Refugee

The definition of a refugee according to The 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is: “A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.”

In the UK, a person becomes a refugee when HMG agrees and accepts that an individual who has applied for asylum meets the definition in the Refugee Convention; the government will ‘recognise’ that person as a refugee and issue them with refugee status documentation. Usually, refugees in the UK are given five years’ leave to remain and must then apply for further ‘leave’ before this period ends.

Asylum Seeker

A person who has left their country of origin and formally applied for asylum in another country, but whose application awaits a decision, positive or otherwise. Many are ‘dispersed’ to ‘dispersal cities’ such as Portsmouth, often waiting for some years to know their fate.

Refused asylum seeker

A person whose asylum application has been unsuccessful and who has no other claim for protection waiting for a decision. Some asylum seekers with refused claims voluntarily return to their country of origin, whilst others are forcibly detained in Immigration Removal Centres (such as Haslar IRC in Gosport), to be eventually returned. For some, it is unsafe or impractical to physically leave the UK for a number of reasons.

Migrant

A person who has voluntarily moved to another country for other reasons, such as to find work (economic), or to study, for example. ‘Forced’ migrants are refugees, forced by persecution or war in their home country, or indeed victims and/or survivors of trafficking.

No recourse to public funds (NRPF)

A condition imposed on some migrants, due to their immigration status, limiting their access to mainstream benefits such as Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and even Refugees.

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