WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES – Although thousands from Afghanistan were evacuated to the U.S., many others including those who had worked closely with American military and diplomatic missions, continue waiting to be resettled in the United States. Some of them are inside Afghanistan while others have to endure uncertainty in third countries.
Resettling hundreds of thousands of families from socio-cultural backgrounds as different to the US as Afghanistan has been proven an unprecedented challenge. In January 2023, the U.S. Department of State announced a new program to enable U.S. citizens to support Afghans in their relocation process. The program establishes a private support network for Americans to contribute to the resettlement of refugees.
“The Welcome Corps allows Americans to support Afghan allies who bravely stood alongside our soldiers, aid workers, and diplomats for over a decade,” its introduction reads.
Monna Kashfi, Vice President of Content and Communications at Welcome.US, said that the program allows Americans to take on responsibilities such as providing housing, assisting with airport welcomes, enrolling children in schools, and job placement for the newcomers.
The focus of the program is on three categories of Afghans who are still waiting to be resettled in the United States. Sponsors have the option to pair with unfamiliar refugees, recognize an Afghan already engaged in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program or the Special Immigrant Visa program, or support an Afghan refugee who hasn’t initiated proceedings with either program yet.
The program functions similar to what Canada has experimented with for years. Five families or individuals with stable income can form a sponsorship group. The group must be able to contribute least $2,425 for each refugee they want to bring to the United States.
“They must provide documentation showing that at least sixty percent of this amount, or $1,455, has been collected and is available in a bank account,” Monna noted.
The raised amount will neither go to the US Government nor to the refugees directly. It is to help refugees resettle once they arrive by providing them housing support and helping with other basic needs until they become self-sufficient.
The purpose is to ease the financial burden of refugee resettlement on the US Government, which is growingly becoming reluctant to invest in such initiatives.
The Welcome Corps commenced about a year ago with a delineation into two phases. Private sponsor groups could apply to connect with unfamiliar refugees. In December 2023, the second phase launched, allowing individuals to sponsor acquaintances.
Since its inception, the Welcome Corps program has received over 12,000 requests from relatives, colleagues, and associates of displaced individuals. But only around 200 people have resettled in the U.S., showing how sluggish bureaucracy undermines the effort even when the financial aspects are addressed.
Much similar like the Canadian model, sponsor groups can choose to bring a refugee family randomly assigned to them by the US Government or nominate someone they already know who is under the review process outside the country.
All refugees supported through the program must still undergo the screening and inspection process of the United States government.
Refugees who arrive in America through the Welcome Corps program can apply for permanent residency or a green card after one year and citizenship after five years.
A significant benefit of this program is that refugees can start working upon arrival in America without needing to apply for a work permit, which helps them become self-sufficient much faster compared to those who apply for asylum from within the US borders.
