According to the U.S. Department of State’s visa requirements, you must stay with your host family for at least 12 months. You can later extend your au pair stay by 6, 9 or 12 months to spend more time with your host family. The idea is that a full year is a good basis for a real cultural exchange.

Au pairs are between 18-26 years old and live on equal terms with their host family. Both the au pair and the host family are interested in cultural exchange, learning each other’s lifestyle and customs. An au pair must have experience caring for children, but formal qualifications are not required. In contrast, a nanny does not have to be of a specific age, usually has gained formal qualifications in childcare, does not always live with the family and often does more household duties than an au pair.

We suggest an au pair to a family who decides if you are the right person for their needs. If a family matches with you, you get the family’s basic information from us. You can then make phone calls, Skype and email each other in order to make sure it is a good fit.

Our agency will give you all the necessary application forms and documents needed. These include the au pair contract, forms for your doctor and for the persons providing your personal references. You also need to provide a criminal record check and a copy of your passport. When you have found a host family our agency will provide you the application form needed for the J-1 Au Pair Visa.

A driving license makes it easier and faster to find a host family for you. Many host families need their au pair to drive children to kindergarten, school, sports, music lessons, doctors, friends.

A childcare reference can be given to you by any adult who can confirm that you had a certain childcare experience. You can get a childcare reference for example from parents whose children you took care of, an educator at the nursery in which you had an internship or even members of your own family if you babysat for younger siblings.

Ideal Staff Alert gives you the opportunity to hire your ideal candidate before someone else does.

An au pair stay can start at any time of the year. However, the majority of the au pairs take their flight to the USA during the summer months.

Ideal Staff Alert gives you the opportunity to hire your ideal candidate before someone else does.

All au pairs must enroll in a post-secondary study program during their stay in the USA. It is a great opportunity to meet people of your age, whilst studying a subject that will be useful in your future life and career. You should keep in mind that your studies schedule should fit around your childcare duties.