Host Family FAQs |
General Questions
Q. What is an au pair?
Q. Are all au pairs female?
Q. Who sponsors the au pair's visa and what type of visa do au pairs have?
Q. How long is the au pair program?
Q. What countries do the au pairs come from?
Q. Do the au pairs speak English?
Q. Do the au pairs drive?
Q. What if we don't like our au pair or if it doesn't work out for some other reason?
Q. Do the au pairs have car insurance?
Q. Does the U.S. Department of State recognize Au Pair USA?
Q. What if there is no local coordinator in my area?
Q. What is a pre-match?
Q. What is the difference between an au pair and a nanny?
Q. Can the program accommodate special needs?
Q. Are there other au pairs in the area?
Q. Is it necessary to have back-up child care when I have an au pair?
Q. What have other host families said about Au Pair USA?
Financial Questions
Q. How much do I have to pay up front?
Q. What are the Au Pair USA fees?
Q. What does the Program Fee cover?
Q. What does the Placement Fee cover?
Q. Is it cheaper if I find my own au pair?
Q. How much do I pay my au pair?
Q. Does my au pair pay taxes?
Questions About the Application Procedure
Q. How do I apply?
Q. What is a local coordinator?
Q. Is there a local coordinator in my area?
Q. Can I meet the au pair before I make my final decision?
Q. How long does it take to get an au pair?
Q. Why does it take so long for the au pair to arrive?
Q. Will the application process be quicker if I already know my au pair (a pre-match)?
Q. When will my au pair arrive at my home?
Q. What happens after I send in my application?
Q. How do we choose our au pair? Phone, e-mail?
Questions About Rules and Regulations
Q. What kind of screening process do the au pairs go through?
Q. Can my au pair stay home with my children when I travel on business trips?
Q. Can the au pair do extra work for extra money?
Q. Why does my au pair have to go to New York City before coming to my home?
Q. What if I know of someone abroad whom I'd like to have as my au pair (a pre-match)?
Q. What if I want an au pair from a specific country?
Q. Can I request an au pair who speaks a certain language?
Q. Is it OK if I ask my au pair to speak her/his native language exclusively (no English)?
Q. Can the au pair perform other household duties besides caring for the children?
Q. What if I would like my au pair to stay with my family longer than 1 year?
Q. Must I provide my au pair with her/his own bedroom, bathroom and car?
Q. If I am a single parent do I qualify to be a host family?
Q. How much experience is required for an au pair to care for an infant?
Q. Can my au pair travel with my family?
Q. What are the U.S. Department of State regulations regarding au pairs?
General Questions
Q. What is an au pair?
A. Au pairs are young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 who come to the United States and live as an extended member of their host family. Au pairs provide up to 45 hours per week of childcare in exchange for room, board, a small weekly stipend and up to $500 toward 6 credits at an accredited educational institution. (top)
Q. Are all au pairs female?
A. No. While the majority of au pairs are women, there are both male and female au pairs. (top)
Q. Who sponsors the au pair's visa and what type of visa do au pairs have?
A. InterExchange Au Pair USA sponsors the au pair's visa. All au pairs are on the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa. (top)
Q. How long is the au pair program?
A. An au pair's original program runs 12 months. An extension option is available to extend an au pair's original term by 6, 9 or 12 months. There is also a 3 month summer-only program. (top)
Q. What countries do the au pairs come from?
A. We have applicants from:
Argentina |
El Salvador |
Lithuania |
Slovenia |
Australia |
France |
Mexico |
South Africa |
Austria |
Germany |
Netherlands |
South Korea |
Belgium |
Guatemala |
New Zealand |
Spain |
Botswana |
Hungary |
Norway |
Sweden |
Brazil |
India |
Peru |
Switzerland |
Bulgaria |
Ireland |
Poland |
Thailand |
Chile |
Israel |
Romania |
Turkey |
Croatia |
Italy |
Serbia & |
Ukraine |
Czech Republic |
Japan |
Montenegro |
United Kingdom |
Ecuador |
Latvia |
Slovak Republic |
Yugoslavia |
Currently, the majority of au pair applicants are from Western Europe. (top)
