Welcome Corps

 

In January 2023, the U.S. Department of State launched the Welcome Corps, a new program that empowers everyday Americans to welcome refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Refugees arrive through Welcome Corps with Refugee Status, a durable legal status which carries with it a pathway to permanent residence and citizenship. 

USCCB is a proud member of a coalition of organizations supporting this innovative and exciting new program in the role of Private Sponsor Organization (PSO). As a PSO, our USCCB private sponsorship team will provide guidance and programmatic support to the Private Sponsor Groups (PSG) encircling the refugees in solidarity and support.   

The Welcome Corps is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by a consortium led by the Community Sponsorship Hub with funding provided by the U.S. government. 

 

What are Private Sponsor Groups?

Private Sponsor Groups (PSG) are a group of five or more community members in the same geographic area coming together in solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable people to help secure housing, enroll children in school, assist with employment, and facilitate other core support services essential to successful integration.
 

Two Ways to Welcome through Welcome Corps:

1. Being matched with a refugee you do not know: 

  • Sponsor groups are matched with a refugee they do not know but who has already been approved to come to the United States.

2. Sponsoring a refugee you know:

  • Groups sponsor a specific refugee they already know, such as a family member or friend. The most up-to-date information on sponsoring someone you know can be found here. 
     

How do I learn more and participate?

1. Understand the program:

2. Attend an Application Support Session:

  • These sessions are offered directly through Welcome Corps. We highly recommend attending the one-on-one meeting after the session.

3. Form your group and identify a coordinator:

  • You will need at least 5 people for our Private Sponsor Group (PSG). Sponsors must be 18+ and either U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

4. Connect with the USCCB Welcome Corp team (PSO) for one-on-one support:

  • These are tailored individual or group sessions with experienced staff who can offer guidance to PSGs.
     

Key Notes:

  • BEFORE scheduling: read this FAQ and attend an Application Support Sesson – a critical step to understanding the application process.
  • Review your calendar availability. (You may wish to coordinate the calendars with other members of your PSG and select one time that works for all.) 
  • Submit contact information & answer screening questions 
  • Book a session with one of our team members. Please enter your contact details and select a date and time in our booking system found here.