You moved to another country to live and work there. What makes you an "expat" and not an immigrant? The color of your skin?
It really depends on what your definition is I guess. I also don't really feel like I've integrated with the culture. I've really only been here a year. I don't know a lick of the language (I mean I can do basic things like order food, have basic conversation etc) but ultimately I don't think I'll consider myself an "immigrant" till after that happens. Hope that helps. I'm sure other folks would define it as well.
It's a gray area. I still get paid by america (while living in japan)
I apologize if my question came off as hostile, but it was meant to be to a certain extent! I've been here for 4 years now (leaving soon) and "expat" just rubs me the wrong way. It's a light term with an adventurous connotation that applies exclusively to Westerners; I've never seen third-world labor described as "expats" here, regardless of however permanent or transient their residence might be. At a time when the notion of immigration conjures up such hostility, it seems in poor taste to cordon off a subset of migratory activity as something distinct: "I'm not in your country, taking advantage of its resources; I'm simply outside my country." It doesn't help that many "expats" I've come in contact with have espoused remarkably reactionary opinions regarding foreigners in their home countries.
I can only speak for myself, but I left a $10/hr job in the US during a recovery that wasn't because I thought I could shake it better in Japan (studied Japanese in uni.) Even though I'm not going to wind up living here forever, I'm still the definition of an economic migrant.
Ironically, I've created jobs in Japan so I feel like I'm contributing actually. I'm happy with my position in the country and hope to stay for a long time. My co also employs people in the US though.
Being that I'm a founder myself, I strongly advocate for US immigrants where possible. I wouldn't have been able to get my start anywhere else (even japan) if I didn't have US resources (especially being YC backed)