What Is the Difference Between an Expat and an Immigrant?
In the United States, the difference between an expat and an immigrant is about purpose, perception, and how you envision your life in a new country. While immigrants arrive from their native country intending to stay permanently and build roots, expats usually see their time living abroad as a chapter rather than the whole story.
Even if you’ve come for a career leap, a lifestyle choice, or the adventure of working abroad, understanding where you fit on this spectrum can shape your legal requirements and how you’re perceived in your host country.
Before exploring the formal definition, it helps to look at the broader context in which the term “immigrant” is used in the US. Public perception, legal frameworks, and everyday conversations can influence how people understand and apply the label.
An immigrant comes to a new country, typically intending to live permanently and integrate into society. In the US, this often involves obtaining a green card, securing lawful permanent residency, or eventually applying for citizenship. Unlike those who relocate temporarily, immigrants aim to make the US their long-term home.
From a legal perspective, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines an immigrant as an individual admitted for lawful permanent residence under US immigration laws. This status grants the right to work without restrictions, access most public benefits, and remain in the country indefinitely.
It’s worth noting that “immigrate” refers to arriving in a new country, while “emigrate” means leaving your home country to live elsewhere—the difference lies in the point of view.
The main focus of being an immigrant is building a life in the host country. This involves creating a stable home, pursuing better economic opportunities, accessing education, reuniting with family, and contributing to the local economy.
Immigrants often invest in:
Learning the language and adapting to the local culture
Meeting legal requirements to secure long-term residency
Establishing community ties and forming new surroundings
Pursuing career growth while planning for future generations
The word immigrant can carry mixed meanings. In the US, it may be linked with negative stereotypes, especially in discussions about migrant workers or refugees. However, for many, it reflects resilience, ambition, and pursuing economic opportunities and a better life beyond one’s birth country.
Public perception often depends on factors such as skin colour, class, and profession, highlighting that the difference between labels can be shaped by social bias rather than purely by legal status.
Examples include:
Migrant workers who transition into long-term residents
Skilled professionals with permanent job offers
Refugees granted asylum who rebuild their lives in the US
Family members reuniting with relatives already in the country
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, over 1 million people are granted lawful permanent resident status annually, representing diverse groups from across the globe.
The concept of an expatriate in the US extends beyond its textbook meaning. Work arrangements, lifestyle choices, and the cultural lens of locals and foreigners can shape what being an expat looks like.
An expat, short for expatriate, is a person living abroad in a different country, in this case, the US, without the intention to stay permanently. Often, they are foreign workers or business expatriates assigned by multinational companies, entrepreneurs expanding into the US market, or professionals exploring a lifestyle choice.
In essence, being an expatriate means leaving your home country, but it doesn’t necessarily imply settling permanently elsewhere—you can be an expatriate without becoming an immigrant.
However, ingrained sociocultural biases often shape how the term is used. According to a BBC article, “expat” is more commonly applied to educated, affluent professionals working abroad. In contrast, those from less privileged backgrounds or poorer nations are more likely to be labeled as foreign workers or immigrants.
The primary focus of being an expat is career advancement, cultural experience, and personal growth while living abroad temporarily. Expats typically:
Maintain strong ties to their home country
Aim to gain professional expertise in the host country
Enjoy new surroundings without necessarily integrating deeply
Prioritize income growth, career development, and international networking
The word expat often carries a positive connotation, suggesting opportunity, privilege, and global experience. It is frequently used to describe professionals or class segments working in high-skill jobs, whereas similar situations involving people from lower-income backgrounds might be labeled differently.
This difference in terminology has been criticized for revealing subtle stereotypes. For example, expats from the UK or Western Europe may be celebrated for working abroad, while equally skilled workers from other regions are called immigrants or migrant workers.
Examples include:
A business expatriate from Singapore leading a US branch office
A tech professional from the UK working in Silicon Valley on an H-1B visa
A university lecturer from Australia teaching in an American institution for two years
A marketing consultant living abroad temporarily to manage US-based projects
While there’s no strict definition, a common distinction is that an expatriate relocates abroad temporarily, often for work or specific purposes, with plans to return home, whereas an immigrant moves to another country permanently and establishes it as their new home.
