Preparing For Your Au Pair's Arrival

No, Go Au Pair cannot guarantee your Au Pair’s arrival date. Although we do everything possible to accommodate an Au Pair’s arrival date, certain things out of our control may cause delays, such as (but not limited to):

• Embassy delays
• Embassy returning stamped passport to Au Pair after visa approval (typically 5 to 7 business days) for international travel
• Time of year, specifically summer months when many people travel
• International conventions and sporting events, make travel to/from hosting countries difficult

No, Go Au Pair cannot guarantee a visa for any Au Pair. Go Au Pair provides the Form DS-2019 and coaching/training to Au Pairs to best prepare them for their Embassy visit and interview.

Issuance of the J-1 Visa, like all non-immigrant visas, is at the discretion of Consular Officers viewing visa applications at U.S. embassies and consulates. This means even if you are accepted to an exchange visitor program and have received your Form DS-2019, the Consular Officers decide if you receive the J-1 Visa.
 
(from the U.S. Department of State website, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/ for most up to date information and to learn more)

Yes, you can use dependant care flex spending, third party child care vouchers or related financing to pay Go Au Pair fees. However, you cannot use these finance options to pay the Au Pair stipend, educational contribution, or other Au Pair specific fees.

The arrival timeline for in country Au Pairs is dependent on when the Au Pair leaves the current Host Family. Transition Au Pairs are typically available in 2 weeks. Extension Transfer Au Pairs are typically available in 2 to 3 months.

The arrival timeline for out of country Au Pairs varies depending on the following factors:

• Host Family speed of completing profile
• Host Family speed of reviewing and interviewing candidates
• Host Family speed of selecting candidate
• Host Family and Au Pair speed of submitting final paperwork
• Au Pair speed of scheduling embassy appointment and visa interview
• Flight availability from Au Pairs country to your local airport
• Au Pair attendance of the New York Introductory Workshop

Typically, an out of country Au Pair arrives 4 to 8 weeks after the match is finalized. The most variable factor affecting the timeline is the embassy appointment and visa interview.

To best accommodate Host Families, Go Au Pair automatically and without additional charge, separates total program fees into two payments. The first program fee installment is due when you match with your Au Pair. The second program fee installment is due 30 days before your Au Pair arrives. The time difference in between payments varies depending on the visa process and when you want your Au Pair to arrive. In country Au Pairs sometimes follow a different structure, contact our office for details.

Families who need program fees separated into more than two installments and allocated across a greater time frame take advantage of our flexible payment plan. Visit payment options for more details.

The Form DS-2019 or “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status” is the basic document used in the administration of the exchange visitor program. This form permits a prospective exchange visitor to seek an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in order to obtain a J-1 visa to enter the United States.

The Exchange Visitor (J-1) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work and study based exchange visitor programs, which enable foreign nationals to visit the United States in order to experience life in the U.S.

This means that before you can apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate for a J-1 visa, you must first apply, meet the requirements and be accepted to an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsor organization. If you are accepted as a participant in an exchange program, the sponsor will provide you with information and documents necessary to apply for the J-1 visa to enter the U.S.

(from the U.S. Department of State website, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/ for most up to date information and to learn more)

Officially, Au Pairs can come from any country which has positive diplomatic relations with the United States. However, Go Au Pair does not grant the J-1 visa for your Au Pair and constantly monitors and tracks visa denials across the world. Sometimes certain countries experience an unusually high volume of J-1 visa denials. This high denial volume could be temporary or long standing depending on the country and situation.

As a result of high visa denial rates, Go Au Pair sometimes recommends families do not match with Au Pairs from certain countries or charges a non-refundable visa fee for families who want Au Pairs from these high denial countries. We know from our 20+ years of experience it is easier on families and their children to not consider an Au Pair from a certain country than to experience a disappointing visa denial. 

Visa denial rates are constantly changing. Contact our office for the most recent information on high denial countries and learn what options you may have.

Currently Go Au Pair recommends against Au Pairs from the following countries due to high J-1 visa denial rates:

• India
• Philippines
• Nepal

Program fees cover a variety of services administered around the world including:

• Au Pair recruitment, pre-screening, training and selection
• Host Family recruitment, pre-screening and selection (including interview)
• Matching services and tools
• Embassy and visa assistance
• Roundtrip airfare base amount (additional fees possible)
• Dedicated travel coordinator and flexible arrival options
• Au Pair medical insurance during stay in U.S.
• 32 hours of child development and safety training
• Host Family and Au Pair Orientation
• Placement long support from Local Area Representative and headquarters
• Payment plan option and placement-long protection program

See our fees page for program fee amounts by Au Pair type.

• Au Pair’s room has a door which closes and which is not used for any other household purpose outside of housing the Au Pair (i.e. cannot also be used as an office, den, access to laundry room or porch, etc)
• Au Pair’s room be furnished with basic necessities such as a bed, dresser, closet and have basic amenities such as windows and pleasant decoration
• Au Pair have access to private bathroom or share a bathroom with the children only. It is recommended that Au Pairs not share bathrooms with the Host Parent(s).
• Au Pair’s board includes food which the family normally buys and consumes including eating out in restaurants when the Au Pair is invited
• Au Pair’s board includes basic toiletries such as toilet paper, tissues, shampoo, soap, etc.

In order to provide the lowest possible program fee to all Host Families, Go Au Pair builds into the program fees the lowest possible base air fare which applies to any international departure airport and any domestic arrival airport. Using the lowest possible base air fare means families are not overcharged for international flights which do not apply to them.

Instead, Go Au Pair adds on a domestic air travel fee which is specific to the airport the Au Pair arrives into (the airport nearest you) and the international region the Au Pair departs from. Domestic air travel fees are priced based on:

• Three international regions of the Au Pair departure

1. Europe and Africa
2. Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands
3. Mexico, Central America and South America

• Difference between Au Pair arriving into U.S. major point of entry and your preferred arrival airport (the airport nearest you)
• Au Pair’s round trip
• Seasonal charges (if applicable) from October to April

Go Au Pair currently has 47 routes (international departure regions to U.S. arrival airports) without any additional domestic air travel fee.  Contact our office to learn your specific domestic air travel fee for your U.S. location and your chosen Au Pair’s departure country.

International air travel fees are specific to the airport the Au Pair is departing from and is in addition to domestic air travel fees (if applicable). International air travel fees (like domestic air travel) cover the Au Pair’s round trip airfare. Only 18% of our international airports have an international travel fee. Learn more about specific international air travel fees.

• Drivers license and auto insurance if your Au Pair drives your vehicle
• Related travel expenses such as gas, tolls, parking, bus / train tickets, etc.
• Cell phone and corresponding voice / data plan
• Gifts or tokens of appreciation such as birthday presents, holiday gifts, etc.
• Vacation expenses
• Home phone and / or internet use
• Computer and / or television use
• Medical insurance upgrades
• Other expenses related to the cultural experience

The objectives of the Introductory Workshop are to reduce culture shock, teach first aid and CPR skills and experience New York City. Some topics covered during the three day workshop include:

• Review of driving in the U.S. such as signs, rules, policies
• Movies, TV and music ratings
• American holidays
• American food
• Cell Phone billing and international calls
• Personal space
• Punctuality
• Educational requirements review
• Insurance coverage review
• CPR and First Aid Classes

The Introductory Workshop is an optional training in addition to the required 32 hours of training which is received in the Au Pair’s home country.