Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a fine, but marked, difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker.

The USCIS defines a refugee as

“Any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in
the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such
person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and
is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that
country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account
of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or
political opinion.”

Asylum status is a protective immigration designation

The asylum officer will determine if you are eligible for asylum by evaluating whether you meet the definition of a refugee. See section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). USCIS will make the determination of whether you meet the definition of a refugee based on information you provide on your application and during an interview with an asylum officer. A person may seek refugee status only from outside of the USA.

Asylum could be construed as a more protective immigration designation because applicants must first meet the definition of a refugee.

• A refugee may or may not be an asylum seeker.
• An asylum seeker must be a refugee.

While immigrants may apply for refugee status outside of the U.S., asylum seekers must already be in the U.S. or seeking admission at a U.S. port of entry.

Asylum is available for qualified applicants, regardless of current immigration status or country of origin.

If you are an undocumented immigrant living in the U.S. or you wish to overstay your current visa based on a claim for seeking asylum status, we urge you to contact us at ACS, Inc. at your earliest possible convenience. Our legal staff stands ready to advise you how to navigate through the application status do that you can enjoy the freedom of living in the United States free from harm. Our staff is multi-lingual, allowing us to understand you and to attend your asylum interview as an interpreter if necessary.

Our immigration and investment expertise is available to you by our staff of immigration and immigration law experts. Contact us at www.Business-Visa-USA.com, www.Business-Visa-USA.cn, www.Business-Visa-USA.hk and www.Business-Visa-USA.ru.

Note: Offer of services is not a guarantee of results. Every case is adjudicated on its own merits. We can help to determine your eligibility and direct you through the process.