Supporting Afghan Refugees in America: The Welcome Corps Initiative

The “Afghan Refugee Sponsorship Program in America,” also known as the Welcome Corps, is a program launched by the U.S. State Department in January 2023. It enables U.S. citizens to support Afghan citizens in relocating to the United States. This initiative was established following the collapse of the Republic system in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to power, leading to the evacuation of thousands of Afghans at risk to the United States. Many others, who had worked with the U.S. military and government in Afghanistan, are still waiting outside Afghanistan for their immigration processes to the U.S. to be completed, and some are living in uncertainty.

The U.S. government has repeatedly stated that it transfers its Afghan colleagues and contractors through the “Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)” program. However, some individuals wishing to migrate to the U.S. still need assistance. The Welcome Corps program allows American citizens to play a role in the resettlement process of refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. According to the program’s brochure, the Welcome Corps enables Americans to support qualified Afghan allies who bravely stood with our soldiers, aid workers, and diplomats for over two decades.

The program aims to help U.S. citizens support eligible Afghan citizens through various means, including housing provision, welcoming new arrivals at the airport, enrolling their children in school, and assisting adults in finding employment. Individuals eligible for support through this program include those holding an SIV or being part of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), as well as Afghans outside Afghanistan who do not have a USRAP case or an SIV.

For more information about this program, please visit the following website: