Us ex pats are we really immigrants ?

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

Yes, you're an immigrant. And there's nothing wrong with that at all.

Yes, you're an immigrant. And there's nothing wrong with that at all.

My Father was an immigrant to the UK, He was Egyptian but had to work to live and survive, My Mother English and I was born in Cardiff

There's a lot of former Irishmen I know who are Ex Pats and they're all emigrants.

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

I made this point o here before. Ex-pats seem to be names they give themselves, although the reality is that they are immigrants!

To make matters worse, they make no attempt to integrate into the local life and stick to their own 'ex-pat' circles, let alone learn the language!

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

The right to reside in Spain for starters... The right to travel wherever and whenever you want. The right to work and trade without borders and workers rights that successive tory governments would loved to have taken away from you and still would if we vote to leave. The right to vote in European elections if you choose to do so. Lasting peace in Europe for the first time in generations...The chance to eat and drink imported foods, plus many antiquated British laws have had to be changed to improve people's lives as a result of us being in the EU - emissions, pollution, water quality, beaches to name just a few. Yes there is a lot wrong with it, but by heck, our lives are a million times better as a result of it.

Anyone residing in a country that is not the country of their birth (where there birth was registered) is an immigrant in their adopted country. Here is the Oxford English Dictionary definitiion of the noun "immigrant":

One who or that which immigrates; a person who migrates into a country as a settler

So all people calling themselves "ex-pats" are by definition immigrants - and the worlds greatest civilisations have been built on the process of immigration.

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

The right to reside in Spain for starters... The right to travel wherever and whenever you want. The right to work and trade without borders and workers rights that successive tory governments would loved to have taken away from you and still would if we vote to leave. The right to vote in European elections if you choose to do so. Lasting peace in Europe for the first time in generations...The chance to eat and drink imported foods, plus many antiquated British laws have had to be changed to improve people's lives as a result of us being in the EU - emissions, pollution, water quality, beaches to name just a few. Yes there is a lot wrong with it, but by heck, our lives are a million times better as a result of it.

Wrong, Ive lived here before we were in the EU, and Franco ruled then.
Wrong on travel.
Wrong all stuff from the UK in to Mallorca is held back,labelled etc unlike other countries.

Don't want to vote in European elections.

So how do u think America and 162 other countries eat foreign foods who are not in the EU.

I accept that you lived in Spain previously - your understanding of how things work in Spain is obviously superior to mine. But that is not the general rule way of how things used to be without it being exceptionally difficult to achieve.

so, your telling me that EU citizens don't have the right to travel without restriction within the EU? If that's the case why is the leave side so concerned about people coming here even though we actually have some of the strongest border controls?

Nobody has to vote in any election, but you can't go complaining we are being ruled by Brussels if you can't be bothered. These people are democratically elected whether you like it or not and perhaps the fact that so many Brits have refused to take part is the reason the EU has become such an emotive issue. Nobody pretends it is perfect but I would rather be inclusive than isolationist which is where we are heading if we leave.

Anyway - personally, I hope tomorrow morning we can wake up and find Farrage, Johnson and the likes will have disappeared for good and we can look forward to the footie again on Saturday.

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

The right to reside in Spain for starters... The right to travel wherever and whenever you want. The right to work and trade without borders and workers rights that successive tory governments would loved to have taken away from you and still would if we vote to leave. The right to vote in European elections if you choose to do so. Lasting peace in Europe for the first time in generations...The chance to eat and drink imported foods, plus many antiquated British laws have had to be changed to improve people's lives as a result of us being in the EU - emissions, pollution, water quality, beaches to name just a few. Yes there is a lot wrong with it, but by heck, our lives are a million times better as a result of it.

the chance to eat foreign food is thanks to the EU, Bwhahahaha you really shouldn't post after sniffing glue. Lasting peace in Europe???? What about the million slaughtered in the Balkans. Seriously mate your talking random bollox.

The Balkans War involved countries outside the EU, many of which are now members or associated members, so its unlikely that it is likely to happen again especially as many Balkan nations are now members of NATO too which should ensure lasting peace - which was my point though perhaps not so well articulated.

