Genealogy Friday: What is the Difference between Immigration vs. Emigration

So we’ve seen immigration and emigration.

We know that both are when you leave one country or area and move to another.  capevincent_tallships7

However, what is the difference?

Immigration is when a person leaves the area for another area.  S/he is the immigrant from Germany to the new world, for example.

The dictionary definition is “Immigration is the movement of people into a country to which they are not native in order to settle there, especially as permanent residents or future citizens.”

Emigration is when a person arrives in a new area and is beginning a new life.  {Such as arriving at Ellis Island}.  S/he is the Scottish emigrant to Virginia, for example.

The definition says, “Emigration is the act of leaving one’s native country with the intent to settle elsewhere.”  An emigrant is a person that has arrived from his or her native country or region to a different country or region.

How do you remember the difference between immigrant and emigrant?

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