Choose Your Au Pair

Yes, Au Pairs are allowed to care for special needs children, as identified by the Host Family, when the Au Pair has specifically identified their prior experience, skills or training in the care of special needs children and the Host Family has reviewed and acknowledged in writing the Au Pair's prior experience, skills or training so identified.  Many of our available Au Pairs have broad experiences and are interested in caring for children with special needs.

Au Pairs can care for children between the ages of 3 months and 17 years. Au Pairs can assist parents with the care of a child younger than 3 months, but cannot take full responsibility for the child nor be the sole responsible adult. 

Yes, any Au Pair can work a part time schedule but Educare Au Pairs were designed for it. The Department of State created the Educare program for families with school aged children or families looking for part-time care. Educare Au Pairs need to complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit and Host Families must provide up to $1,000 toward the cost of their academic course work. Educare Au Pairs can work a maximum of 30 hours per week and receive a smaller weekly stipend. Educare Au Pairs cannot care for children who require full-time attention unless other child care arrangements are in place during the time the Au Pair will not work.

• Transition Au Pairs. Transition Au Pairs are ending their current placement early and are typically available to start with a new family in two weeks or less. All transition Au Pairs are available for placements less than 12 months long.
• Extension transfer Au Pairs. Extension transfer Au Pairs are completing their first placement and wish to transfer to a new family for another placement. Extension transfer Au Pairs are typically available to start with a new family in two months or less and are available for placements lasting 12, 9 or 6 months. Extension transfer Au Pairs must apply for an extension of the Form DS-2019 before starting another placement.

A Pre-Match Au Pair is an Au Pair candidate already chosen by a Host Family who is not currently available with Go Au Pair. Pre-match Au Pairs are no different from any other Au Pair. Pre-match Au Pairs come from the same countries, must pass the same screening, must be sponsored by a designated agency and must place with a Host Family who also meets requirements. We advise families who choose a pre-match Au Pair to contact our office as soon as possible so the candidate can begin the application process. 

An Au Pair’s profile contains:

• Au Pair application with contact information, child care and employment experience, driving and personal information
• “Dear Host Family” letter
• Au Pair interview
• Two non-family child care references
• Character reference
• Under 2 verification form (if the Au Pair is infant qualified)
• Physician’s report
• Personality profile descriptions
• Au Pair’s photo collage

Only Host Families who have submitted their Host Family Application and are accepted into the program have access to Au Pair profiles.

Au Pair selection is regulated by the U.S. Department of State and includes at minimum:

• The Au Pair is between the ages of 18 and 26
• Secondary school graduate, or equivalent
• Proficient in spoken English
• Capable of fully participating as evidenced by satisfactory completion of a physical exam
• Personally interviewed, in English, by organizational representative
• Successfully passed a background investigation which includes verification of school, three non-family personal and employment references, criminal background check and successfully pass a psychometric test

Go Au Pair screens and selects potential Au Pairs through the following:

• Au Pair profile
• Photo copies of official documents such as passport, school diploma, driver’s license, certificates, etc.
• Au Pair agreement

Au Pair selection is performed primarily by our International Representatives in the Au Pair's home country.

All Au Pairs are pre-screened as part of the Au Pair selection process according to U.S. Department of State regulations. Host Families are responsible for screening and ultimately selecting the right Au Pair for their family.  Evaluation tasks you perform include:

• Thoroughly review all components of the Au Pair’s profile
• Interview the Au Pair at least twice by telephone
• Optionally interview the Au Pair via Skype or another video conferencing system
• Optionally interview the Au Pair via email
• Send the Au Pair your Host Family profile
• Use our helpful telephone tips to conduct interviews

Host Families are required (under U.S. Department of State regulations) to interview potential Au Pair applicants by telephone prior to the Au Pair’s departure.

Au Pairs participate in the Au Pair program for professional and personal reasons. While each Au Pair has reasons specific to their situation, common reasons Au Pairs want to become Au Pairs include:

• Opportunity to improve English skills
• Great experience for professional career when they return home
• Ability to make a difference in local community when they return home
• Fulfill dream of living the U.S. and experiencing American culture
• Desire to attend school
• Love of children
• Performing a job relating to child care training, education and experience
• Desire to share culture with others
• Wanting to have a great life experience
• Valuable experience for professional career in child care related field

Most Au Pairs describe their motives for being an Au Pair in their “Dear Host Family” letter which is part of the Au Pair profile. Additionally, we encourage Host Families to ask each Au Pair they interview why the applicants wants to be an Au Pair.