This video from Ted-Ed describes the difference between migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees:
Migrants: “Refers to people who leave their countries for reasons not related to persecution such as searching for better economic opportunities or leaving drought ridden areas in search of better circumstances.”
Refugees: “International law, rightly or wrongly, only recognizes those fleeing conflict and violence as refugees.”
Asylum Seeker: “Once in a new country, the first legal step for a displaced person is to apply for asylum. At this point they are an asylum seeker and not officially recognized as a refugee until the application has been accepted.”
The video also describes the experiences of many refugees from being displaced from their homes through violence, through their stays in refugee camps, applications for asylum, and then relocation in other countries.