The Welcome Legal Alliance
The Welcome Legal Alliance is mobilizing thousands of volunteers to support the legal service needs of Afghan newcomers.
Over 80,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan and sought refuge in the United States. Now, many of those Afghan families and individuals are facing asylum application deadlines that will determine whether they’re able to build a secure and permanent future here.
The Welcome Legal Alliance channels the passion and skill of volunteers around the country to help our Afghan allies access essential legal support.You don't have to be an attorney or work in the legal field to play an important role in helping support Afghan families as they rebuild their lives in the United States. Some of our volunteers are experienced in the immigration sector, but others are new to this work. Everyone is needed and welcome.
The Welcome Legal Alliance is partnering with legal service experts to guide you every step of the way and give you the training and mentorship you need to succeed.
Get started as a volunteer today
Step 1: Sign Up
By signing up, you’ll receive information from the Welcome Legal Alliance about upcoming volunteer opportunities that match your skills and interests. If you coordinate volunteer groups for your employer or law firm, you can also indicate your special role and we’ll help to coordinate your group.
Step 2: Get Trained
Complete the corresponding training for the kind of volunteer work you want to do. These Training Onramps are specially designed to introduce volunteers who are new to this work to exactly what's needed to get started. You must complete the corresponding training for your work before you are placed with a volunteer opportunity.
Asylum Interview Preparation
Help families prepare for their asylum interview.
4-Session Asylum Clinics
Sign up for clinics and workshops to help families put together their asylum applications, step by step. This 4-session series is scheduled over a 2-3 month period.
8-Session Asylum Workshops
Sign up for clinics and workshops to help families put together their asylum applications, step by step. This 8-session series runs weekly for a 2-month period.
Limited Asylum Representation (“Pro Se Plus”)
Work one-on-one with a family to help them file their application for Asylum, “pro se” (to help a family file their own application) before the Asylum Office, with access to ongoing mentorship for attorneys and attorney-paralegal teams.
Full Representation Before the Asylum Office
Work one-on-one with a family to help them file their application for asylum with the Asylum Office. Provide volunteer legal representation, with access to ongoing mentorship for attorneys and attorney-paralegal teams.
More About the Asylum Process
Learn about the Afghan asylum process
What does the asylum process look like for Afghans who were evacuated as part of Operation Allies Welcome? This basic backgrounder will help you understand the process and the players so you can better understand how volunteers can assist. The process looks different from other pro bono asylum cases you may have worked on.
Looking for deeper training?
Begin to familiarize yourself with asylum law and the entire asylum process. This comprehensive online Afghan asylum training from VECINA will get you started.
Toolkits & Assistance for Legal Service Providers
If you are a Legal Service Provider looking for innovative ways to bring more volunteers into this work, the following toolkits are available. Click here to access the following toolkits:
- Pro Se + Limited Asylum Representation
- 8-Session Pro Se Asylum Workshop Series
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Clinics for Afghans Toolkit
- NEW For LSPs: Pro Se+ Asylum Limited Representation Toolkit
- NEW 4 Session Asylum Pro Se Clinic Series Toolkit
Request Implementation Assistance
We partner with local legal service providers across the country to help them stand up volunteer clinics and other limited scope legal services to assist our Afghan allies.
If you are a legal service provider who would like to partner directly with us to implement these responses in your community, fill out the form below.
Request implementation support
Ask an Expert
The Welcome Legal Alliance Ask the Experts Platform is designed to assist attorneys and accredited representatives with questions concerning affirmative asylum for Afghan OAR/OAW asylum seekers.
Submit your question via this form and an expert will respond via email within two (2) business days.
These websites provide information, not legal advice. When you use these websites, you do not have or create an attorney-client relationship or other fiduciary relationship with Welcome.US, the Welcome Legal Alliance, or any of our partners. For further information, please read our terms of use.