[1] Within Asian American circles in the United States, the phrase is considered politically incorrect and derogatory.
It can also be used to describe the stereotypical behavior of new immigrants as, for example, their poor driving skills,[2] that they are educated yet working low-skilled or unskilled jobs, and their use of broken English.
[3] In the United Kingdom "fresh off the boat" (mostly in regard to Pakistanis and other South Asians, but can include other immigrant groups) are referred to as freshies or simply FOBs.
The term has also been adapted by immigrants themselves or others in their community who see the differentiation as a source of pride, where they have retained their culture and have not lost it to assimilation.
[5] Daryanani Law Group documents the struggles of ethnic communities to understand the English language.