Finding suitable childcare can be tough. If you are looking for flexible and affordable child care, you might want to consider hosting an Au Pair. This way you’ll know your kids are being well taken care of and learn about a new culture.
Find out if you can become a Host Family in this article!
*** UPDATE ***
Due to the current health crisis, the US government decided to keep the border closed until the end of 2020. Therefore, no Au Pair will be able to enter the country. We advise you to look for Au Pairs who already live in the US if you need a childcare solution urgently. We will keep you updated about the process.
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The Au Pair in the USA program combines affordable and qualified live-in childcare and a cultural exchange. There is no other form of childcare which is so flexible, cost effective and reliable.
Since we have a partner agency in America that is designated by the US Government, you can find an Au Pair very simple and fast on AuPair.com. Our experienced team and our partner will assist you during the placement process and the whole year of the program.
Please remember: to become a Host Family in the USA and be part of the legal Au Pair program, the family needs to get in touch with an agency that is designated by the US Government. Only if you register with a US Government designated agency the candidate can get the J-1 visa!
If you register on our website as a Host Family for free, you can add Au Pairs to your "Favorites" and send standard messages. You can also get the Premium Membership to contact all the applicants you like. Once you’ve contacted the Au Pairs, you also need to talk about the agency. It is possible to search for a match on AuPair.com and register with an Au Pair agency afterwards, so the Au Pair can officially and legally be placed with the family.
Benefits of hosting an Au Pair in the USA
There are many benefits of hosting an Au Pair from another country to take care of your children. Few of the benefits are:
Experienced childcare
Cultural exchange and a special experience for the entire family
Reliable, affordable live-in care for about $ 340 per week
Guaranteed hours of childcare per week
Flexible schedule
Some help with easy household chores
Support from a local agency
As a Host Family, it is important to welcome the candidate and make them feel part of the family. In addition there are certain requirements that Host Families have to fulfil to participate in the Au Pair program and that will be checked by the local agency.
Can you become a Host Family in the USA?
With an Au Pair you will not only have a live-in childcare, but also a new member of your family that will be part of your everyday life.
To join and stay in the program the Host Family has to fulfil the following points:
Have at least one child under the age of 18 years
Room with a window for the girl/boy and daily meals
If you fulfill the requirements above and after reading the benefits you think that an Au Pair would be a great childcare solution for your family, register with us and our partner Agent Au Pair will contact you.
Note: Never invite someone to stay with you with a 6 months tourist visa or the ESTA form. This is illegal and can have serious consequences.
Please never tell your Au Pair that it is possible to go to the USA without a US Department of State designated Program. It is not and every US Host Family should know it!
We check the Host Family and Au Pair profiles on a regular basis and will block any profile where we find evidence of encouraging people to do illegal actions. We want to keep all our users save and will not allow any actions that do not meet the law.
Why AuPair.com?
For many years, we have provided participants of the Au Pair program with all the necessary information and the opportunity to find each other. Since we have an American partner, we can provide a special service to the Host Families and offer the following benefits:
Exclusive access to AuPair.com Au Pairs
Reliable, affordable live-in care for only $340 per week
Personalized service from experienced professionals to place Au Pairs quickly
A wonderful cultural experience for the entire family
We and our partner Agent Au Pair will help you through the application and placement process and support your family and the Au Pair during the year.
How to host an Au Pair in the USA?
In order for the Au Pair to be legal in the USA, every candidate has to fulfil certain requirements to get the J-1 visa. Check if your possible new family member meets the following points:
be between 18 and 26 years old
understand and speak basic English
not be married
not have children
be in good health, must not smoke, and can’t have severe chronic illnesses
willing to stay with you for 1 year
have childcare experience of at least 200 hours in the past 2 years
have a driver’s license and driving experience
have a clear criminal record
never been under psychological treatment in the past
Usually all the Au Pairs that Agent Au Pair introduces to a family fulfil all these requirements. Still, you should always talk to your candidate about these points.
Step by step to become a Host Family in the USA:
1
Register on AuPair.com
You can register with us, create a profile and start looking for an Au Pair on our website. You’ll have to invite the candidate to register with our agency so the applicant can become an official and legal Au Pair. You can also contact our partner agency Agent Au Pair to get more information for Host Families in the USA.
2
Find your Au Pair
Maybe you have found your match on our website. Then you should encourage her/him to fill out our application form in order to be connected with our US partners. Once you register with an agency you will also have the opportunity to search in their Au Pair pool for a candidate.
3
Get in touch with potential candidates
Contact the Au Pair and make an appointment to talk on Skype. This is the best way for you to meet her/him on a more personal level and get to know your possible new family member. You can talk about the schedule, your kids, your family’s hobbies and everything else that seems to be important to you. If you have talked to more than one candidate you have to make a decision and let the Au Pair and the agency know.
4
We take care of everything
Once you’ve chosen a candidate the agency that you are registered with will take care of the organisation. They will take care of the Au Pair’s flight and all the important documents.
5
Sign the agreement
Every cooperation between a candidate and a Host Family is based on a written agreement that you will get from the agency. You need to sign it, so the Au Pair can have all the needed documents to apply for the J-1 visa.
6
Prepare yourself and your house
Welcoming someone as a new family member is something special so you should get prepared. If you want to decorate the Au Pair’s room a little bit or need to get some new furniture, you should take care of it as soon as possible. Maybe you want to give him/her a small welcome present, such as a city guide about your hometown or a giftcard for the closest coffee shop, so your candidate is wide awake in the morning to bring your kids to school.
7
Welcome your new family member and enjoy your time together
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