Parent Zone

Gain practical experience in a responsible, live-in childcare role

Build language and intercultural communication skills

Become more independent, confident and adaptable

Learn to manage routines and experience living away from home

Study a course they are interested in part time at an American college

Explore another country affordably

Meet new friends from around the world on the program

Participate in volunteering opportunities in their local communities

Safety

A safe, government-regulated program

Au Pair in America is an official sponsor appointed by the US Department of State. That means we are legally responsible for every stage of the program, from screening and matching of au pairs and host families, to wellbeing and safety during their stay. Our commitment covers:

Carefully screening all au pair applicants and host families

Providing comprehensive training in childcare and first aid

Providing specialised training for driving in the USA

Helping with and approving visa paperwork and pre-departure preparation

Assigning each au pair a local community counsellor in the USA, who stays in regular contact and provides monthly social meetings for au pairs in their region

Offering 24/7 support in case of emergency

Ongoing support

Support throughout the program

We provide local support for the application and visa process. We provide practical support throughout the program to ensure everything runs smoothly in the USA. We also provide support to ensure the wellbeing of our participants.

Each au pair has a local interviewer appointed who will ask them questions about themselves and help them create their au pair profile. They will also do an official interview to create a report for host families to read. This is a requirement of the program, and will help your daughter or son match with the right host familiy.

In the USA our team of staff recruit and interview all host families to make sure they are suitable for the program. Our tstaff personally visit every host family home to ensure it is suitable for an au pair to live there. They meet every adult member of the host family who lives there too.

On arrival in the USA, the au pair is given a dedicated community counsellor, who:

Meets the au pair and host family within two weeks of arrival

Keeps in contact regularly by phone, text message and in person

Organises monthly meetings and social events for all the au pair in the area to meet each other

Is available for advice when needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from parents and guardians

It’s natural that you’ll have questions. Once an applicant becomes part of our program they are supported and cared for every step of the way: from application to departure and throughout their experience in America.

: When someone wants to apply for the programme, they can create an online account for themselves or contact us for assistance

The applicant uses this account to create an online profile detailing their education, work and childcare experience. We ask them to share information about their hobbies and free time too. This is important to try to match au pairs with host families who will share their interests or who want their children to learn these new skills.

Each applicant is given a local interviewer who will meet them and ask them questions about themselves and their motivation for joining the program. The interviewer will also provide us with a report to add to the au pair’s profile.

Once an applicant finishes their online application, our team reviews everything carefully. We may ask for more information or suggest improvements. The applicant needs to upload proof of secondary education, driving and good health.
: All applicants get access to a secure, password-protected Participant Site. This is where they complete their profile, upload documents, track interested host families and find their visa and travel information.
: After completing their application and interview process, au pair profiles are sent to our team to review. Once complete, their profile can then be viewed by our host families. Families express interest through the Participant Site and applicants can speak to as many families as they like before confirming a match.
: The Au Pair in America program fee is paid when a placement is confirmed. Once matched with a family, au pairs can view and pay their invoice through our secure Participant Site. We never request payment by money transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram. For more information on payments, click here.
: Our dedicated visa team supports our au pair with the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa process. We help prepare paperwork and guide applicants through booking their US Embassy appointment.
: We organise return flights to and from the USA once a placement is confirmed. The cost of flights is included in the Au Pair in America program fee.
: All au pairs complete an online orientation program at home before departure. This includes child development, health and safety, how to adapt to US culture and Red Cross training. It’s a great introduction to prepare them for their au pair placement and life in the USA.
: Every host family is personally interviewed in their home by a local Au Pair in America representative. They must provide background checks, references a family essay, photos, and full information about the au pair’s role and schedule. We also check that the au pair will have a private bedroom that meets program standards.
: Insurance is included in the program and covers medical emergencies while in the U.S.
: Each au pair will have a local Community Counsellor who is based within one hour’s drive of where the au pair is living. Counsellors meet the family and au pair in person after arrival, organise regular check-ins and host monthly meet-ups and events with other au pairs in the area.
: All au pairs are provided with the contact details of our 24/7 emergency support team in the US. Help is always available — day or night.

Personal growth

Building a successful future