J1 Au Pair Visa

The Au Pair exchange program uses the J1 visa (intended for educational and cultural exchanges). Begun in 1986, it is specifically intended as both a cultural exchange and as a child care program that offers the au pair educational opportunities in U.S. universities and other qualified institutions of higher education. In 2007, approximately 22,000 au pairs were living and working in the United States; this is nearly double the number from a decade earlier.

The U.S. has 11 authorized agencies that administer the au pair program and provide documentation for an au pair's J1 visa. These agencies charge a fee, which usually includes the au pair's health insurance, a background check, the au pair's roundtrip airfare to and from New York, and an au pair training program. Au pairs should check carefully for exactly what their fees will pay for. Families that take in au pairs are called 'hosts.'

The Au Pair program is carefully monitored; both potential au pairs and host families can expect to undergo thorough scrutiny. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency to conduct and coordinate the screening process. Prospective au pairs, for example, undergo a background investigation, criminal check, physical and psychological exams. Some of these requirements, such as the psychological evaluation and increased training standards, were strengthened after some incidents in 1997 with au pairs who did not behave in the best interests of their charges. Au pairs (and families who host them) may expect particularly close scrutiny when children two years of age or younger are involved.

Who is eligible?

Foreign nationals between 18 and 26 years old are eligible to participate in the program, which is good for up to 12 months and can (since 2004) be extended for an additional 12 months for a total of up to two years. Recently, there have been proposals to change the program to attract more au pairs to the U.S., such as increasing the age limit to 30 years old.

All potential au pairs must be proficient in spoken English, and are required to complete at least six hours of academic credit or its equivalent at an accredited U.S. college or university. Host families are required to pay up to $500 toward the cost of the au pair's required academic course work. Au pairs must also be given a separate bedroom.

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Restrictions on the Au Pair program

The au pair may be required to work up to 10 hours per day, 45 hours per week. An au pair may not be placed with an infant under three months old, unless a parent or other responsible adult is at home. Au pairs may not be placed in homes with children under two years, unless the au pair has at least 200 hours of documented infant childcare experience.

Au pairs are not placed in families with a special needs child (as identified by the parents), unless the au pair has specifically identified prior experience, skill, or training in caring for special needs children and the host family has reviewed and acknowledged the stated prior experience, skills, or training in writing.

The host family and an au pair must sign a Host Family-Au Pair Agreement before the au pair may be placed in the host family's home. This becomes the controlling contract that governs all adjustments or disputes between the au pair and the host.

EduCare

EduCare is a sub-category (or 'component,' as the U.S. government terms it) of the Au Pair program. It is intended only for families with school-aged children who require care before and after school hours.

Au pairs participating in the EduCare component may not be placed in families with preschool children, unless alternative, full-time arrangements are in place for their supervision. An EduCare au pair may work no more than 10 hours per day, and is limited to a maximum of 30 hours per week.

Au pairs participating in the EduCare component receive 75% of the weekly rate paid to regular au pairs. EduCare au pairs must complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit (or its equivalent) during the program year. The host family is required to provide (up to) the first $1,000 toward the cost of the au pair's required academic course work.