As for food, well, you seem determined to put words in my mouth so to speak. Again the point was supposed to be in context with other things that being part of EU has helped improve in the UK - easier access to a more varied and potentially healthier diet was the point.

The Balkans War involved countries outside the EU, many of which are now members or associated members, so its unlikely that it is likely to happen again especially as many Balkan nations are now members of NATO too which should ensure lasting peace - which was my point though perhaps not so well articulated.

As for food, well, you seem determined to put words in my mouth so to speak. Again the point was supposed to be in context with other things that being part of EU has helped improve in the UK - easier access to a more varied and potentially healthier diet was the point.

The Balkans are in Europe though I take your point, as for a better diet, I didn't see broccoli till 1975 (when I moved down here ) I'd suggest international travel has broadened people's outlook and encouraged a better more diverse diet not being in the EU BTW the EU were so inept they couldn't sort the Balkan War out and the Yanks had to step in.

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

The right to reside in Spain for starters... The right to travel wherever and whenever you want. The right to work and trade without borders and workers rights that successive tory governments would loved to have taken away from you and still would if we vote to leave. The right to vote in European elections if you choose to do so. Lasting peace in Europe for the first time in generations...The chance to eat and drink imported foods, plus many antiquated British laws have had to be changed to improve people's lives as a result of us being in the EU - emissions, pollution, water quality, beaches to name just a few. Yes there is a lot wrong with it, but by heck, our lives are a million times better as a result of it.

In your previous post you commented that Annis was lucky enough to buy his residence in Majorca. So if his ability to live there is based on a transactional relationship (I.e being able to buy the right to live somewhere) wouldn't that make your point about the benefits of being part of the EU and the rights it entails moot?

Surely if he has had to 'buy' his right to live somewhere then freedom of movement is a null and void argument?

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

The right to reside in Spain for starters... The right to travel wherever and whenever you want. The right to work and trade without borders and workers rights that successive tory governments would loved to have taken away from you and still would if we vote to leave. The right to vote in European elections if you choose to do so. Lasting peace in Europe for the first time in generations...The chance to eat and drink imported foods, plus many antiquated British laws have had to be changed to improve people's lives as a result of us being in the EU - emissions, pollution, water quality, beaches to name just a few. Yes there is a lot wrong with it, but by heck, our lives are a million times better as a result of it.

In your previous post you commented that Annis was lucky enough to buy his residence in Majorca. So if his ability to live there is based on a transactional relationship (I.e being able to buy the right to live somewhere) wouldn't that make your point about the benefits of being part of the EU and the rights it entails moot?

Surely if he has had to 'buy' his right to live somewhere then freedom of movement is a null and void argument?

Spot on

The Balkans War involved countries outside the EU, many of which are now members or associated members, so its unlikely that it is likely to happen again especially as many Balkan nations are now members of NATO too which should ensure lasting peace - which was my point though perhaps not so well articulated.

As for food, well, you seem determined to put words in my mouth so to speak. Again the point was supposed to be in context with other things that being part of EU has helped improve in the UK - easier access to a more varied and potentially healthier diet was the point.

The Balkans are in Europe though I take your point, as for a better diet, I didn't see broccoli till 1975 (when I moved down here ) I'd suggest international travel has broadened people's outlook and encouraged a better more diverse diet not being in the EU BTW the EU were so inept they couldn't sort the Balkan War out and the Yanks had to step in.

Yes mate - I have visited a few of the Balkan countries i.e. Croatia, Greece & Bulgaria. It was a horrific war and the scars are obviously still there for many, but surely integration and inclusiveness is the way forward in order to stop it happening again... And don't the Yanks have to sort all wars eventually? I agree that international travel has broadened people's minds, but I'm really not trying to push the point that the EU itself has broadened our diet but the fact that we have much easier access to imported goods that we never saw before we joined...

Not really mate - his position has been made easier by his ability to buy the things that smooth the path. Under EU law, he has the right to reside in an EU country as a citizen of a fellow member state whatever his financial circumstances, he is just fortunate enough to be in the happy position of being able to sort all of the legalities in one go.

