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> When most people say "immigrate", they are not referring to foreign worker status that allows for long term residency, but actual naturalization. do they? I
by riffraff 5y ago
> When most people say "immigrate", they are not referring to foreign worker status that allows for long term residency, but actual naturalization.
do they? I always thought it referred to long term residency.
E.g. I consider myself an immigrant even tho I do not have the citizenship of the country I live in.
- rsj_hn 5y agoIn English at least, "immigration" and "immigrants", refer to permanently moving to a new country, not long term residency or guest worker programs. I.e. you are intending to never return to your original country. If you are intending to return, then you are a long term resident, but not a permanent resident. e.g. Merriam-Webster: "a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence" OED online: "a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country."
- sixhobbits 5y agoThis is just playing with grammar. You can live somewhere permanently (in the grammar sense) while on a temporary permit (in the legal sense) and most people who emigrate go through various stages of (legal) temporary permits before being granted permanent residence (eg often requires 5 years of uninterrupted "temporary" residency) or citizenship (often 10-15 years).
- cedilla 5y agoThe majority of migrants don't permanently move to a new country. And really, does it make sense to categorize people on their unknowable intention? Especially since this can clash with legal reality. Undocumented migrants sometimes intend to stay permanently, but as soon as immigration laws are enforced, they will leave. And many foreign workers who intend to return to their home country never do so, rendering the distinction moot.