Au Pair Extension Program

 

NEW YORK, New York - March 2004 — InterExchange Au Pair USA announces the launch of the Au Pair USA Visa Extension program and the first-ever confirmed extension for an Au Pair USA au pair. The Au Pair Visa Extension program allows host families to maintain a more stable child care environment for their children while allowing the au pair more time to participate in their cultural exchange experience. Extensions may be granted for a 6, 9, or 12-month period.

When the Waits family from Atlanta, Georgia was asked why they chose to extend their au pair, they were emphatic. “My au pair is so dependable and is just great with the kids — the cost was appealing too. I have a handicapped child, so for us to keep our au pair longer than one year was just wonderful! It is wonderful for families to have continuity with their au pair. InterExchange was so accommodating, it makes all the difference!”

Au pairs are young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 who come to the United States on a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to live as an extended member of their host family. Au pairs provide up to 45 hours per week of live-in child care in exchange for room, board, an educational allowance, and a small weekly stipend. The average weekly cost to a host family for extending their au pair is between $180 to $230 depending on the length of the extension.

The InterExchange Au Pair USA program recruits au pairs from over 40 countries and places them with host families in more than 90 communities in 25 states. Since its designation by the U.S. Department of State in 1986, thousands of families have benefited from participating in the Au Pair USA program. Options for U.S. citizens to au pair abroad are offered through the InterExchange Working Abroad (http://www.workingabroad.org) program.