What is Sponsorship?

The Welcome Corps is an exciting new opportunity for Americans to sponsor refugees and support their resettlement in communities across the United States.

Traditionally, refugees resettling in the United States receive assistance from Resettlement Agencies during their first 90 days in the country. Now, through the Welcome Corps, groups of everyday people can sponsor refugees by providing comparable support, expanding our nation’s capacity to welcome more refugees each year, changing lives and reuniting families.

It starts with community

Sponsor groups are five or more people who work together to share the responsibilities of supporting refugees for their first 90 days in the United States. Working alongside others lightens the load and brings communities together.

One person in the group needs to be designated as the Group Coordinator. The Group Coordinator takes the lead on filling out the application, facilitating team communications, and coordinating submission of important documents.

Sponsor group members must be:

Who can my group sponsor?

There are two ways groups can sponsor refugees through the Welcome Corps:

Your group can apply to sponsor someone you know, such as a friend or family member who is eligible for resettlement. You will have to collect and provide specific information about the refugee to submit your application sponsor. Learn more about the requirements for sponsoring someone you know.

Your group can apply to be matched with refugees already approved for resettlement and waiting for sponsors like you. When you apply to sponsor, you can indicate your group’s matching preferences for refugees’ spoken language, nationality, and household size. Read our blog to see stories from sponsors on their experiences being matched with refugees.

Please note: If your group is applying to be matched with a refugee or refugee family you don’t know, they cannot live with you in your home; your group must secure initial housing for the 90-day sponsorship period. Depending on where you live, Airbnb credits may be available to secure temporary housing for the first 30 days. Learn more about housing resources for refugees.

When do refugees arrive?

If your group is applying to be matched with a refugee you do not know, it typically takes between two and three months to be matched with a refugee or refugee family and for travel arrangements to be made.

If your group is applying to sponsor someone you know, you should expect that it will take at least six months and up to a few years from the time you submit a completed application for travel arrangements to be made.

What to expect as a sponsor

Sponsor groups provide practical support alongside hope, possibility, and a sense of belonging for a refugee’s first 90 days in the United States.

We recognize this is a big commitment. Throughout your sponsorship journey, you will receive ongoing guidance and step-by-step support from a trusted resettlement organization. The Welcome Corps provides sponsor groups with access to tools and resources to help your group prepare for arrival and throughout the 90-day sponsorship period. Some of these resources include:

Ready to make a difference?

If you’re a good neighbor, guide, or friend, you already have all the skills you need to succeed as a sponsor. Start your application to sponsor today!

Still not sure? Watch a 25-minute sponsor information session with Welcome Corps experts and learn more about the program. Watch an Info Session

“I’m really grateful for our group. We’re 15 people with varying backgrounds. It’s a lot of work, but the family [we’re supporting] is worth absolutely everything.”

"It’s been really heartwarming to see how many people are excited about helping this family.”

“It is not just getting somebody housing. It’s building a relationship with people. They will add to your life in ways you might not be able to anticipate.”