Are JETs Expats or Immigrants?

Are JETs expats or immigrants? In short, it’s up to you. This is a question I’ve pondered almost as long as I’ve lived and worked in Japan. I first read an article published by the BBC about this very topic and I found it influential to my thinking. It’s also been a question I’ve wanted to write about for almost as long. So why haven’t I? Well, this debate has been thoughtfully discussed by smarter minds before me. This debate has also been discussed by those who fling labels like a monkey flinging excrement towards zoo goers. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what shouldn’t be a controversial question by first defining our terms.

Definition of Expatriate (Expat)

Merriam Webster’s dictionary offers three definitions for the word “expatriate.” The most relevant definition for our discussion today is simply “a person who lives in a foreign country.” I first learned the word “expatriate” while reading Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises while in high school. Hemingway’s classic novel focused on a group of Americans temporarily living in Paris and hanging out at cafes. Webster’s definition of “expatriate” does not ascribe length of stay or intent to achieve permanent residency in another country. The above definition implies temporarily living abroad, but how long is temporary? Would you consider Ernest Hemingway an expat or an immigrant?

Definition of Immigrant

Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines the word “immigrant” as “a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence.” Most Americans think of immigrants as those coming to the United States to achieve a better quality of life, with many seeking citizenship or permanent residency. While my ancestors immigrated to the United States over 120 years ago to seek a better life, some never naturalized. Based on the above definition of “immigrant,” Giuseppe and Rosalie DiMaggio, the parents of baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, were simply expatriates. In fact, during World War II, they were treated as “enemy-aliens.” Giuseppe lost his livelihood and couldn’t visit his son Joe’s restaurant, as it was more than five miles away from his home. However, they never intended to return to their native Italy. So are they expats or immigrants?

So What Can We See?

Using dictionary definitions alone, the difference between expatriates and immigrants is their intent to achieve permanent residency in the country they are residing in. In the context of the JET Program, the vast majority of participants are considered expatriates. This is because most intend to return to their home countries at the end of their term. Some stay in Japan past JET and work other jobs, but most eventually return to their home countries. However, some JET program participants, including friends of mine, intend to obtain permanent residency in Japan. I consider those individuals immigrants to Japan for that very reason.

What Do You Picture When You think of Expats and Immigrants?

Some armchair sociologists on Reddit like to argue that “expat” is a euphemism for rich white people living in a foreign country while “immigrant” refers to working class nonwhite people. I couldn’t disagree more with these racist assumptions. Since my discussion focuses on the question of whether JET participants are expats or immigrants, I will use foreigners living and working in Japan to illustrate my point.

First, let’s briefly talk about Dr. Yvonne McNulty’s research (as cited by Kieran Nash). Dr. McNulty, who researches expats in Singapore, argue that race and salary have nothing to do with whether you’re an expat or an immigrant (or a migrant worker). They highlight maids and construction workers in Singapore to illustrate their point. Such workers, often working and residing temporarily in Singapore, and often from poorer countries, are considered expats because they intend to return to their home countries. 

The Expat or Immigrant Test

Japan has a lot of Vietnamese people who come here to learn Japanese or to take part in training programs. These training programs are rife with abuse and are, unfortunately, a topic for another discussion.  Are they expats? If their intent is to acquire skills in Japan and return to Vietnam, and they are legally allowed to find work in Japan, then yes, they are expats.

As stated previously, many JET Program participants come to Japan to teach English, or work for local governments, for a few years and return to their home countries. Are we expats? As long as we intend to return to our home countries, then yes.

How about immigrants to Japan? I can think of two, both JET Program participants from North America. Both immigrants are white men who intend on completing the JET Program for the full five years. They intend on staying in Japan for at least 10 years and obtaining permanent residency in Japan. Both, therefore, are immigrants to Japan.

My point is race and socioeconomic status have nothing to do with whether you’re an expat or an immigrant. However, I do concede socioeconomics influences one’s intentions to stay or leave their new country. While I’m focusing on Japan, this notion is universal.

Can Intentions Change?

Yes, one’s intentions can change. I’ve often said I would stay in Japan long term if I found the love of my life here. If that were to happen, I would sell off assets back in the United States and work toward obtaining permanent residency in Japan. Since my plans would change under this hypothetical, I would then become an immigrant to Japan.

As for my immigrant friends, they may change their minds and return to North America. They may decide against obtaining permanent residency in Japan. If that’s the case, then they would become expatriates.

One Point To Consider

This discussion ignores Migrants. Migrants are often people who live and work in another country but are not allowed to integrate into that country. JET Program participants, therefore, are not considered migrants because we are allowed to find other employment in Japan and relocate here after our time on JET concludes. While the program is intended to be short term, many people use JET as an easy way to enter Japan, change jobs, and set up shop in Japan.

Within the context of Japan’s controversial foreign trainee program, such workers are considered “migrants” as, up until recently, they were not allowed to find employment in Japan.

Conclusion

As you can see, the difference between “expatriate” and “immigrant,” as pointed out by Kieran Nash in his BBC article which influenced my writing, is a semantic one. Therefore, it is up to you to define your status as a foreigner living in Japan. Personally, the distinction lies in one’s intent to obtain permanent residency in Japan. Therefore, I consider myself an expatriate living in Japan.