whats the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker?

[mkjuk]

please

[dot.hawkes]

I think refugees escape natural disasters where as asylum seekers escape persecution by other humans

[tiebreaker]

a refugee is some one who has lost there home by means of a natural disaster or war and has to flee for there life. an asylum seeker is a person who maybe has been persecuted in own land and has to get out because he thinks he may be killed by certain individuals or he may think its better living in another country some are genuine and some are not which makes it dificult to tell the differance.

[Dom Tuk]

In the Uk a refugee is someone who has been recognised by the UK government as deserving of help and succour. They will usually qualify under the terms of the 1951 Geneva convention and will be granted refugee status in the Uk.

An asylum seeker on the other hand is someone who is a step away from becoming a refugee. In that he has asked to refuge in this country and is states that he qualifies undet the Geneva convention. His case has not yet been decided and that is why he is an asylum seeker. If he is successful then he becomes a refugee and if he fails then he becomes a failed asylum seeker.

[dzug]

Well in the eyes of the tabloid press 'asylum seeker' is by definition short for 'bogus asylum seeker' and a 'refugee' is grudgingly genuine.

Dom Tuk has the serious answer.