Which term describes the process where a person seeks permanent residency in a new country?

The term that describes the process where a person seeks permanent residency in a new country is immigration. Immigration refers to the act of moving to a foreign country with the intention of living there permanently. This process typically involves various legal steps, including applying for visas, securing residency permits, and meeting specific requirements set by the host country.

Asylum refers specifically to the protection granted to individuals in a new country due to fear of persecution in their home country, which is a different process from merely seeking permanent residency. Refugee status also involves protection due to similar circumstances as asylum seekers but is specifically defined within the context of international law and humanitarian aid. Expatriation, on the other hand, involves leaving one's native country to live elsewhere, but it does not necessarily pertain to the intention of obtaining permanent residency or citizenship in the new location. Thus, immigration is the most appropriate and encompassing term for this process.