What is the difference between immigrant and migrant

Most importantly, they are free to return home whenever they choose. A migrant is someone who is moving from place to place within his or her country or across borders , usually for economic reasons such as seasonal work. Similar to immigrants, they were not forced to leave their native countries because of persecution or violence, but rather are seeking better opportunities. Many of those crossing the U.

They have a well-founded fear of persecution if they were to return home. Learn more about the migrant caravan and the families seeking safety in the U. Donate now to help the IRC support refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable people worldwide. Your gift today will be used wherever the need is greatest. Skip to main content. Iraq Jordan Lebanon. Syria Yemen. Afghanistan Bangladesh Malaysia Myanmar. Pakistan Philippines Thailand.

Colombia El Salvador. Venezuela Mexico. A migrant is an individual who is purposefully on the move in search of a better life, but can return home at any time if they so choose. In the United States, this individual would obtain a non-immigrant visa NIV , which includes more than 20 different categories of classifications, including the following:. An immigrant is an individual who willingly leaves their country of origin and legally enters another country where they are granted permission to permanently resettle, thus qualifying them to work without restriction.

Their reasons for wanting to resettle can be many—from a longing for economic prosperity or a better education, to the fulfillment of a dream or reunion with family. To review, here are a few differences:. Words and definitions matter. And the way we describe the individuals that come and go across our borders matters, too. Understanding these terms helps us to know better how we can serve each person, whether a migrant or an immigrant. But a label is never the full story.

And so even if we know the category someone might fall under, it is important to always be listening, to be learning, to hold their humanity and their story with tenderness and attention.

He was wanted in China on corruption charges and fled to Canada. To put it simply, a migrant is someone who moves temporarily to a new country while an immigrant is someone who will settle and stay permanently. The difference between migrant and immigrant is clear when you keep this very simple trick in mind. Have you found this article helpful? Check out the rest of the website to find content that will help you grown and learn! Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider.

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Who Is Considered to Be an Immigrant?