The 'Who's Who?' of asylum
Refugee: According to the 1951 UN convention, a refugee is a person with a well founded fear of being persecuted in their own country for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. In the UK this would be someone whose asylum application has been successful, and has been allowed to stay in the UK because of the persecution they would suffer if they returned home.
Asylum Seeker: An asylum seeker is someone who has fled from their homeland to escape war or persecution, and is looking for a country that can offer protection. In the UK an asylum seeker is someone who has officially lodged a claim for asylum with the Home Office. Asylum seekers are all here legally, having declared themselves to the relevant authorities.
Failed Asylum Seeker: A failed asylum seeker is someone whose claim for asylum has been turned down, and who is expected to return to their home country. Often they are not able to return immediately because of war in their homeland. Failed asylum seekers are allowed to appeal, and are often successful because they are able to present new evidence to support their claim.
Economic Migrant: Economic migrants are allowed to enter the UK to fill gaps in the labour market on the basis of work permits issued by the Home Office. People from the European Union, including the new accession states, are allowed to work without permits.
Illegal Immigrant: Someone who has arrived from another country and has deliberately not made themselves known to the authorities, or someone who has entered the UK legally, for example as a migrant worker or a student, and not returned when their visa has run out.
The asylum process
An asylum seeker will be detained immediately on arrival. They will be given emergency accommodation (they have no choice where this is). After 7-10 days, they are sent to another area of the country where they have to wait at least 6 months before they get a decision on whether they can stay in the country.
They are allowed just 5 hours legal aid to prepare and present their case. They are often tired and confused, and likely to have little or no paperwork to support their claim, having left this behind when they fled. Only around 20% will be allowed to stay. Those who have to leave are deported back to their own country to face whatever situation awaits them.
Those who stay often have to live in poverty and isolation - no money or work, or the means to get work. They may not be able to speak English very well, and not know anyone who can speak their own language.