This is someone who has arrived in a country and asked for asylum. Until they receive a decision from the Home Office as to whether or not they can be granted refugee status, they are classified as an Asylum Seeker.
In the UK, this means they do not have the same rights as a refugee or a British citizen.
The right to seek asylum is a legal right we all share. In order to claim asylum, the person must be able to meet the very strict criteria to prove their need for protection as a refugee. If their application is granted, they become a Refugee. If the application is refused, however, they become a Refused Asylum Seeker. They may choose to return to their home country themselves, or the government may forcibly remove them. Refused asylum seekers often become destitute.
The Home Office disperses Asylum seekers to areas around the UK. Bolton is one of the areas within the northwest receiving the highest numbers of asylum seekers, with numbers comparable to the large cities of Manchester and Liverpool.
