How do I find a refugee to sponsor? (2024)

FAQs

What organization sponsors refugees? ›

A Resettlement Agency (RA) provides resettlement assistance and is initially the sponsor of a refugee entering the United States. The RAs contract with the U.S. Department of State to provide services such as reception, basic orientation, counseling, food, shelter and health services to refugees.

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.

The people who do the sponsoring generally have to enter into an agreement with their government that they will raise the necessary funds, and assume responsibility for helping with logistical matters like finding accommodation, registering children in school and accessing medical care.

Sponsors are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents who are willing to submit paperwork to ICE to secure an asylum-seeker's release and then to receive an asylum-seeker in their home upon that release.

Welcome Corps recently expanded to let private sponsor groups refer refugees they know for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admission Program. This marked the first time Americans have been allowed to refer specific refugees for resettlement.

Private sponsor groups are able to apply to sponsor refugees who are of any nationality, are living outside their country of origin, are registered as a refugee with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or the government of the country where they reside by September 30, 2023, and meet eligibility criteria.

The sponsoring resettlement agency is responsible for placing refugees with one of its local affiliates and for providing initial services for up to 90 days after arrival. The Department of State's standard cooperative agreement with each of the resettlement agencies specifies the services the agency must provide.

Sponsoring an immigrant is risky. You bear more responsibility on the immigrant as a sponsor. If the unexpected happens, you may be faced with fines and lawsuits.

You will be barred from being granted asylum if you: Ordered, incited, assisted, or participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Were convicted of a serious crime (including aggravated felonies)

While every refugee is initially an asylum seeker, not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee. That's because the right to be recognized as a refugee is determined by law after an asylum seeker has applied for protection in the country of refuge.

Can I sponsor an immigrant that is a non family member? ›

While you can't directly sponsor a non-relative friend, you still have the option to offer financial support and protection for an immigrant entering the US.

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants - USCRI. For over 110 years, USCRI has been on the front lines of working on behalf of refugees and immigrants worldwide.

The RPB's mission is to provide state-level leadership and coordination of programs and services to achieve successful resettlement and integration of vulnerable populations in California. Our vision is to empower individuals to successfully transition and grow in California communities.

Sponsoring organization is an entity responsible for providing the project's sponsor and a conduit for project funding or other project resources.

The Welcome Corps allows U.S. citizens to support refugees who have been approved for resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Since 1980, Americans have welcomed millions of refugees from all over the world through USRAP.