Q. Do the au pairs speak English?
A. Yes. All au pair applicants must speak English, and will be rated on their English skill level. All applicants are also interviewed in English. (top)
Q. Do the au pairs drive?
A. Most au pair applicants have a valid driver's license. If an au pair is a driver, they will be required to obtain an International drivers license prior to their arrival. Inquire during the telephone interview about the extent of driving experience the au pair has if s/he will be responsible for driving your children. (top)
Q. What if we don't like our au pair or if it doesn't work out for some other reason?
A. Your local coordinator will attempt to help both you and your au pair sort through any issues. Au Pair USA has a transition team who will replace and reassign the au pair and host family when appropriate. (top)
Q. Do the au pairs have car insurance?
A. No. Please consult your insurance company. (top)
Q. Does the U.S. Department of State recognize Au Pair USA?
A. Yes. (top)
Q. What if there is no local coordinator in my area?
A. Check with the U.S. Department of State for other recognized au pair programs that service your area. (top)
Q. What is a pre-match?
A. It is when you know of someone in another country who you would like to be your au pair. (top)
Q. What is the difference between an au pair and a nanny?
A. Some differences are the cultural exchange aspect of au pair childcare, au pair programs are regulated by the United States government and each au pair can stay with your family for 1 year, and au pairs always live with the host family and are treated as an extended family member. (top)
Q. Can the program accommodate special needs?
A. Sometimes. Special needs families are handled on a case-by-case basis, please contact your local coordinator for more information. (top)
Q. Are there other au pairs in the area?
A. Yes. Each local coordinator has a "cluster" of host families and au pairs. Your au pair will meet other au pairs in the cluster at monthly meetings that s/he will be required to attend. (top)
Q. Is it necessary to have back-up child care when I have an au pair?
A. Yes, in case your au pair arrival is delayed or to provide childcare when you need more than 45 hours of care in a week. (top)
Q. What have other host families said about Au Pair USA?
A. Host family testimonials are posted on our web site.(top)
Financial Questions
Q. How much do I have to pay up front?
A. $250 non-refundable Application and Processing Fee. (top)
Q. What are the Au Pair USA fees?
A. Visit our Program Costs page for the latest information. (top)
Q. What does the Program Fee cover?
A. The au pair's J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa, most of the roundtrip transportation to and from the au Pair's home country, a portion of the au pair's medical insurance and the au pair's training and orientation in New York City. (top)
Q. What does the Placement Fee cover?
A. Recruitment and screening of the au pair candidate, police clearance report and medical history check in the au pair's home country, interviews, placement and year-long support services of the local coordinator and staff. (top)
Q. Is it cheaper if I find my own au pair?
A. You will save $100 off the placement fee for a pre-match. (top)
Q. How much do I pay my au pair?
A. Au pairs are paid based on a 45-hour workweek. Payment is calculated based on United States Federal Minimum Wage, less an allowance for room and board. Currently about $176 per week. The host family is also responsible for up to $500 toward 6 credits at an accredited educational institution. (top)
Q. Does my au pair pay taxes?
A. Contact your tax adviser or accountant for current information on all tax laws. (top)
Questions About the Application Procedure
Q. How do I apply?
A. Fill out an application and submit it with the $250 non-refundable Application and Processing Fee. Request an application or fill out an online Preliminary Application. (top)
Q. What is a local coordinator?
A. Regulations require that each host family live within 1 hour’s travel time from a local coordinator. Local coordinators perform the initial host family interview and provide support for both the host family and the au pair during the program year. (top)
Q. Is there a local coordinator in my area?
A. Please check here to determine our coverage areas. (top)
Q. Can I meet the au pair before I make my final decision?
A. That is up to you. InterExchange does not arrange personal interviews. (top)
Q. How long does it take to get an au pair?
A. It can take anywhere from 8 to 14 weeks from the time your application is received. (top)
Q. Why does it take so long for the au pair to arrive?
A. After being matched with a host family, each au pair candidate must apply and be approved for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa. Federal government visa regulations make for a thorough and lengthy approval process. (top)
