Welcome refugee talent to your community
The Welcome Corps enables U.S. employers to recruit from a diverse, qualified pool of refugee candidates abroad. As an employer participant in Welcome Corps at Work, you will be able to review resumes from our pool of refugee candidates abroad, interview candidates, and offer employment to the refugee candidates directly. Welcome Corps at Work then helps those refugees navigate the process of being considered for resettlement in the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the legal pathway through which the U.S. government admits refugees determined to be in need of permanent resettlement in the United States. Refugees who are resettled in the United States are eligible for permanent residence and U.S. citizenship.
The Welcome Corps at Work is a first-of-its-kind program linking employment opportunities to resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the legal pathway through which the U.S. government admits refugees for permanent resettlement in the United States. Through this program, Welcome Corps at Work matches a diverse, qualified pool of refugee candidates with U.S. employers. Our team of resettlement and employment professionals supports refugees throughout the interview process. Once an employer makes a job offer, the Welcome Corps at Work team helps the refugee evaluate the offer and initiate the resettlement process to be considered for admission to the United States, where a local private sponsor group will provide resettlement and integration support.
At a glance:
• 12 employers signed up across 9 states: Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, New York, Idaho, Iowa, Vermont, Michigan, Nevada
• 23 job offers extended
• 6,683 skilled refugees registered in the East Africa Talent Pool
Please note: Welcome Corps at Work integrates employers and candidates on a rolling basis. These numbers are updated quarterly
How it works for employers
Chat with us
Tell our team about your hiring needs so we can answer any questions.
Identify a role
Send us a job description for a role that needs to be filled.
Interview candidates
We send you a shortlist of qualified refugee candidates to interview remotely.
Offer a position
The refugee signs an employee contract if they accept the position. There are no associated visa sponsorship or recruitment fees.
Wait to hear from us
The Welcome Corps at Work team helps the candidate navigate the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Employers are notified when the candidate is approved for resettlement to the United States and the timing of their arrival. All refugees must pass the U.S. government’s stringent vetting and security screenings before approval.
Identify sponsors
Our team will identify a sponsor group to support the refugee and their immediate family for their first 90 days in the United States. In some instances, depending on the size of the company and the role of the individuals, employees at your company could volunteer to form a sponsor group.
Prepare to welcome
Prepare a welcoming, supportive work environment for your new employee. The Welcome Corps at Work team will have regular check-ins with the refugee, their direct manager, and their sponsor group. We also provide trainings, such as cultural awareness.
Resettlement is a process that can take months or even years from the time you extend a job offer until the refugee employee arrives in the United States. Please note there is no guarantee that refugee candidates will be approved through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
How it works for refugees
Learn about us
The Welcome Corps at Work is open to refugees in certain parts of East Africa and Latin America. In order to be eligible for the program, refugees must meet employer’s job qualifications, including language skills, as well as the standard Welcome Corps eligibility criteria.
Register for the Talent Catalog
Individuals who are interested in being considered for this program or labor mobility pathways to other countries can register in the Talent Catalog a secure database where refugees can enter information about their skills and experience. Refugees may also contact work@welcomecorps.org for more information.
Interview with prospective employers
To be selected for the Welcome Corps at Work, refugee candidates participate in a remote recruitment process with U.S. employers. The Welcome Corps at Work team supports the candidates throughout the interview process, including resume and interview preparation.
Receive and accept a job offer
All refugees resettled through this program receive a job offer before arriving in the United States.
Wait to hear from us
Once the refugee receives and accepts a job offer, the Welcome Corps at Work team refers the refugee’s application to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Refugees who are resettled in the United States are eligible for permanent residency and U.S. citizenship. Refugees can bring their immediate family (up to 5 people total, including the candidate).
Get ready for travel
All refugees approved for resettlement go through a pre-departure orientation session to help them adapt successfully to life in the United States.
Arrive in the United States
Upon their arrival in the United States, refugees receive assistance from a local Welcome Corps private sponsor group that commits to supporting the refugee’s resettlement and integration.
Access to the USRAP is completely free for refugees and there are no associated recruitment or visa sponsorship fees.
How it works for sponsors
Although refugees arriving through the Welcome Corps at Work already have a job secured, local sponsors provide additional practical support and mentorship for 90 days after the refugees arrive in the United States. Sponsors play a critical role in assisting refugee employees and their families to integrate into the local community. Learn more about the services sponsors provide.
Email us work@welcomecorps.org if you would like to form a sponsor group to support newly arriving refugee employees and their families in your area. Here’s what to expect from the application process:
We support you along the way
The Welcome Corps at Work team offers ongoing support for refugees, employees, and sponsors throughout the process, including training and resources. We help prepare sponsor groups to find housing, fundraise, and connect with community services.
Ready to get started?
Refugees may register on the Talent Catalog to express their interest in the Welcome Corps at Work. Otherwise, email work@welcomecorps.org to learn more about opportunities for employers and community members in the Welcome Corps at Work.
The Welcome Corps at Work is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by International Rescue Committee and Talent Beyond Boundaries with funding provided by the U.S. government.