AU PAIR IN AMERICA

AU PAIR IN AMERICA
RE
AU PAIR EXTRAORDINAI
EDUCARE IN AMERICA
LIFE!
FOR THE TIME OF YOUR
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IR IN AMERICA
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Camilla
Sofie
We bring the world together
Designed and produced by Winstone Marketing Communications Ltd. www.wmc.ad
CONTENTS
The options
The deal
Safe & legal
Study & support
Travel
Au Pair Extraordinaire
EduCare in America
What you pay
Applying & FAQs
2
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
... and it's all totally organized. No wonder, because
Au Pair in America is the largest and most successful
au pair program to the USA, arranging over 4,000
placements every year. The program was launched
in 1986 and is designated by the US State
Department. It draws on the unrivalled experience
of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS),
which has organized cultural exchanges for over a
million young people since 1964. AIFS is dedicated
to providing the highest quality cultural exchange
and educational programs to enrich the lives of
people throughout the world.
Ma
dis
dr on
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sin he
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WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
PAGE 1
ams
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Ther e a
to cho ose fr om:
DETAILS
AU PAIR IN AMERICA
You give:
are
45 hours per week of childc
You get:
092 per
US$139.05 per week / US$7,
year
You study:
3 hours per week
You get:
$500
Study allowance of up to US
You need:
experience
200 hours recent childcare
This is the one I chose - the perfect combination of work,
study and travel. You spend a year living with your host
family and caring for their children for up to 45 hours a
week. You also get up to US$500 to spend at a local college.
You need 200 hours of childcare experience – for me, that
was lo oking after my neighbour’s twins. And the best thing
about the whole experience is the number of new friends
you make – everyone’s so friendly over here!
DETAILS
RE
AU PAIR EXTRAORDINAI
You give:
This program is for experienced childcare professionals with at least 2 years’ full time experience as a nanny or
kindergarten teacher for example - or those with a
relevant childcare qualification. My friend Camilla studied
to be a pre-scho ol teacher at college back home. Au Pair
Extraordinaires get paid more, but all the other benefits
are the same. Of course, you have to speak go od English
(Camilla’s is fantastic) to take part in any of the programs.
DETAILS
are
30 hours per week of childc
You get:
per year
US$105 per week / US$5,355
You study:
6 hours per week
You get:
$1,000
Study allowance of up to US
You need:
PAGE 2
US$200 per week / US$10,20
0 per
year
You study:
3 hours per week
You get:
Study allowance of up to US
$500
You need:
Childcare qualification or
2
full time childcare experiencyears’
e
EDUCARE IN AMERICA
You give:
200 hours recent childcare
45 hours per week of childc
are
You get:
experience
If, like Sofie, you want to take your studies more seriously, this
is the program for you. In return for only 30 hours a week of
looking after scho ol aged children before and after scho ol (for
which you get paid slightly less), your US$1,000 tuition allowance
lets you take more classes. You need to attend college for at
least 6 hours a week and as a non-degree student, you can
cho ose pretty much whichever courses you want. Again, you
need at least 200 hours of recent childcare experience.
EduCare is only available to participants from some countries –
check out pages 7 & 8 for details.
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
THE DEAL
FOR JUST US$600 YOU GET:
• Full board and lodging with your
American host family
• Flights to and from New York plus
onward travel to your host family
• Four day Orientation course near
New York City
• 13 month J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa
with the option to extend for up to
a further 12 months
• Weekly allowance of up to US$200
• US$500 – US$1,000 study allowance
• Medical and liability insurance
• Two weeks’ paid vacation
• Travel month
YOU CAN APPLY
IF
• are 18-26 years
YOU:
old
• have a full driv
ing license
• enjoy caring fo
r children
• have at least 20
0 hours recent pr
actical childcare
experience
• are a secondar
y school gradua
te
• speak English
to a good standa
rd
• have no crimin
al record
• want to spend
12 months living
with an American
family
• have not previo
usly been an au
pair in America
There are additio
nal requirements
for Au Pair Extrao
and EduCare prog
rdinaire
rams (see pages
6 & 7).
SAFE AND LEGAL
One of the most important reasons for cho osing Au Pair in America is the
complete support package that takes the worry out of getting to America,
enjoying life there and returning home safely.
THE RIGHT VISA: With Au Pair in America,
you travel on an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa, the only
legal way to live as an au pair in the USA. Au pairs
who enter the USA illegally can be deported at any
time and may not be allowed to return for at least
five years.
