Au Pair in USA: J1-visa information

Important Visa Update for J-1 Visa Applicants

Please, note that The Department of State has temporarily paused new interviews for student and exchange visitor visas, including J-1 visa, effective May 27, 2025.

• This pause is expected to be short – not lasting for weeks or months
• Visa applications are still being accepted
• Some appointment delays may occur, but are not expected to be significant

This measure allows U.S. embassies to implement enhanced social media screening and vetting procedures. Once these updates are in place, appointments are expected to be reopened.

For more updates, please, monitor this link and get in touch with your full-service agency.

To apply for a legal J-1 Cultural Exchange Visitor Visa, the candidate needs the following documents:

• A passport (valid until 6 months after your stay)
• The DS 160 form
• A biometric photo, 51 x 51 mm in size
• The appointment confirmation
• The DS 2019 form 
• Confirmation that the candidate paid the SEVIS fee 
• Confirmation that the candidate paid the visa fee ($160/120€)
• The Au Pair and Host Family agreement
• The invitation letter

The Au Pair needs to make an appointment at the closest US embassy or consulate to their hometown. Usually the applicant will get one within a couple of days. At the day of the appointment it is really important to think of all the documents needed, otherwise the applicant will have to get a new appointment.

At the embassy the applicant will present all the documents, have a small interview in English and fingerprints will be taken. The embassy will keep the participant’s passport for the visa. Within a week the passport including the visa will be sent to the Au Pair by mail.

The fee for the visa is $160. To become an Au Pair in the USA you can also fill out this form:

Become an Au Pair in the USA
Families and Au Pairs are part of the program for a year. Participants have the opportunity to extend their stay for another 6, 9 or 12 months.

Please, do not, under any circumstances, try to take part in the Au Pair program without an agency. It is illegal for families to invite someone to become their Au Pair and for an Au Pair to participate without an agency. It is not possible to participate with a Tourist Visa or ESTA form! Please follow the rules, otherwise you might be unable to enter the country or, if you make it into the US committing visa fraud, it could result in fines, deportation and you may not be approved for any future U.S. visas. Moreover, if you are not coming to the U.S. on the appropriate visa, you will have no support system available, such as the U.S. Department of State overseeing the program, the US agency and local representatives in your area.