Who is an Asylum Seeker?
In the UK, an asylum seeker means someone who has made a formal application for asylum, and is awaiting a decision about his or her status. If the application is accepted, the person becomes a refugee. There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. By law, anyone has the right to apply for asylum and to remain in the UK until a decision on their application has been made. The United Nations also defines an asylum seeker as someone who has applied for protection as a refugee and is awaiting a decision about their status. But the UN also uses a more general definition of asylum seekers as people who move across borders in search of protection.
