FAQ

Q: How long is the Program?
A: The au pair program is offered for one year with the option to extend for 6, 9 or 12 months. As an au pair you may stay and travel for one month at the end of your au pair program before returning home.

Q: What type of families join the program to find an au pair?
A: AuPairJoy carefully screens families who apply to the au pair program. Most AuPairJoy families are typical American families -- they are hard-working, friendly, busy, and want the best for their children. They participate in the au pair program because they want dependable care for their children, and look forward to sharing their home with an international au pair.

Q: Can I talk to an au pair who is already familiar with AuPairCare?
A: Yes, your representative is an au pair resource, and will be able to refer you to an au pair who has participated in the AuPairJoy au pair program.

Q: How do families qualify for the au pair program?
A: AuPair host families must meet the U.S. Department of State's hosting requirements. After they submit their application for an au pair, we interview them in person and check their references. Host families must agree not to schedule the au pair to work more than 45-hours per week and not more than 10 hours per day. Families must also be American citizens (or permanent residents), and have a sincere desire to share their home with an au pair.

Q: Can I be placed anywhere in the United States?
A: We can place an au pair nationwide. You may request a particular region, and we will make an effort show your application to compatible families in that region. Our main objective is to help you find a compatible family. In some cases, the right family is in a different region than what you had requested.

Q: Are some locations better than others for an au pair?
A: No. While some places in America are probably more familiar to you from movies and television, all parts of the country are interesting, and each has its own advantages. The United States is truly a diverse and fascinating country, and as an au pair you may be surprised to discover cities or regions that you didn't know about before. You will have a chance to visit other parts of the country during your 10-day paid vacation and travel month.

Q: How long after I apply does it take to match with a family?
A: Depending upon your au pair qualifications, it can take anywhere from three to eight weeks for you to match with a family. Once you are matched, you and your host family will agree on a U.S. arrival date. You will have a minimum of four weeks after matching in order to prepare for your arrival.

Q: Do I have to have a driver's license to apply to the au pair program?
A: Yes. Most AuPair families need their au pair to drive their children. You must have a valid international driver's license in order to be accepted into the au pair program. Your representative can tell you about how to get a valid international driver's license.

Q: Can I leave the au pair program early?
A: AuPair families rely on you to remain with them for the entire au pair program. In the event you leave the program early, you will forfeit your au pair completion bonus and will have to pay for your own return airfare.

Q: What if I have a problem?
A: An au pair may find the first few months of their program challenging. Our local AuPair field staff understands this very well, and will be there to support and advise you as you adjust. Moving to a new country, having a new family, and being responsible for children can be overwhelming at times! With the help of your local representative, host family and other au pairs in the area, you will quickly become comfortable and adapt to your new American community.

Q: I have already completed the au pair program but I would like to return to America as an au pair. Am I eligible to participate in the Repeat Au Pair Program?
A: Yes, as long as you have successfully completed the program and fulfilled all of the requirements of the Repeat Au Pair Program, then you can apply to become a repeat au pair.

Q: If I was an au pair in the past and really liked my host family, can I request to be an au pair with that host family again?
A: Yes, you can request to match with the same host family again, although it is not guaranteed that you will be placed with them. To request a particular family, simply fill out the Request More Information form on the our website and indicate on the form that you would like to match with your previous host family.

Q: What if I am now older than 26? Can I still come back on the Repeat Au Pair Program?
A: Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of State ruling only allows for young adults between the ages of 18 to 26 to become and au pair in the United States and this also applies to repeat au pairs.