Joining the Welcome Corps

This past Thursday the Biden administration launched a new program called the Welcome Corps which allows groups of private citizens to sponsor refugees from around the world to live in the United States. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the program as “the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in four decades.”

The program enables groups of at least five individuals to apply to sponsor refugees and help them acclimate to life in the US, with the help of a consortium of non-profit resettlement organizations, like Glocally Connected (Human Migration Institute). The sponsor groups must raise a minimum of $2,275 per refugee, but they will not be required to provide ongoing financial support to the refugees they sponsor. This initiative aims to connect refugees with potential sponsors and help them rebuild their lives in the United States.

As a member of the Welcome Corps coalition, we are proud to be part of this initiative and to help connect refugees with potential sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring a refugee, you can register on the Welcome Corps website at https://apply.welcomecorps.org/s/. It's important to note that while the program is still in its early stages, it's not yet clear if refugees will need a UNHCR determination. We encourage prospective sponsors to check the site thoroughly and complete the security check on https://app.sterlingvolunteers.com/en/Candidates/Account/Register.

During the first six months of the program, sponsors will be partnered with "pre-approved" refugee cases. In the second six months (Phase 2), which is expected to be announced this summer, sponsors will be able to sponsor a particular identified refugee. We will keep you updated as more details are released.

If you know a refugee who has a friend or community group who would like to sponsor them in the US, please pass along this information and encourage them to follow all the registration steps. It's an exciting opportunity for refugees to have the support of a sponsor as they begin a new chapter in the United States.

In addition, community groups can also apply to become a sponsoring PSO, which is an organization that can sponsor refugees under the guidance of NGOs such as Glocally Connected! For more information, please visit the State Department's website: https://www.state.gov/launch-of-the-welcome-corps-private-sponsorship-of-refugees-2/.

This program provides an exciting avenue to help provide for refugees in need. We believe that the Welcome Corps private sponsorship program is an important step towards creating a more welcoming and inclusive society for refugees. We encourage everyone to get involved and make a difference in the lives of refugees today!

APPLY TO SPONSOR A REFUGEE TODAY: https://apply.welcomecorps.org/s/