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Au-pair in America, the USA

The USA has been officially oppened for au-pairs since 1986! You can read more information about the program in English here -

Au-pair in America
Specifics:

The USA offers the au-pair program as the cultural exchange. The USA cultural exchange programms belong to Department of Foreign Affairs and have a certain  visa (J-Visum).
That is why the au-pair programm is supervised the same way as the advanced training and cultural exchange programms (e.g. students' exchange). There are concrete requirements for au-pairs, host families and agencies.
The au-pair agencies are called „Sponsoring Organizations" and require special permit for au-pairs intermediaion. The agencies are regularly checked and work together with authorities, so that they could control au-pairs' coming and leaving the country.
At the moment there are 12 au-pair agencies in America. They are regestered by the USA Department of Foreign Affairs.

The self agency in America is impossible. Self searh is possible! You can look for a nice au-pair or a host family at Aupair-Ocean.de. Otherwise, you must resort to help of certain American agencies, which should contact with you. It is important to have an appropriate experienced agency in America! Agencies: www.usaupair.com

Initially, you can inform yourself about the Au-pair-Program at Aupair-Ocean.de!

Requirements for an au-pair in America:

- Stay period max. 12 months according to the law. The Visa is given for 13 months, so that the last month can be used for traveling about the country. Since 2005 in America it has also become possible to work as a summer au-pair for three months (from the middle of May till the middle of September).  Unfortunately, there are not enough host families for the summer au-pairs in America. Since recently it has been possible to extend an au-pair's stay. The extension of stay is requested from US-partner organization by US Department of State.
- Work time is up to 45hours per week, and of course an au-pair should not work more than 10 hours per day; the work hours by „EduCare" are 30 hours per week.
-Free time: An au-pair has one and a half free days per week.
-Age: between 18 and 26 years old, that means that at the entry day the 27^th year is not finished yet.   -single and without children
-filled applying documents by hand
- at least two serious guidelines about children's care (the work experience with children younger than 2 years old is a must, at least 200 hours).
- a perfect doctor's certificate
-non-smokers are preferable
-non-conviction certificate
-driver license
-to be ready to help about the house, but taking care of children is in the forefront.
-language skills: very good basic knowledge of English language (five years of school English)
-education: finished high school or college
-Travel expenses are included into agency's service charge, which an au-pair and a host family pay. An au-pair leaves a deposit at the agency, which is given back after successful au-pair stay. The money is not paid when it is untimely ungrounded termination of the au-pair's stay or infraction of the au-pair rules. The commission fee for host families in the USA is from 4.000 to 5.000. For the au-pair program in the USA au-pairs pay the commission fee about 500-900 euro.
-other: mostly free participation of seminar about preparation for the coming and staying in the USA (sometimes it can be paid)

Conditions for the au-pair in the host family:

- Own room and full supporting
-Pocket money: at least $195 per week by „EduCare", about $145 per week
- Vocation: two weeks during 12 months stay period (the pocket money are being paid)
- Time for visiting a language school
The au-pair program is supervised the same way as the advanced training and cultural exchange programs, where participation at the language courses is a must. According to the law, a host family pays for the courses about 500$ per year. You can visit the courses of any public educational center for adults (Community College) or college/university. By some agencies it is possible to visit language courses before au-pair work.
- Often a family's car can be also used
- The medical insurance is usually paid by the host family. In some agencies the price is included. Make sure what kind of treatment is covered by the insurance. An additional insurance of au-pair in his/her home country is of course also valuable, because it gives more protection. But before the beginning of stay in America an au-pair should end his/her accident and liability insurance.

Stay and entry conditions:
For comming to the USA the visa is needed!!!
The visa is applied in the American embassy with the documents of the authorised agency. The USA has an expensive visa system. Au-pairs should apply for das J-1-Visum („Exchange visitor").
An au-pair cannot come to the USA with the visitor visa!
It is a must to have legal au-pair status for the au-pair year!
Documents for the J-1-Visum application are received by a brokrage agency or the agency which helps you with entry formalities after your successful search. It is DS2019 blank, which is presented in America by the local partner organisation of US department. An au-pair applies with this document in American embasssy. An appointment is made by phone (paid service) or online at www.usembassy.de. Below are the documents which should be prepared for the appointment:

- DS 2019 blank
- DS-156 blank, which you can find at the following site: http://evisaforms.state.gov. It is the electronic entry visa blank
- DS-158 blank, which you can find at www.usembassy.de. There is the information about contact people and job foundation.
- DS-157 blank (only for male applicant)
-  Receipt about money transfering for visa fee
-  Receipt for the security fee SEVIS (app. 35 euro for au-pairs)
-  A valid international passport
-  Actual pass photo (information about this issue is in  „Photo requirements" at www.usembassy.de
-  Confirmation that you leave America after your planned stay.

Information about the USA is here:

www.amerikahaus.de

www.amerika-gesellschaft.de

www.educationusa.state.gov

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