Through the Welcome Corps on Campus, refugee students receive academic and community support as they begin their studies in the United States. Campus sponsor groups welcome refugee students processed through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and approved for resettlement. Sponsors provide services necessary for cultural, social, and academic adjustment.
The Welcome Corps on Campus is now accepting applications from refugee students living in Ecuador until January 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Ecuador local time). Accepted students will begin their studies in 2026. Learn more about the program and the current call for applications below.
For further questions, please email welcomecorps.la@wusc.ca or WhatsApp at +593 96 365 9340.
Refugee Eligibility Criteria
Refugee students must meet refugee eligibility criteria and program requirements. The Welcome Corps on Campus only accepts applications from refugee students currently living in Ecuador. All refugee students resettled through the Welcome Corps on Campus must meet the definition of a refugee under U.S. law and all of these criteria:
- They are living outside their home county.
- They do not live in the United States.
- They live in a country where the U.S. government is able to interview sponsored refugees and process their cases.
- They are between 18-24 years old at the time of application.
- They are single (unmarried) with no children. Refugee students will not be able to bring family members with them to the United States. The broader Welcome Corps program provides opportunities for family sponsorship.
- They are enrolling in an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
- They are already registered on or before September 30, 2023, as a refugee or asylum seeker by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or by the host government.
- They have not been previously denied for resettlement to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Additional program criteria are announced in each application cycle, and criteria may vary by country of residence. Some academic institutions may require English language courses during the first semester or first year of study, prior to the student beginning academic coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the call for applications open?
The Welcome Corps on Campus accepts refugee student applications from students living in certain countries. Currently the program is only available for refugees living in Ecuador. Over time, the program may expand to include other countries.
Call for Applications for refugee students in Ecuador will be open on November 29 and will close on January 17, 2025. Suitably qualified refugee youth are invited to apply for the Welcome Corps on Campus (WCC). Please read the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ to learn more about this opportunity.
Can two members of the same family (i.e. siblings) be selected for the Welcome Corps on Campus?
Yes. Siblings will be assessed individually against the program eligibility criteria. The program does not prioritize the selection of family members. If siblings are selected, the program will make every effort to place them in the same campus or community in the United States. However, placements at the same campus or in the same community are not guaranteed.
Why are only single candidates between 18 to 24 years old considered eligible for this program?
The housing conditions for students on campus in the United States – usually in student residences – are not suitable for students with children or spouses. Other opportunities exist in the Welcome Corps program for family sponsorship.
Most students on campus in the United States studying at the associate or bachelor’s level are between 18 to 24 years old. The program cannot sponsor students younger than 18 years old due to the requirements for a guardian.
What happens during the selection process?
The Welcome Corps on Campus team reviews online applications from candidates in Ecuador. Only those candidates who meet all program eligibility requirements will move forward. The selection process will include the following steps:
- Detailed review of academic and refugee status documents including verification by local authorities;
- A pre-screening English language test;
- In-person interviews for final shortlisted candidates only.
Will privately sponsored refugees supported through the Welcome Corps on Campus be able to come to the United States more quickly than other refugees?
No. Privately sponsored refugee students do not receive expedited or preferential treatment. All refugees sponsored through the Welcome Corps on Campus are subject to the same processing requirements as all other refugee applicants, including the determination of refugee status for U.S. resettlement through an interview overseas conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), security vetting by U.S. government law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and a medical screening.
If I am selected, am I guaranteed admission to the United States?
No. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials make the final decision. The Welcome Corps on Campus program is responsible for the selection of students based on eligibility requirements, including our assessment of a refugee student’s suitability for referral for resettlement to the United States.
The decision made by U.S. immigration officials is final. The Welcome Corps on Campus does not have the ability to influence the decision. If a student is denied entry to the United States, their candidacy for the Welcome Corps on Campus will be canceled.
How is the Welcome Corps on Campus different from a scholarship for refugee students?
Scholarship opportunities for refugees require applicants to apply for an international student visa which can be difficult to obtain for students from refugee backgrounds. Students sponsored through the Welcome Corps on Campus enter the United States on a higher education pathway as resettled refugees. This provides a path to permanent residency and citizenship. All refugees must meet U.S. Refugee Admissions Program eligibility and admissibility criteria to be approved for resettlement. Refugee students also must meet the program’s academic eligibility criteria.
Sponsors welcoming refugee students at their institutions commit to providing core sponsorship services such as academic support, housing, and social connections, for a minimum of 12 months.
Can you tell me more about the private sponsors and institutions participating in the Welcome Corps on Campus?
Campus private sponsor groups deliver academic, logistical, and integration support and guidance to refugee students during the 12-month sponsorship period. Groups can include faculty, staff, and student volunteers as well as members from the nearby community.
All sponsor groups complete an application process for the Welcome Corps on Campus. Trained staff vet and approve sponsors to ensure their group can effectively provide initial resettlement assistance and services. Every sponsor completes a background check, signs a commitment form, and agrees to a code of conduct.
Call for Applications – 2026-27 Cohort (Ecuador)
Suitably qualified refugee youth are invited to apply for the Welcome Corps on Campus. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about this opportunity.
The application period is open from November 29, 2024, through January 17, 2025. Applications will not be accepted after January 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Ecuador local time).
Eligibility Criteria (Ecuador)
Applicants must:
- Be currently living in Ecuador
- Have proof of:
- Registration with the Safe Mobility Initiative (Movilidad Segura); OR
- Registration with the Government of Ecuador as a refugee or asylum seeker by September 30, 2023; OR
- A pending Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, filed on their behalf by September 30, 2023, if they are Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, or Venezuelan. They must have been outside their country of nationality by the time the form was filed.
- Be between 18-24 years old at the time of application
- Born between January 1, 2000 and December 23, 2006
- Be single (unmarried) with no children
- Have completed secondary school and be in possession of hard copies of the original secondary school certificates at the time of application
- Minimum grade to apply to the program is 7/10 (Bachiller graduates) or equivalent
- Be competent in oral and written English and able to meet language requirements for admissions to US academic institutions
- Note: a pre-screening Duolingo English test will be required during the shortlisting process. Applicants are recommended to conduct free Duolingo practice tests in advance (https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants )
- Be facing barriers to accessing or completing undergraduate post-secondary education
- Be self-reliant, mature and suitable for integration in the United States as an individual
- Be suitable and eligible for resettlement to the United States. See more information on U.S. resettlement eligibility here: https://www.state.gov/refugee-admissions/about/
How to Apply (Ecuador)
The application portal will open on Friday, November 29, 2024 and will close on January 17, 2025 at 11:59PM ECT. Complete the Online Application Form available here.
Further Instructions for the Application Process (Ecuador)
- Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and possess all required documentation as outlined in the application form.
- The following documents are required and must be submitted with your application as clearly legible electronic (soft copy) attachments, saved as JPEG or PDF format.
- Proof of registration document
- Diploma and transcripts (if relevant)
- If your application is shortlisted, the Welcome Corps on Campus will require that applicants are in possession of the hard copy and official/original secondary education document.
- Ensure you answer all questions fully and honestly. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Changes cannot be made to a submitted application. If you make a mistake in your online application, you must submit a *new FULL* application before the application deadline. In cases where an applicant submits multiple applications, we will only consider the details in your most recent application.
Thank you for your interest in the Welcome Corps on Campus. Please contact welcomecorps.la@wusc.ca if you have any other questions in regards to the application.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We are not able to respond to individual questions about the status of your application.