An asylum seeker is a person who claims to be a refugee but whose claim hasn’t been evaluated yet.
This person would apply for asylum on the grounds that returning to his or her country of origin will lead to persecution on account of race, religion, nationality or political belief. Someone is an asylum seeker as long as the application is pending. Given that not every asylum seeker will be recognized as a refugee, it is important to note the distinction between refugee and asylum seeker. A vital part of being recognized as a refugee is the legal process through which the UK Government will determine whether the application is successful or not. The process can be lengthy and complicated and we aim to help our clients through this journey.