Q. Will the application process be quicker if I already know my au pair (a pre-match)?
A. Perhaps by 1 or 2 weeks because you will not need to review au pair dossiers. However, both you and the au pair must follow all Au Pair USA and governmental procedures in order for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to be granted. (top)
Q. When will my au pair arrive at my home?
A. Your au pair will arrive at your home 4 days after her/his arrival in New York City for the mandatory orientation and training program. (top)
Q. What happens after I send in my application?
A. You will be contacted and interviewed by the local coordinator. The Au Pair USA placement team will begin matching au pair dossiers to your family's application. Several dossiers will be sent to you for evaluation. (top)
Q. How do we choose our au pair? Phone, e-mail?
A. It is required that you make at least two phone calls to the au pair in her/his home country and conduct a telephone interview to discuss your expectations and requirements before making your final decision and confirmation. You are welcome to contact the au pair applicant via e-mail at any time. Tips for choosing an au pair are available in the Au Pair USA Handbook for Host Families and Au Pairs as well as in the Host Family Resource Center.
Questions About Rules and Regulations
Q. What kind of screening process do the au pairs go through?
A. The international cooperator interviews each au pair applicant in her/his home country and obtains a confidential medical history report. A police clearance report, personal reference, two child-care references, proof of secondary education and a personal essay are gathered and included in the dossier sent to the host family. (top)
Q. Can my au pair stay home with my children when I travel on business trips?
A. No. Au pairs may not be home alone with children overnight, and never while parents are out of town. (top)
Q. Can the au pair do extra work for extra money?
A. No. This would be a violation of her/his visa. (top)
Q. Why does my au pair have to go to New York City before coming to my home?
A. The U.S. Department of State requires a 32-hour au pair orientation. Au pairs are trained in CPR and first aid by the American Red Cross, and are taught about typical American cultural issues such as how and when to call a pediatrician, child development, the 911 system, how to reach a parent at the office, etc. (top)
Q. What if I know of someone abroad whom I'd like to have as my au pair (a pre-match)?
A. Great! However, both you and the au pair must follow all Au Pair USA and governmental procedures in order for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to be granted. (top)
Q. What if I want an au pair from a specific country?
A. You may request an au pair from a specific country. It is important to remember that an application with such a specific request may take longer to fulfill depending on how many qualified candidates apply from that country at the time of your application. (top)
Q. Can I request an au pair who speaks a certain language?
A. Yes, see above. (top)
Q. Is it OK if I ask my au pair to speak her/his native language exclusively (no English)?
A. No. The cultural exchange aspect of the au pair program is meant to benefit both the host family and the au pair. Many au pairs join the program in hopes of improving their English skills. It is OK to ask your au pair to speak her/his native language sometimes so that your family benefits from hearing and possibly learning a few words. (top)
Q. Can the au pair perform other household duties besides caring for the children?
A. No. The au pair is treated as an extended member of the host family. Other than picking up after the children, preparing snacks, lunches, children's laundry and performing regular chores, it is not acceptable for the au pair to clean the entire house, do the family laundry or to regularly prepare meals for the entire family. (top)
Q. What if I would like my au pair to stay with my family longer than 1 year?
A. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa is valid for 1 year and can be extended for an additional 6, 9 or 12 months with a mutual agreement between the au pair and host family. The Extension Agreement must also be accepted by the U.S. Department of State. Information on the Extension Program will be sent to each family toward the end of the au pair’s original stay. Full information can also be found on the Extension Program web page. (top)
Q. Must I provide my au pair with her/his own bedroom, bathroom and car?
A. The au pair must have a private bedroom. It is not required that the au pair have her/his own bathroom or car. (top)
Q. If I am a single parent do I qualify to be a host family?
A. Yes, as long as you meet all of the host family requirements. (top)
Q. How much experience is required for an au pair to care for an infant?
A. References that support at least 200 hours experience caring for a child under the age of 2. (top)
Q. Can my au pair travel with my family?
A. Yes. The au pair must research and comply with the specific visa rules and regulations of the destination country prior to departure. The au pair must carry her/his DS2019 form at all times. (top)
Q. What are the U.S. Department of State regulations regarding au pairs?
A. Click here to read the regulations. (top)
