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It depends. Some of these people (their parents) left their home country because of economic reasons. This is the primary reason for immigration from Eastern Eu

by petre 5y ago

It depends. Some of these people (their parents) left their home country because of economic reasons. This is the primary reason for immigration from Eastern Europe to the EU and the UK. If you're in the US, yes, the visa selection program requirements make your average immigrant come from richer or more connected families. For instance quite a number of people left my country to the US using connections in neo protestant church communities - that's what I've meant by connected.

whimsicalism 5y ago
What country? Even many of those who left for economic reasons come from richer families that are leaving because of new policies that are less friendly to the wealthy or previously privileged classes. See, for instance, white emigration from South Africa or Zimbabwe to the United States. Also, to be clear, this is specifically an American perspective and even more specifically, about international students - labor migration from Eastern Europe to the EU is of a decidedly different character and more analogous to the comments I was making about people from the Americas in the US.
pmoriarty 5y ago
> > people typically come from the richest/most connected families in their home country > It depends. Some of these people (their parents) left their home country because of economic reasons. Another common reason for leaving is discrimination. Those people who leave because of discrimination are very rarely well connected or wealthy, or they usually wouldn't have to leave. Then there are the outright asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, who are also usually very poor and lack connections.
- whimsicalism 5y ago
  It seems like everyone replying has ignored my caveats. Most international students are not there because of discrimination they faced. Most people who are seeking asylum or undocumented in the US are from the Americas. For international students not from the Americas, most are wealthy or well connected by the standards of their home country, although often not by American standards. It's not uncommon to hear about the banker who became a taxi driver in the US, but what you hear less of is the farmer's kid - because they never even get a chance to come.
  - petre 5y ago
    I think you are generalising and exagerating a bit. As it happens, I had a colleague and an acquaitance who both worked as a taxi drivers in Chicago and knew each other. They weren't bankers, nor farmers' kids. Their parents were middle class teachers and accountants. Reality is more boring and mundane than you might imagine.
    - whimsicalism 5y ago
      Was your colleague an international student? If not, it seems like you should read my comment again :) And of course I'm generalizing! I have no doubt there are exceptions, but the fact remains that it is largely true.

by petre 5y ago

whimsicalism 5y ago

What country? Even many of those who left for economic reasons come from richer families that are leaving because of new policies that are less friendly to the wealthy or previously privileged classes. See, for instance, white emigration from South Africa or Zimbabwe to the United States. Also, to be clear, this is specifically an American perspective and even more specifically, about international students - labor migration from Eastern Europe to the EU is of a decidedly different character and more analogous to the comments I was making about people from the Americas in the US.

pmoriarty 5y ago

> > people typically come from the richest/most connected families in their home country > It depends. Some of these people (their parents) left their home country because of economic reasons. Another common reason for leaving is discrimination. Those people who leave because of discrimination are very rarely well connected or wealthy, or they usually wouldn't have to leave. Then there are the outright asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, who are also usually very poor and lack connections.

whimsicalism 5y ago
It seems like everyone replying has ignored my caveats. Most international students are not there because of discrimination they faced. Most people who are seeking asylum or undocumented in the US are from the Americas. For international students not from the Americas, most are wealthy or well connected by the standards of their home country, although often not by American standards. It's not uncommon to hear about the banker who became a taxi driver in the US, but what you hear less of is the farmer's kid - because they never even get a chance to come.
- petre 5y ago
  I think you are generalising and exagerating a bit. As it happens, I had a colleague and an acquaitance who both worked as a taxi drivers in Chicago and knew each other. They weren't bankers, nor farmers' kids. Their parents were middle class teachers and accountants. Reality is more boring and mundane than you might imagine.
  - whimsicalism 5y ago
    Was your colleague an international student? If not, it seems like you should read my comment again :) And of course I'm generalizing! I have no doubt there are exceptions, but the fact remains that it is largely true.