Opportunity Information: Apply for CI CET 21 002
The FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, administered through USCIS and its Office of Citizenship (OoC). It is designed to strengthen long-term civic integration for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who came to the United States as refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), were granted asylum, entered as Cuban or Haitian entrants, or were admitted under a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). The underlying premise is that naturalization is not just a legal milestone, but the culmination of a broader integration process, and that many people in these humanitarian pathways face real barriers (civic, linguistic, economic, cultural, and institutional) that can slow or derail progress toward full participation in American civic life and, ultimately, citizenship.
The program focuses on the idea that earlier and deeper community engagement helps individuals build stability, confidence, and connection, which in turn improves personal and professional outcomes and supports positive contributions to local communities and the country. RAIS is meant to address the gap that often appears after initial resettlement support ends. Traditional resettlement services funded by the Department of State (Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration) and the Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Refugee Resettlement) tend to prioritize early self-sufficiency, especially rapid employment and immediate stabilization. RAIS funding is intended to build on those early services by providing extended, individualized integration support, but not to duplicate what those other programs already fund.
The central goal of RAIS is to help eligible LPRs gain the knowledge and practical skills needed for successful citizenship and stronger belonging in the United States. In practice, this means supporting programming that helps participants better understand U.S. civic life and institutions, the rights and responsibilities tied to citizenship, and the steps and expectations involved in the naturalization process. The opportunity emphasizes individualized programming, reflecting the reality that refugees, asylees, Cuban or Haitian entrants, and SIV recipients may have very different starting points and needs depending on trauma histories, disrupted education, limited English proficiency, unfamiliarity with U.S. systems, or difficulty navigating community resources and government processes. Even though the title highlights refugees and asylees, the grant explicitly includes Cuban and Haitian entrants and SIV-based LPRs as eligible service recipients.
In terms of basic grant details, the funding opportunity number is CI CET 21 002, listed under CFDA 97.010, with an activity category aligned to community development. The award ceiling is $300,000 per award, and the agency anticipated making about 10 awards under this announcement. The opportunity was posted May 17, 2021, with an original application closing date of July 16, 2021.
Eligibility is broad and includes many public and nonprofit entities that are positioned to deliver community-based integration services. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category). Overall, the RAIS grant is framed as an investment in long-term civic integration for humanitarian immigrant populations who have already obtained or are on the path to lawful permanent residency and who have identified naturalization as a personal goal, but who may need structured, targeted support to realistically reach it.Apply for CI CET 21 002
- The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.010.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 17, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 16, 2021 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS) - FAQs
1) What is the RAIS grant opportunity?
The FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administered through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and its Office of Citizenship (OoC). It supports community-based services intended to strengthen long-term civic integration and help eligible participants progress toward naturalization and fuller participation in U.S. civic life.
2) What is the main purpose of RAIS?
RAIS is designed to strengthen long-term civic integration for certain humanitarian immigrant populations who have obtained lawful permanent residency (LPR) and have identified naturalization as a goal, but face barriers that can slow or derail progress. The program is based on the premise that naturalization is a culminating step in a broader integration process, not just a legal milestone.
3) Who is the federal agency behind this program?
The program is a DHS grant administered through USCIS, specifically through USCIS's Office of Citizenship (OoC).
4) Who are the intended service recipients under RAIS?
RAIS is intended for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who came to the United States through humanitarian pathways, including people who:
- Entered as refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)
- Were granted asylum
- Entered as Cuban or Haitian entrants
- Were admitted under a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)
5) Does RAIS only serve refugees and asylees?
No. Although the title highlights refugees and asylees, the program description explicitly includes Cuban and Haitian entrants and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients who are LPRs as eligible service recipients.
6) What kinds of barriers is RAIS meant to address?
RAIS is meant to address common barriers that can affect integration and naturalization progress, including civic, linguistic, economic, cultural, and institutional barriers. The program description also notes that needs may vary based on factors such as trauma histories, disrupted education, limited English proficiency, unfamiliarity with U.S. systems, and difficulty navigating community resources and government processes.
7) What types of activities or outcomes does RAIS emphasize?
RAIS emphasizes programming that helps participants gain the knowledge and practical skills needed for successful citizenship and stronger belonging in the United States. This includes helping participants better understand:
- U.S. civic life and institutions
- Rights and responsibilities tied to citizenship
- Steps and expectations involved in the naturalization process
8) Does RAIS prioritize individualized services?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes individualized programming, recognizing that refugees, asylees, Cuban or Haitian entrants, and SIV recipients may have different starting points and needs.
9) How does RAIS relate to traditional refugee resettlement services?
RAIS is intended to address the gap that often appears after initial resettlement support ends. The description contrasts RAIS with traditional resettlement services funded by the Department of State (Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration) and the Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Refugee Resettlement), which tend to prioritize early self-sufficiency such as rapid employment and immediate stabilization.
10) Is RAIS funding meant to replace or duplicate other resettlement funding?
No. RAIS funding is intended to build on early resettlement services by providing extended, individualized integration support, but not to duplicate what Department of State or HHS resettlement programs already fund.
11) What is the funding opportunity number for RAIS?
The funding opportunity number is CI CET 21 002.
12) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 97.010.
13) What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is aligned to community development.
14) What is the maximum award amount per grant?
The award ceiling is $300,000 per award.
15) How many awards were anticipated under this announcement?
The agency anticipated making about 10 awards under this announcement.
16) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 17, 2021. The original application closing date was July 16, 2021.
17) Who can apply for the RAIS grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes various public and nonprofit entities positioned to deliver community-based integration services. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category)
18) Are colleges and universities eligible applicants?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
19) Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible applicants?
Yes. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible applicants, with the noted exception that institutions of higher education are excluded under the nonprofit category (even though higher education institutions are separately listed as eligible).
20) What is the overall theory behind RAIS as an integration strategy?
The grant is framed around the idea that earlier and deeper community engagement helps individuals build stability, confidence, and connection. This, in turn, is described as improving personal and professional outcomes and supporting positive contributions to local communities and the country.
21) What stage of the immigrant experience does RAIS target?
RAIS focuses on longer-term integration needs that can arise after initial resettlement support ends, particularly for LPRs from humanitarian pathways who are working toward full civic participation and naturalization.
22) What does RAIS consider the endpoint or culminating milestone of integration?
RAIS describes naturalization as the culmination of a broader integration process, rather than an isolated legal step.
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