Welcome Corps

Refugees are individuals outside of the United States who have been forced to flee their home countries due to persecution or a fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. They often live in refugee camps and cities outside of their home countries until they can either return home, locally integrate within the country to which they fled, or be permanently resettled to a third country like the United States.

 

Through the Welcome Corps, you will support individuals who have been found to be refugees by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and who the U.S. government has approved for resettlement to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Refugees are referred for resettlement when resettlement is their best possible durable solution—meaning they cannot return home and do not have any prospects for local integration in the country to which they fled. Before coming to the United States, all refugees admitted through the USRAP, including refugees supported through the Welcome Corps, will complete thorough security vetting and a health screening by the U.S. government. Only those refugee applicants who are cleared through an extensive security vetting process, including vetting by U.S. government law enforcement and intelligence agencies, are approved for resettlement to the United States. 

Many of those who will be welcomed by private sponsors in the first few months of the Welcome Corps will come from Sub-Saharan Africa, where they have been waiting for years for a durable solution.

Beginning in mid-2023, the Welcome Corps will expand to allow private sponsors to identify refugees in need of protection whom they wish to sponsor and refer refugee applicants for consideration to the USRAP, subject to program criteria established by the U.S. government. Further information on this program expansion will be made available in the coming months.

Where is the Welcome Corps offered?

The Welcome Corps makes it possible for communities to welcome refugee newcomers across the United States, recognizing that every community is unique. 

 

As part of your application to form a Private Sponsor Group (PSG) through the Welcome Corps, you will complete a Welcome Plan which is intended to help you consider how you will support refugee newcomers within the specific context of your local community. Once your application is approved, your PSG will be connected to virtual, ongoing support offered by Welcome Corps experts in refugee resettlement, protection and welcome, and additional tools and resources, including those focused on how to help refugees access local benefits and services in your community.

Who can sponsor through the Welcome Corps?

Through the Welcome Corps, American citizens and lawful permanent residents can come together to form Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs). To qualify, groups must have a minimum of five members who are over the age of 18 and who live in or near the same community. Groups can be formed by friends, neighbors, work colleagues, members of faith groups, book club members—any group of adults who together meet the requirements. Collectively, PSG members must demonstrate that they have the capacity to welcome. Groups do not need to identify a particular refugee in their application; the Welcome Corps team will match sponsors to refugees selected for resettlement to the United States.

Will there be opportunities for colleges and universities to sponsor refugee students through the Welcome Corps?

It is expected that Welcome Corps will open opportunities for colleges and universities across the United States to sponsor refugee students on their campuses, providing critical financial, academic, and integration support to sponsored students. College and university sponsorship will allow diverse campus stakeholders, including staff, faculty, and students, to welcome refugee students, provide them with a softer landing, and set them up for academic and overall success. More information on college and university sponsorship of refugee students will be available in the coming months.

What are a Private Sponsor Group’s responsibilities?

Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) commit to providing welcoming services to arriving refugees for their first 90 days in the community. They secure and furnish initial housing, provide for initial basic needs, and make connections to relevant services, such as health care, education, and employment services. Most importantly, PSGs offer friendship and support to those adjusting to life in a new community. For a full list of core sponsorship services that Private Sponsor Groups commit to providing, click here.

 

The Welcome Corps provides PSGs with access to tools and resources, including a budget template, fundraising support, an arrival checklist, and ongoing guidance throughout the sponsorship period.

How long is the commitment to privately sponsor refugees through the Welcome Corps?

Sponsors commit to providing friendship, guidance, and financial support for the refugees’ initial 90 days in the United States. As it often takes longer for an individual to integrate in their new community, sponsors also commit to making connections to ongoing supports and services, available from local organizations.

 

Even as the sponsorship commitment is for just 90 days, the relationships built, both between the sponsors and refugee newcomers as well as among members of the sponsoring community, may last a lifetime.

What is the application process to become a private sponsor?

The application portal for the Welcome Corps is now open. Here are some things you can do now to begin the application process:

 

Form a Private Sponsor Group. Find 4 friends, neighbors, or colleagues or connections to join your group. They don’t need to be experts in welcoming; they just need to be willing to share their time and knowledge of your community.

 

Plan. Begin outlining how you will welcome the refugees you will sponsor. You’ll want to think about initial housing, essential furnishings, and connection to community services like schooling, language classes, and public benefits. The Welcome Plan is a critical piece of your Welcome Corps application and helps guide your group in identifying resources in your community. 

 

Start fundraising. Your Private Sponsor Group will need to fundraise at least $2,275 in cash and in-kind contributions for each sponsored refugee newcomer. You can begin that work now by setting up a fundraising account and reaching out to members of your community to encourage them to donate. Access fundraising guidance here. 

 

For more information on navigating the application process, visit the Get Started page.

To be alerted about new resources and to receive other updates on the program, sign up for email updates.

How are approved Private Sponsor Groups connected to refugees they will welcome?

As part of your Welcome Corps application, your Private Sponsor Group (PSG) will indicate the family size you are able to welcome, along with information about your community’s resources. This information, along with other information on your community, is used by Welcome Corps to identify a refugee family that can benefit from the support of your community. Once your application is approved, Welcome Corps team members will be in touch to inform you when they have identified a refugee family for your PSG to welcome.

When will privately sponsored refugee newcomers arrive?

The earliest privately sponsored refugees will begin arriving through the Welcome Corps is in April 2023. The application review process will take a few weeks. The sponsored refugees will arrive 1-2 months after your Private Sponsor Group (PSG)’s application is approved by Welcome Corps team members. Your PSG will receive updates throughout the process, including flight details, so that you can greet the refugee newcomer(s) at the airport and take them to their first home in the United States.