Getting Started

At CATCH, one of our goals is to educate North Dakota residents about how and why legal immigration can work in rural places.

1. What is Legal Immigration?

Legal immigration is the process of individuals from other countries entering and residing in the United States through authorized channels.

2. Why Rural Towns in North Dakota?

Many rural towns in North Dakota face challenges like declining populations, labor shortages, and economic stagnation. Legal immigration provides a solution by bringing skilled workers, families, and entrepreneurs who can contribute to the local economy and enrich the community.

3. The Benefits It Brings

Legal immigrants help fill gaps in essential industries like agriculture, healthcare, and construction, all vital to North Dakota’s rural economy. They also stabalize population numbers, support local schools, and contribute to cultural diversity.

4. The Immigration Process

Newcomers go through background checks, provide proof of qualifying status, employment, or family connections, and meet other eligibility requirements to help ensure they can be integrated well into their new communities.

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Immigration 101 - Things to Know

Immigration can be complicated!  The legal immigration process involves different agencies and organizations depending on the program.  A good first step is to gain a basic understanding of legal immigration.

You may have some questions, and we have answers.

Click below to download How the United States Immigraiton System Works from the American Immigration Council.

Download PDF

By educating community members, we bring understanding to legal immigration and the positive impact it has on our rural places.

They Need Us. We Need Them.

It happens through private sponsorship.

What is Private Sponsorship?

Sponsorship refers to the support given to refugees for resettlement in a new country. Refugees can get this support through resettlement agencies or private sponsorship through the Welcome Corps.

Traditional refugee resettlement involves direct support from the government. The government takes responsibility for providing financial aid, housing, and other essential services through resettlement agencies.

Private sponsorship involves groups from the community who voluntarily take on the role of supporting refugees. In the United States, this is part of the Welcome Corps. Private sponsors assist refugees with finding housing, offering financial support, and helping refugees integrate into the community.

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Private Sponsorship Resources

The private sponsorship program in the U.S. is called the Welcome Corps. It is a U.S.
Department of State program that allows American citizens and permanent residents to
voluntarily support refugees. Sponsors can provide refugees with the necessary assistance
to start a new life in the USA.

As a Private Sponsorship Organization of the Welcome Corps, CATCH empowers North Dakotans to make a difference by helping refugees resettle in rural communities.

Sponsoring Refugees Strengthening Communities

How To Become A Sponsor

CATCH is a Private Sponsorship Organization of Welcome Corps

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The Welcome Corps is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by a consortium led by the Community Sponsorship Hub with funding provided by the U.S. government. CATCH ND does not receive funding from the U.S. government for the Welcome Corps.