whats the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker??

[NZStreetBaller]

Hey guys im having an argument with my girlfriend over this. She claims its the same thing but I think theirs a difference. So I seek knowledge from you know it alls

[sweggeh]

I would guess a refugee is someone who fled from a country that became inhabitable because of war or some other reason, and an asylum seeker is someone who is actively seeking asylum in this new country. They are almost the same thing, but asylum seeker is one step ahead of refugee.

Thats just my guess though, I don't know for sure.

[Miss Bella]

An asylum seeker is a refugee who is seeking protection in a country besides his own.

[El Kabong]

Different, but the same.


There is a great deal of confusion about the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee and often the terms are used interchangeably or incorrectly. An asylum seeker is someone who is seeking international protection but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined. In contrast, a refugee is someone who has been recognised under the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees to be a refugee.

[MavsSuperFan]

I have always thought/ IMO:

An asylum seeker is being actively prosecuted by a force in their country. Eg. some of the protesters in Tienanmen square sought asylum in western countries after the chinese army crushed them, those who managed to escape the government i mean.

A refugee is a person that is made homeless/displaced due to violence and/or natural disaster in their home country/area.

Eg. Syrian refugees escaping to turkey to escape the violence. Maybe no one is specifically coming after them, but they know if they stay they would likely fall victim to random violence.

[dkmwise]

Refugee status is when you are applying from outside of the U.S.
Asylum is applied for when you are already in the U.S. or at a port of entry.

As others mentioned, generally refugees are from certain designated countries that have had natural disasters or civil wars, while Asylum is generally based on your individual situation of persecution based on political party of religion.