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WelcomeAide is a registered nonprofit society in British Columbia, Canada. We use artificial intelligence to help newcomers navigate settlement services, government programs, and community resources. Our AI-powered Navigator provides immediate, multilingual support so newcomers can find the information they need from day one.

Yes, all of WelcomeAide's services are completely free for newcomers. Our AI Navigator, workshops, community events, and resources are available at no cost. We are a nonprofit organization funded by donations, grants, and partnerships.

Our AI Navigator supports over 20 languages, including English, French, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Arabic, Farsi, Punjabi, Hindi, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Bengali, Turkish, Burmese, Amharic, Nepali, and Ukrainian. We are continuously working to add more languages based on community needs.

Yes, your privacy is important to us. We do not share your personal conversations with third parties. Our AI Navigator does not require you to create an account or provide personal information to use it. For full details on how we handle data, please review our Privacy Policy.

WelcomeAide was founded by Erfan Aghdasi, who arrived in Canada as a newcomer in 2011 and experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating settlement services. The organization is built and maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers, advisors, and board members who are committed to helping newcomers succeed in British Columbia.

Simply click the chat icon on our website or visit our AI Navigator page. You can type your question in any supported language and receive an immediate response. No account creation or sign-up is required.

Absolutely. Our AI Navigator is designed to understand and respond in over 20 languages. Simply type your question in the language you are most comfortable with, and the Navigator will respond in that same language.

Our AI Navigator is trained on verified government resources, settlement agency databases, and community service directories specific to British Columbia. While we strive for accuracy, we always recommend confirming important details directly with the relevant government office or service provider, especially for time-sensitive matters like application deadlines.

If the Navigator cannot answer your question, it will let you know and direct you to appropriate resources, such as a settlement agency, government office, or our contact page where you can reach a real person. You can also call 211 for BC community and social services.

Yes, you can copy the text from your conversation for your records. We recommend saving any important information, such as steps for applying to a program or contact details for a service, so you can refer back to it later.

The most important first steps include applying for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), opening a bank account, registering for provincial health insurance (MSP in BC), and connecting with a local settlement agency. Our AI Navigator can walk you through each of these steps in detail, in your preferred language.

No. WelcomeAide is built specifically to help people who may not speak English or French. Our AI Navigator supports over 20 languages, and our website is available in multiple languages. You can access all of our resources in the language you are most comfortable with.

British Columbia has a network of settlement agencies that provide free in-person support, including MOSAIC, ISSofBC, SUCCESS, and many others. Our AI Navigator can help you find the nearest settlement agency based on your location. You can also call 211 to be connected with local community services.

No, WelcomeAide is an independent nonprofit society registered in British Columbia. We are not affiliated with any government body. However, the information our AI provides is sourced from official government resources and verified settlement databases to ensure accuracy.

WelcomeAide provides general settlement information and guidance, but we are not a legal service and cannot provide immigration legal advice. For questions about your immigration status, visa, or legal matters, we recommend consulting a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. Our Navigator can help you find free or low-cost legal resources in your area.

Settlement agencies, community organizations, government offices, and employers can partner with WelcomeAide to enhance their newcomer support services. We offer integration with our AI Navigator for client intake, co-development of workshop content, and access to anonymized insights about newcomer needs. Visit our Partnership page or contact us to learn more.

Yes, we are developing an embeddable version of our AI Navigator that partner organizations can integrate into their own websites. This allows your clients to access multilingual settlement support directly from your platform. Contact us to discuss integration options and timelines.

We welcome volunteers with diverse skills and backgrounds. Opportunities include community navigation, workshop facilitation, translation, technology development, event coordination, and social media outreach. Visit our Get Involved page to view current opportunities and submit a volunteer application.