Individuals who can no longer live at home in their country, due to war, persecution or natural disaster. A situation in which returning would likely result in risk to their life or imprisonment. Countries at war, especially where there is nowhere safe in the country or a country that passes judgments passing lengthy prison time or worse, death sentences.

• Persecution can be anything from race, religion, gender, sexuality or how you choose to identify.
• Claiming asylum is not limited to risks associated with the state, country, or political party, but also to risks at the hands of non-state actors when the government is unable or unwilling to protect people from them, such as large gangs or militias. Meaning that the police or legal system is unable to stop the threat or is unwilling and ignores the ongoing persecution.
• For many, remaining at home or staying in your country would likely pose a risk to your life or your freedom, so the only solution is to flee.
• In countries that require visas to enter or leave, people may not be able to obtain the necessary visas, forcing them to exit the country and enter new countries illegally (without the required travel documents).
• Under the UN Refugee Convention and Protocol, refugees and asylum seekers cannot be discriminated against due to the means by which they entered a country, even illegally or via an irregular route, only if they present themselves to the authorities without delay and show good cause for their presence.
• Getting from your home country to a safe country can be a challenge, one that many refugees and asylum seekers become trapped in due to economic and legal restrictions. Traffickers and bad actors are known to prey on these vulnerable people, taking any money they have and putting them in dangerous situations.
• Unfortunately, it is not possible to claim asylum at a foreign country’s embassy or consulate, as asylum status is considered a territorial right, meaning you must be physically present in the country or at a port of entry to apply.
• Some countries may grant diplomatic asylum. Diplomatic asylum is mainly recognised in Latin America, where a person who believes they are in imminent danger seeks refuge in an embassy by requesting asylum. Though this form of temporary protection does occur, it is infrequent and only in certain parts of the world; for example, it is not recognised in the USA, the UK, Canada, or the European Union.
• Embassies and consulates, however, depending on the situation, might be able to offer humanitarian visas that permit you to travel and claim protection on arrival. There are legal routes handled by the UNHCR, which identify vulnerable refugees and help relocate them to safe countries.
• For those unable to leave their country, the UNHCR and Rainbow Railroad might be able to assist. Offering experience and logistical knowledge in helping refugees seek asylum in safe countries.