The primary difference between an expat and an immigrant is intention. Immigrants intend to stay permanently in their new country, while expats usually plan to return to their home country after a fixed period. Their intention determines their legal path, lifestyle choices, and level of cultural adaptation.
For example, an expatriate on an H-1B visa or intra-company transfer may arrive in the US with a defined contract and a planned end date. By contrast, an immigrant may enter to secure a green card, apply for citizenship, and build a life spanning generations.
Immigrants often work toward full cultural integration, learning the language, understanding local customs, and embracing new surroundings to become part of the host country’s society. Their intention to live permanently means they adapt their lifestyle choices to align with the locals.
Expats, however, may maintain strong ties to their native country and social circles from similar backgrounds. While some embrace culture and local networks, others may remain in expat communities, limiting deep integration. This is particularly common when the stay is short-term or focused primarily on career rather than building a permanent home.
Social perception can differ sharply, sometimes influenced by skin colour, profession, class, or country of origin. The term expat often has a positive connotation, associated with professionals, economic opportunities, and global experience.
Meanwhile, the word immigrant can be linked with negative stereotypes, especially when referring to low-income migrant workers or refugees, despite their essential contributions.
For instance, a business expatriate from the UK may be called "expat". At the same time, someone from the same company but a lower-paying role from a different region may be considered an immigrant or migrant worker. This illustrates how words and labels reflect more than legal status. They reveal societal biases.
The difference is highly subjective. Labels like "expat" versus "immigrant" can be shaped by social context, nationality, and occupation, rather than by legal status alone.
Even with similar intentions and backgrounds, two individuals may be labeled differently based on perceived skin color, class, or professional role.
For example, a skilled professional from Western Europe may be described as a “business expatriate” on a contract. At the same time, someone in a similar field from another region may be called an “immigrant”. The words we choose reflect biases as much as they clarify definitions.
Yes. An individual can begin as an expat, on a temporary work assignment in the US, but later transition to immigrant status if they decide to stay permanently, pursue residency, or apply for citizenship.
For example, a professional on an H-1B visa (expat) may fall in love with life in the US, seek a green card, and eventually obtain permanent residency—their label shifts as their intention changes from short-term to a permanent status.
How does the social and political context affect the use of the terms “expat” and “immigrant”?
Context matters greatly. In the US, terms are influenced by media, policy, and cultural narratives.
“Expats” from allied or Western nations are often welcomed during skilled-labor shortages. In contrast, broader immigration debates regarding low-wage migrant workers or refugees can frame “immigrants” more negatively.
Furthermore, employment-based visas (e.g., H-1B) and family-based green cards classify individuals, reinforcing distinctions based on profession, intent, and perceived contributions.
The main difference between an expat and an immigrant is intention: immigrants intend to settle long-term in the US, while expats typically move temporarily for work or lifestyle reasons.
Yes. If an expat decides to stay permanently, moves toward residency, and integrates into society, they become immigrants.
The term expat tends to carry a positive connotation, linked with opportunity and professionalism. In contrast, immigrants can be burdened by negative stereotypes, especially for those in lower-income or non-high-skilled roles, even though both groups contribute significantly to society.
Understanding the difference between an expat and an immigrant matters for individuals, policymakers, and businesses alike. While both groups navigate borders, legal requirements, and cultural shifts, the distinction often refers to intention, integration, and language. Recognizing these nuances can foster greater empathy, fairer policies, and accurate representation.
For expats, moving to the US is not just about the money or career opportunities. It’s also about embracing a new way of life. For immigrants, the idea often extends to building long-term roots and contributing to the community in deeper, more permanent ways.
If you’re preparing for your next chapter living abroad in the US, or already navigating the challenges and opportunities of being an expatriate, you’ll benefit from expert insights, resources, and tailored solutions designed for global citizens. Discover more about making your transition smooth and secure by exploring WellAway for guidance, tools, and articles crafted for the modern expat experience.