I helped someone to move to the UK from another EU country and there was plenty of red tape to go through here too regarding getting an NI etc., the only difference being that there was no cost involved.

A few of us on here now live and work abroad including Annis - the majority of Brits abroad call themselves ex pats but if we were doing the reverse and coming to Britain we would be classed as immigrants ?

Is there any difference or do we just use a different terminology ?

Theres a big difference.

Everything is different, to get Spanish Residance in Mallorca.

You have to pay

Council Tax.
Helps if you own a property.
Have your own private medical insurance or pay money in to the Spanish system like NI.
Pay for school books if your children are lucky to get in to their state schools, 21 max in a class.
Pay for your children and Wife to have a NI number.
Pay for their birth certificates to be translated to Spanish.
Go to three different offices and you need either to Spk Spanish or bring a friend, No free translator, I took Mason aka Santa Ponsa Blue

It goes on and on
I said to one office but your in the EU, she said this is Mallorca, abide by our rules or don't move here.

So essentially Annis - you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your way residency. It makes no difference you are still an immigrant in Spain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I am seriously considering moving to another part of the EU myself where I would be an immigrant. But what I find incomprehensible is how you can vote for the UK to leave while taking advantage of all the things the EU allows you to do as one of its citizens...

Tell me please what the EU gives me?

The right to reside in Spain for starters... The right to travel wherever and whenever you want. The right to work and trade without borders and workers rights that successive tory governments would loved to have taken away from you and still would if we vote to leave. The right to vote in European elections if you choose to do so. Lasting peace in Europe for the first time in generations...The chance to eat and drink imported foods, plus many antiquated British laws have had to be changed to improve people's lives as a result of us being in the EU - emissions, pollution, water quality, beaches to name just a few. Yes there is a lot wrong with it, but by heck, our lives are a million times better as a result of it.

Nothing is free in EU countries lived in France had to pay for everything as not french resident, yes can live there as in EU but at a cost we in UK charge peanuts if anything for EU citizens to live here. as for things like water quality can you drink water in Spain from tap? Couldn't in ibiza and most of EU ignore EU regulations except us of course !!

I've lived in France & Germany and agree though you do get back health costs with E111. I believe its not so straightforward anymore to get free health and dental care here for non UK citizens.

I've lived in France & Germany and agree though you do get back health costs with E111. I believe its not so straightforward anymore to get free health and dental care here for non UK citizens.

No it's not as easy to get it here but having said that it's just as hard to get the buggers to pay what they owe us the amount is massive!

Totally agree Annis - complete nightmare and not as fortunate as you in financial terms

Plus I have the added hassle which will turn out to me a nightmare crossing the border to Gibraltar each day.

Under Franco they closed the border and with the result today the whole of Gibraltar is concerned this could well happen again

My short stay just might be over only time will tell !!

I'm an immigrant in Australia. I pay my taxes. I don't claim any government allowances. I have three businesses which contribute to the Australian economy (in a tiny way!).

I am a proud British immigrant.

Yes. You are immigrants.
What of it? Many people have come to Wales and paid their way and contributed hugely. I include one doctor who saved a member of my families life.i am born and bred in Cardiff of Welsh parents. I could never move to another country. I feel particularly flat because we (Wales) have voted for the little England mentality and lost some more of our nationhood. I love my country as it dies.

Unless the UK can now arrange for free movement around EU states future potential ex-pats may find their ability to move heavily restricted.

Under the Geneva convention though, ex-pats at the time of will probably have reserved rights to remain in the county they choose to live in.

It still begs the question, how would any UK citizen choosing to live in another EU country want to leave the EU....

Unless the UK can now arrange for free movement around EU states future potential ex-pats may find their ability to move heavily restricted.

Under the Geneva convention though, ex-pats at the time of will probably have reserved rights to remain in the county they choose to live in.

It still begs the question, how would any UK citizen choosing to live in another EU country want to leave the EU....

It really is quite unbelievable isn't it... And voting out has now made it much more difficult for anyone else wanting to do so.