The immigrant hierarchy in the UK
09-May-2008
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The immigrant hierarchy in the UK

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The immigration policies in the UK need to be stricter, if only to give the immigrants here a better reputation!  I am a Caucasian, blue eyed, English-as-a-first-language immigrant to England – married to a British man.  I am well educated with two university degrees, bilingual, never been on benefits, and have worked since I immigrated here (making a decent wage, paying taxes, and contributing to a pension).

I had a by-the-books ordeal in moving here.  However when my husband mentions his wife is foreign, everyone makes assumptions like I'm a Thai bride, I am on benefits, I'm a refugee, or I can't speak English.  When they do finally meet me, I always get comments like "Oh, American!  That's not a proper immigrant!"  I am, in fact, Canadian but no one seems to understand the difference – it's a Commonwealth country for goodness sake!

UK Passport, immigrant hierarchy in the UK

I'm always told I'm not a real immigrant and then someone goes into a rant about the immigration system and how they shouldn't let anyone in.  I left my family, country, and entire life to come here and I'm not really an immigrant?  How strange.  People will compliment my accent one minute, then rant how they can't understand the foreigners in this country and they should learn English.  Everyone wants immigrants to conform to UK customs, but I am constantly asked to bring Canadian products, clothes, and food to people – someone even asked if I was having Thanksgiving this year.  "No, I am not", I said, "Its not a British tradition!"  Then there followed a protest about how I should keep my culture, even though I live here in the UK.

Is there such a twisted double standard that people don't even notice they are conforming to it?  What if I were from a country other than Canada?  Would people still stare at me in public when I speak?  Would everyone still ask me if I miss 'home' and say they'd love to go there?

There seems to be a hierarchy among immigrants; a level of acceptance that is granted to me and not others.  It reminds me of something about cake and eating it too.

By: Steph


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Immigrant hierachy:
Anyone that speaks english as a first language / anyone from an economically developed country in Western Europe.
Anyone from Eastern Europe
Anyone from the Middle East or Africa

Thats the way it is.
If you are at the top you are not a real immigrant.
If you are in the middle you are an immigrant, but most of us secretly acknowledge the need for you as a migrant workforce.
If you are at the bottom, most of us don't want you unless you are genuinely escaping persecution.

It may sound harsh but this is English soil, we will feel however we want to feel.
*Rule_Britannia  27-Apr-2008 14:00

 
"To Mike P when you have something that make sense to say then post it on here but until then keep quiet.
Vionet saner 25-Apr-2008 23:51 "

Let's just clarify something. What makes sense to me and others may not make sense to you because of a difference in views, or due to your intellectual and educational inferiority. That does not give you the right to tell me not to post my views. If you don't like them, don't understand them, or don't agree with them, that's tough.
*MikeP  26-Apr-2008 11:56

 
To Mike P when you have something that make sense to say then post it on here but until then keep quiet.
*Vionet saner  25-Apr-2008 23:51

 
Sorry you think we are not so accepting to other races/cultures of immigrants as we are yourself, and sorry about people calling you an American [what an insult! ;)
I suppose you can make a class system out of everything, and you being skilled, educated and English speaking does make you better. Highly skilled and hard working immigrants are welcome whatever their race, it's the others that the negativity is saved for.You are now in Europe where your racial traits come from so get off your moral high horse also. I want immigration to be stricter so as not to let in so many low skilled white Europeans [Polish ect]. It's nice you want stop everything Canadian, not many Pakistani Muslims and the like leave their own cultures in their homelands. They are free to live how they like though here, it's all about respect. I don't see much respect these days though from the majority of immigrants, they're just here for money or an easier life because they know the UK is a soft touch and accommodate their religions and cultures while forgetting our own. The twisted double standard is the political correct way to be here, we wouldn't want to be called racist for wanting to enforce our own culture and ethnic race like the African/Asian/ect homelands do.
*Paul.  11-Apr-2008 15:57

 
People you have to respond - vote for independance parties - the main-stream parties represent the same policies dressed up differently. Politicians rely on manifestoes that they know they will never have to honour and on the apathy of the British electorate. Wake up - it is our country, but we have to stand up against dross government. I reckon that between the Iraq occupation and massive immigration history will judge New Labour as the worst government of modern times. Start today - e-mail your local MP with your top 5 wish list - send it every week.
*Deliverance  04-Apr-2008 10:23

 
The government's response to the report shows just how arrogant and out-of-touch it has become. I detest Gordon Brown and his government so much. It is time for him and the rest of them to go, although who the hell they will be replaced with I don't know. I doubt that a Tory government would be any different - all the major political parties are in the pockets of big business, and business wants mass immigration because they want cheap labour.
*norealdemocracyintheUK  02-Apr-2008 19:18

 
The government has now been given a report which says, in a nutshell, that this trend of mass immigration has no benefit to the country, and yet they want to step up the number of immigrants. Robbing Mugape and his retinue of thugs and his evil wife will no doubt be on a 'plane soon from Zimbabwe to seek asylum in UK.
*MikeP  02-Apr-2008 13:50

 
Simple - Stop all immigration today for a six month period and them resume with strict controls.
The current stock of immigrants do not even pay road tax or insure their cars - no wonder they can undercut local wage levels.
Ditch the European Union & Human Rights and bring home all UK troops from foreign soil.
The United Kingdom has become a dumping ground for scroungers and a gold mine for lawyers.
New Labour is the worst government I have ever known - get rid.
*Deliverance  02-Apr-2008 10:27

 
So what is so special about the UK? There are more better and wonderful places to migrate to even in Africa than the UK.Putting more stringent rules on UK immigration would not change anything.The problem is that British people have been so localized in UK that they now feel UK is an El dorado. Please let learn to live on this earth as one people.
*Johnny  01-Apr-2008 14:58

 
Hi I feel the same like you, This is Great Britain which colonised half of the world. during there colonial power no one sees them as a borden. They put confusion everywhere, but if you come over here to seek refuge or as a commonwelth memeber they don't recognie you. but the law was put by them. I am a Biafran national, but there in my country the british live like kings and no one discriminates against them. I don't really understand what is going on.
*BIAFRAN BORN  27-Mar-2008 08:15

 
Rogue lawyers are bribing asylum seekers with free gifts including mobile phones, to cash in on £175million legal aid.

New arrivals are also given meals and phone cards to call relatives as incentives to sign with firms. The law firms even pay interpreters £50 a head for each new client they recruit. Refugees get free legal aid and there is fierce competition between lawyers who charge big fees which are paid by taxpayers.

The racket was uncovered by Immigration Service Commission after an investigation. The probing targeted Dover, where many illegal immigrants enter Britain.
*Mike  10-Mar-2008 10:42

 
MikeP, of course your point is valid. A nail bomb set off in the middle of the high street does not discriminate in anyway whatsoever. Of course, the terrorists will try to have some level of discrimination when deciding where to place these bombs, although Muslim fundamentalists (like all fundamentalists of whatever religion or creed) will have so many targets to choose from that it will make discrimination difficult for them. As a non heterosexual man myself, (apparently I cannot use the word g-y) I think I probably am a prime target.
I still think my point about immigration from certain areas of the world still stands. Is it racist? Well, I hope not. I just think it is a matter of commonsense . . . I hope
*matt C  24-Feb-2008 12:24


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