The first group of refugees to be sponsored by private individuals through the Welcome Corps program arrived in the United States on June 20, 2023. The group includes a family from Congo and an individual from Ethiopia. Communities across the country are supporting the Welcome Corps program as a new way to help refugees settle in the U.S.

The Welcome Corps program started in January 2023. The program is a collaboration between the Department of State, private sponsors, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Through this program, American individuals directly sponsor refugees from different parts of the world and assist them during their resettlement process. To qualify for the Welcome Corps, certain requirements must be met. This private sponsorship connects Americans with refugees from other countries, allowing them to become part of their community and providing financial support and other assistance.

The goal of the Welcome Corps is to have at least 10,000 Americans step up and privately sponsor refugees in its first year. The program aims to resettle a minimum of 5,000 refugees who have been admitted to the U.S. through the Refugee Admissions Program. Thousands of Americans have already shown interest by signing up for information sessions and email updates. To learn more, you can visit the Welcome Corps website.

Our team of attorneys closely follows the latest news on U.S. immigration to assist our clients throughout their immigration journey. If you have any questions about immigration issues in the U.S., feel free to contact us. We work with our clients every step of the way.