Au-Pair in the USA - Au-Pair Berlin
Au-Pair in the USA
New York, the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon or the Yellowstone National Park – there is a lot to be seen in the land of opportunity. It’s hardly surprising that many boys and girls who want to be placed as an au pair choose to reach for the stars (and stripes)!
In 1986, the department of State established the Au Pair Program as an educational and cultural exchange with a strong childcare component. But there is a wide number of strict regulations administering the co-operation between the au pair and the host family.
The duration of an au pair stay will always be 12 months, and applicants are rarely free to choose a place of residence. On the other hand, the program guarantees excellent support abroad. Right at the start, for example, you will participate in a three day au pair training in Washington D.C.
During the year, the local community counselor will be your first contact person. She will keep close contact with you to advise you during the transition and to help soften the inevitable culture shock. You will also attend monthly meetings and fun outings with other au pairs in your area, so it’s very easy to make friends right away.
So, if you have any childcare experience, speak English reasonably well and would enjoy learning about the American culture and honing your language skills, you could spend an unforgettable year as an au pair in an American family!
Au-Pair USA: Basic facts
| Informations for Au-Pair applicants: | |
|---|---|
| Length of stay: | 12 months |
| Entry Requirements: | Legal Exchange Visitor J-1 visa |
| Vacation | Two weeks of paid vacation a year |
| Application | Please use our online application form |
Au-Pair in the USA, qualifications
The following requirements must be met by all applicants to the USA au pair program:
- Must be aged 18-26.
- Have professional or practical childcare experience for at least six months or 200 hours.
- Speak English to a good standard.
- Agree to commit to a full year’s stay in the USA and be prepared to provide up to 45 hours of childcare a week.
- Hold a full driving license (or be willing to get one).
- Have completed a secondary school education.
- Be in good physical health.
- Have no criminal record.
- Have not previously been an au pair in the USA.
- Be a non-smoker.
- Be female.
Au-Pair documents for the USA
You will have to supply the following documents during the course of your application. (Note: You can apply to us before having gathered all those documents.)
- Application forms
- Childcare reference*
- Character reference*
- Health certificate (physician’s report)
- Police clearance certificate
- Copy of your driver’s license
- Copy of your passport (passport must be valid at least 18 months from the date of application)
- 4 passport photos (2 of them to be used for the visa application)
- Copy of your school diploma
- A letter to your host family, in which you introduce yourself, write about your childcare experience, your hobbies, your plans for the future, and about why you would like to be an au pair in the USA.
*) References are only valid when given by somebody outside of your family.
Fees
| USA Au-Pair stay - fees: | |
|---|---|
| Application Fee:** | 178,50 € |
| *) Will be refunded once you are back in your home country. | |
| **) Both agency and application fees will only be charged upon successful placement. | |
| Program Deposit:* | 500$ |
| Visa Application Fee: | 100$ |
| Agency Fee:** | 178,50 € (incl. VAT) |
How soon can you place me?
You should apply at least four months before you wish to depart for the USA. Au pairs depart for the USA every month. The sooner you apply, the greater your chances of a good placement are! Be available for placement during a period of at least three months and be available for departure within a period of no less than four months from the date the application is received.
Summary of Pay and Conditions:
| Au-Pair pay and conditions | |
|---|---|
| Pocket money | 157,95$ per week |
| Daily working hours | A maximum of 10 hours of work per day |
| Weekly working hours | A maximum of 45 hours of work per week |
| Days off | 1,5 per week |
| Free weekend | One full free weekend per month |
Educational Requirement
There is an educational requirement to the program stating that au pair participants must be enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution for no less than six credits. In short, this means that you have to take at least 72 classroom hours in a college or university during your au pair stay.
Downloads
We are always willing to help!
Do you have any questions?
Feel free to call!
Nadine Dorn
Phone: +49 30 26 36 73 61
Fax: +49 30 26 36 73 62
Email: nadine[at]aupairagentur-cefelin.de