There are certainly similarities between those who come to the United States as refugees and those who seek asylum. Often, they are worried about persecution. This may be based around a characteristic that they cannot avoid, such as their ethnic background, their race or their inclusion in a specific social group. It could also be based on things like political opinion or religion.
When people have a well-founded fear of persecution, they may fear for their lives or the well-being of their family members, so they are seeking safety in the United States. While asylum seekers and refugees alike may have this main goal, there is one specific difference to be aware of.
The geographical location
The key difference is where the person is located when they decide that it is time for them to seek safety in the U.S.
Refugees are often in refugee camps outside of the United States. They may have left their home country and entered the camp in a nearby country, seeking temporary safety. They then apply for refugee status so that they can immigrate legally to the United States.
Asylum seekers, however, may already be in the United States or at a port of entry. They have fled the persecution and danger in their home country, and they may even have illegally entered the U.S. But now that they have arrived, they are seeking asylum because deportation would expose them to the very danger that they were fleeing to begin with.
Navigating the immigration process
As you can see, it is important to be aware of the similarities and differences between different immigration statuses, especially when facing significant danger in your home country. If you find yourself in this position, it can help to work with an experienced immigration attorney.