We know what it’s like… one night during the ad breaks your daughter vaguely mentioned something about spending next year working in the US as a nanny…and right now that sounds like a crazy idea. You have questions…”Just who is this ‘Au Pair in America’ and how does my daughter know that they’re not some fly-by-night company who will take the money and run?” “How do I know that my child will be looked after while they’re away? I mean they may be a bit messy sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they’re not loved…” that kind of thing.
To answer your questions here’s a summing up of the program, costs and details that should hopefully address your concerns, and allow you to give your daughter your blessing (and more importantly allow you to start planning what you’re going to do with all that free time!).
The program
Au Pair in America is an approved US Department of State cultural exchange program with a requirement that participants receive comprehensive assistance, guidance and support during the course of their one-year stay in the USA. The aim of our dedicated and experienced staff in the UK, US and of course Australia is to ensure that you have a rewarding and challenging experience.
Au Pair in America has been sending Au Pairs to the USA for over 25 years. In Australia we have been the first Au Pair agency sending female Australians aged between 18 and 26 years to the US.
How it works
1. Application and paperwork
After the initial online registration, applicants will be sent login details to their personal Au Pair in America application site. After filling out all sections of their application, applicants are asked to upload three references, a medical report, a valid police check, a copy of their passport, driver’s license, and educational certificate(s) and upload a couple of pictures with friends and family and a short video.
Once their application is complete and applicants have undergone an interview with one of our qualified interviewers, the application circulates to currently over 4000 active host families. Host families can then show their interest on the applicant’s profile. Following the initial first contact is a Skype interview where both host family and applicant get to know each other. The application process is open all year around which means that placements also take place throughout the year.
Once placed, applicants will be required to complete a visa application with their local US Consulate. Applicants will receive information regarding their application and placement via their personal Au Pair in America site.
2. Visa Application
As a legal visa sponsor, Au Pair in America will provide the necessary DS2019 form which is required to apply for a J-1 visa to placed applicants. Additional forms will be supplied by the local US Embassy. The applicant will be required to attend an interview at their local US Embassy (Sydney for QLD, NSW and the ACT applicants, Melbourne for VIC, SA, NT applicants and Perth for WA applicants), it should be noted that it will generally take a few hours to attend and costs of travel to and from the embassy are the responsibility of the applicant.
3. Payments and cancellation fees
For the breakdown of our current fees, please click here.
Please also note that program payments will NOT occur before the applicant has been matched with a US family. In the event of late cancellation from the program (after the visa application form has been issued) Au Pair in America and AIFS reserves the right to charge a US$200 cancellation fee.
4. Where do the fees go?
Au Pair in America charges a fee both to the applicant and to the host family. Au Pair in America fees cover the costs of running a fully-supportive program, the provision of medical insurance, staffing, provision of orientations and the work incurred in searching for and securing a placement in a US host family.
Au Pair in America is not driven by shareholders. Fees are set to cover our costs and ensure we maintain a high level of service throughout the application process and during the program.
5. Terms & Conditions
For a full copy of our terms and conditions please click here.
