The Welcome Corps program is a U.S. government initiative designed to allow private citizens and groups to sponsor refugees resettling in the United States. This program enables communities to directly assist refugees, offering a more grassroots and community-based approach to refugee resettlement. In this program, sponsors do not have the authority to choose the refugees they sponsor. Instead, the U.S. government, based on specific criteria, matches sponsors with refugees. Here is a detailed guide on the Welcome Corps program:
Overview of the Welcome Corps Program
The Welcome Corps was launched to encourage individuals, community groups, and organizations to play an active role in helping refugees resettle in the U.S. Traditionally, refugee resettlement in the U.S. has been managed by resettlement agencies, but this program allows ordinary Americans to take on the responsibility of sponsoring and supporting refugees.
The main goals of the program include:
- Expanding refugee resettlement capacity.
- Creating deeper community engagement.
- Providing more tailored and direct support to refugees through private sponsorship.
Through the Welcome Corps, sponsors will help refugees integrate into their new communities by providing essential resources, guidance, and emotional support.
Eligibility Criteria for Sponsors
To become a sponsor, individuals or groups must meet specific criteria:
- All sponsors must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents over the age of 18.
- Sponsors must pass background checks to ensure they are able to provide a safe and supportive environment.
- Sponsors must demonstrate the financial ability to provide for the refugees they sponsor.
- Sponsors must agree to work collaboratively within the group to fulfill their responsibilities.
Key Documents Required for Application
- Background Checks: All sponsors must undergo background checks.
- Financial Proof: Documents showing the group’s ability to financially support the refugee(s).
- Logistical Plan: A detailed plan for how the group will help the refugees with housing, education, healthcare, and integration.
Benefits of the Welcome Corps Program
The Welcome Corps program offers several benefits:
- Strengthened Communities: By directly involving citizens, the program fosters greater empathy, understanding, and support for refugees.
- Tailored Support: Refugees receive more personalized and community-specific assistance, which can ease the challenges of adjusting to a new country.
- Increased Resettlement Capacity: The program helps increase the U.S.’s ability to resettle more refugees by diversifying who can provide resettlement support.
- Cultural Exchange: Sponsors and refugees engage in meaningful cultural exchange, fostering cross-cultural understanding.
How to Apply?
The Welcome Corps allows private sponsors to apply as individuals or in groups to welcome refugees. Sponsors provide a range of assistance to refugees, ensuring that they have the support necessary to start their new lives in the U.S. Here’s how it works:
A step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Welcome Corps program below:
Step 1: Form a Sponsorship Group
To apply, you need to form a group of at least five adults who are willing to sponsor refugees. These adults can be friends, family, coworkers, or members of your community. The group will collectively provide financial and emotional support to refugees during their first few months in the U.S.
Sponsorship Groups
- Sponsors must form a group of at least 5 adults who commit to providing both financial and logistical support for refugees.
- Groups can be formed by friends, families, colleagues, or community organizations.
- These groups will serve as the main point of contact for refugees for the first few months upon arrival, helping them settle in.
Step 2: Register and Complete the Sponsor Application
- Visit the Welcome Corps Website: Go to the official Welcome Corps website at www.welcomecorps.org to start the application process.
- Create an Account: Register as a sponsorship group on the platform.
- Complete the Application: You’ll be asked to provide personal information for each group member, undergo background checks, and demonstrate that you can financially support a refugee or refugee family.
The application requires:
- Details about each sponsor’s identity and contact information.
- A financial plan to show how the group will cover the refugee’s initial housing and living expenses.
- A plan for how the group will help refugees integrate into the community.
Step 3: Submit Financial and Logistical Plans
Sponsors are responsible for submitting financial and logistic plans for assisting refugees with:
- Housing: Securing safe and affordable housing for the refugee(s).
- Basic Needs: Providing necessities such as furniture, clothing, and household items.
