able to find  in Thailand....good Procrustean bread

Edited December 17, 2020 by tonray

[Old Croc]

An expatriate would be the closest description of me I guess, although the uncertainty and temporary nature of my visa/extensions would suggest I'm more appropriately described as a long term visitor.

 

33 minutes ago, ICELANDMAN said:

1)  expatriates are those who plan to stay a certain period of their life in Thailand

 

relating to people who do not live in their own country:

 

 

 

I can never be an immigrant.

[Neeranam]

As a naturalized Thai citizen, can one still be an expat. I may have to leave this forum as it's for expats ???? 

[NanLaew]

36 minutes ago, KhunKenAP said:

In Thailand and when going to the Thai Immigration office, you feel guilty until proven innocent.

 

I don't.

 

But if you do, maybe you should use an agent.

 

PS: Agents come in two flavors. Those that simply do the work for your and the other sort that does ALL the work for you.

[NanLaew]

12 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Hehe, you’re never an immigrant. You’re always on “extensions of stay”, for which you must beg and grovel, with more and more ridiculous paperwork each time. They even go so far as to call it a NON-immigrant visa, just in case you forgot.

 

Did you just get "stranded" here a few months back?

[Techno Viking]

neither.

[NanLaew]

I'm sort of with @Pilotman on this insamuch I am the consumate international gypsy and the world is my oxter.

 

You should see my yurt!

[NanLaew]

13 minutes ago, tonray said:

The one thing I haven't been able to find  in Thailand....good Procrustean bread

 

Believe me, Malaysia's much worse.

[NanLaew]

41 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

I'm past caring now what the locals think of me.

 

I keep myself to myself and will keep it that way.

 

I ignore just about everybody these days, locals and expats alike. 

 

But you don't have to wear the LFC footie shirt all the time though, do you?

[ChakaKhan]

I feel like a sex tourist, or at  least thats how Im treated.....could be my being so hansum! ????

 

Will also accept being a Target aka ATM....the thais have taught me well on the art of being street smart

 

Many Ive met say I should write a book about my time in LOS..The title?  Welcome to the Hustle.

[nikmar]

38 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Procrustean

 

My new "word of the day". Thank you. ????

 

[Lacessit]

9 minutes ago, ChakaKhan said:

I feel like a sex tourist, or at  least thats how Im treated.....could be my being so hansum! ????

 

Will also accept being a Target aka ATM....the thais have taught me well on the art of being street smart

 

Many Ive met say I should write a book about my time in LOS..The title?  Welcome to the Hustle.

If one acknowledges they are an ATM, and know when to have it open and shut, they are a fair way to being content in Thailand.

One does not have to be hansum here. I still get propositioned occasionally, and no-one could call me that. I've seen guys that are as ugly as a hatful of bums, with absolute stunners attached to them.

I have a head start, my book is currently 227,000 words.

[Lacessit]

33 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

As a naturalized Thai citizen, can one still be an expat. I may have to leave this forum as it's for expats ???? 

There seems to be plenty of room for all kinds, don't worry about it.

[JWRC]

Why does everything have to be grouped and labelled. I am here because this is where I choose to be right now, some might say an extra long extended holiday, but when and if I no longer want to stay I will move on. It's that simple

[CharlieH]

To me, it doesnt matter what you think you are, the Thai authorities deem you an "Alien" and most visa are NON IMM which is NOT IMMIGRANT, so clearly you are not that and will remain an expat, for the majority of people here. Unless and until they change their attitude (unlikely).IMHO