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Sponsor a Refugee You Know

There are thousands of people in the United States eager to help family members or friends who have been displaced. Through the Welcome Corps, your group can apply to sponsor someone you know.

Who can I sponsor?

Your group can sponsor a refugee or refugee family (up to 10 people) at a time. The individual(s) listed on your sponsorship application can be of any nationality but must meet the definition of a refugee under U.S. law and all of the following criteria:

Location

  • They live outside their home country.
  • They do not live in the United States.
  • If you are applying to sponsor more than one person, all refugees must currently live in the same country and plan to live in the same household once they resettle to the United States.
  • They live in a country where the U.S. government is able to interview sponsored refugees and process their cases.
  • Afghanistan
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Burma
  • Canada
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
  • Denmark
  • Eritrea
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Haiti
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Iran
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Libya
  • Lichtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • The Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Korea
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syria
  • Türkiye
  • Turkmenistan
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

The above list is subject to change and may be revised as country conditions evolve.

Registration

  • 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 government of the country where they live. Refugees of Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, or Venezuelan nationality are also eligible if someone filed Form I-134 or I-134A on their behalf before September 30, 2023. They must have been outside their country of nationality by the time the form was filed.
  • If the refugee or refugee family already has a case number for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) or Afghan SIV program, you can submit your application to sponsor them regardless of their current location.

Age

  • They are at least 18 years old or, if they are a child, they are being referred with their parent. Without exception, anyone under 18 must be referred with their biological parent or legal guardian.

Status

  • They have not been previously denied for resettlement to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Screening

  • Everyone you apply to sponsor will need to pass the U.S. government’s refugee screening and vetting process to be approved for resettlement in the United States. There is no guarantee that the individuals you apply to sponsor will be approved to come to the United States.

Exit visa permissions

  • There may be additional requirements for refugees living in certain countries. Every refugee must meet the exit visa requirements for the host country. Refugees who are approved for U.S. resettlement are responsible for paying any fines for overstaying their visa to obtain exit permission to leave the country where they currently live. The U.S. government will not cover these costs.

Is my friend or family member eligible?

Use this helpful tool to check whether the refugee or refugee family you hope to sponsor is eligible to be considered for resettlement through the Welcome Corps.

Access the eligibility tool

Eligibility updates

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