- Healthcare: Helping refugees access healthcare, including enrolling them in health insurance.
- Education and Employment: Assisting refugees with enrolling in English language courses, schools for children, and job placement services.
- Community Integration: Helping refugees become self-sufficient by navigating public transportation, managing finances, and connecting with local communities.
The financial plan should cover at least the first 90 days of resettlement, although your support may extend beyond that.
Step 4: Training and Support for Sponsors
Sponsors are provided with training and resources to help them fulfill their responsibilities. Training typically includes:
- Cultural Orientation: Understanding the backgrounds of the refugees they will be supporting.
- Resettlement Process: Learning the steps required to help refugees access services such as housing, healthcare, and education.
- Case Management: Tips on managing the needs of refugee families, from emotional support to legal guidance.
- Access to Resources: Sponsors will have access to materials and resources from refugee resettlement agencies to guide them through the process.
Training is provided by the Welcome Corps team to ensure sponsors are fully prepared to help refugees integrate into U.S. society.
Step 5: Get Matched with Refugees
After completing the application and training process, your group will be matched with a refugee or refugee family. The Welcome Corps team will work to match sponsors with refugees whose needs align with the group’s resources and capabilities.
You will not choose the refugees directly; instead, the program will match you based on availability and the specific needs of incoming refugee families.
How Refugees Are Matched with Sponsors?
Once a sponsorship group is approved, they may be matched with refugees. The matching process ensures that sponsors are paired with refugees whose needs align with the group's resources and capabilities. Refugees are typically selected from the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which processes refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or other designated agencies.
Sponsors will not choose refugees directly but will be matched based on the availability of incoming refugee families and the capacity of the group.
Step 6: Start Supporting Refugees
Once your group is matched with refugees, your role as a sponsor begins immediately upon their arrival in the U.S. One of the first responsibilities is securing safe and affordable housing for the refugees, ensuring they have a secure place to live as they begin their new life in America. In addition to housing, sponsors are responsible for providing basic necessities, including furniture, clothing, and essential household items that will help the refugees settle comfortably.
Sponsors also play a vital role in helping refugees access healthcare, including assisting them with enrolling in health insurance. This ensures that refugees can receive the medical care they need during their resettlement process. Another critical responsibility is supporting refugees with education and employment, including helping them enroll in English language courses, find schools for children, and connect them with job placement services to help them become self-sufficient.
In addition to practical support, sponsors help refugees integrate into their new community by guiding them in navigating public transportation, managing finances, and connecting with local organizations and neighbors. This support plays a crucial role in helping refugees build their independence and adjust to their new life in the U.S.
Step 7: Ongoing Communication and Reporting
Throughout the resettlement period, you will keep in touch with the Welcome Corps team and provide updates on the progress of the refugees. You may also be asked to submit reports on how well the integration process is going and how the group is meeting the refugee’s needs.
Where to Apply?
- To apply, visit the official Welcome Corps website: www.welcomecorps.org.
- By following these steps, you and your group can start the process of sponsoring a refugee and making a meaningful difference in their lives.
Conclusion
The Welcome Corps program empowers ordinary Americans to take an active role in refugee resettlement. Through sponsorship, communities can offer refugees a warm welcome and critical support, helping them to rebuild their lives in safety. If you are passionate about making a direct difference in the lives of refugees, the Welcome Corps program provides an accessible and meaningful way to get involved.
Ask for help from "Beporsed"
For those Afghans seeking specific information, "Beporsed" is here to help. You can reach our information center through WhatsApp (+93729807235), Facebook Messenger, or our website's Messenger to ask our online information desk officer for assistance.
For more information
For more information on immigration, resettlement, education and scholarship programs, and other opportunities available to Afghans worldwide, as well as details on the humanitarian services provided by international organizations in Afghanistan and procedures for obtaining civil documents from governmental institutions, please visit Beporsed's website and social media pages.
• WhatsApp Channel-Beporsed