ORIENTATION:
When you arrive in the USA,
you attend a four-day Orientation course in
Connecticut, near New York. There you meet other
au pairs, take part in training sessions on childcare
issues and learn what to expect from the year.
There’s also time to relax after your journey and
enjoy some sightseeing in the Big Apple!
EMERGENCY HELP: You have 24-hour, toll-free
emergency phone access to the US office.
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
INSURANCE: You’re
covered during your stay by
a basic insurance plan that
includes US$100,000 medical
insurance cover and
US$100,000 personal
liability insurance for 12
months. You can increase
this by taking out a
Comprehensive Plan that
gives you US$500,000 of
medical cover, emergency
dental treatment cover,
US$1,000 baggage
insurance and cover
during your additional
‘travel’ month.
PAGE 3
THE RIGHT FAMILY FOR YOU
dad
my host mom &
Your host family provides your own ro om, meals, study allowance
and weekly payment. In return, you care for their children - for
no more than 10 hours a day and 51/2 days a week. You’re also expected
to do your share of routine household chores as a member of the
family. One of your host parents will stay with you for your first
3 days to help you settle in. Lots have welcomed au pairs from
abroad into their homes before. My host mom and I have
a wonderful relationship – I can talk to her about anything.
You will receive
STUDYING
up to US$500
study allowance (or up to US$1,000
with EduCare) towards the course you
take at your local college or university.
The choice of course is yours – for some
au pairs it is a chance to continue their
English studies. Anna chose journalism.
Apart from looking good on your CV,
you will make friends with American
students and experience US college life.
You need to complete six hours
of academic credit – an average
of 80 hours of classroom study.
Your Community Counselor will
advise on courses available and
how to register.
Cody
V ikki
You only get placed with a
family that’s been personally visited and
reviewed by a Community Counselor to make
sure they are suitable. There are host families
all over the US - you’ll be placed with a family whose
needs match your experience and whose lifestyle you’ll
feel comfortable with.
COMMUNITY COUNSELOR
Your family will be part of a cluster, all
supported by a Community Counselor who
contacts you within 48 hours of your arrival
and then keeps in touch regularly
throughout the year. Best of all, they
arrange monthly social events and
activities so you can get to know all the
other au pairs and companions in your area.
EXTENDING YOUR STAY
Upon completion of a successful year, you can apply
to extend your stay for an extra 6, 9 or 12 months
to continue working as an au pair.
PAGE 4
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
EXPLORING
Miami
With two separate weeks of paid vacation and at
least one weekend off a month, you get plenty
of opportunities to discover the local area
and travel to other parts of America, either
on your own or with your new friends. You
also get an additional travel month to see
even more of the country.
And what a beautiful country to
explore! Whether you head for the bright
lights of San Francisco, New Orleans or
Las Vegas or the natural wonders of the
National Parks there’ll be experiences you’ll
never forget.
San Francisco
TIME OFF
I go
I’ve travelled all over the place!
in
on road trips with other au pairs
- we
my cluster on my we ekends off
go
just jump on a Gr eyhound bus and
re!)
to Portland (gr eat Niketown the
or to see au pairs in neighbouring
nt
towns. During our vacation we spe
mi,
a fantastic we ek in Florida - Mia
Disney World, the Everglades - and
we’re planning a trip to
San Francisco, which I’m
really lo oking forward to.
at the beach
The Grand Canyon
go on holiday with them, to o.
Your host family may ask you to
ng.
at Lake Tahoe, which was amazi
I went with my family skiing up
TRAVEL MONTH
At the end of your stay, you can also travel round the US for
an additional month. You get discounts on low-cost adventure
tours through Trek America or Cultural Highway.
I’m off hiking down the Grand Canyon, for example…
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
PAGE 5
Hi there! My name’s Camilla and my program
is slightly different from Anna’s because I
studied to be a pre-school teacher back home.
For people like me with a recognised childcare
qualification or at least two years’ full-time
childcare experience, the Au Pair
Extraordinaire program is an excellent choice American parents really value our skills and we
are in great demand.
My friends!
AU PAIR EXTRAO
RDINAIRE
My house in Boston
MY DAY
I have three children to look after here in Boston. My typical day
starts at 7.30 when I make them breakfast, check if Adam’s done his
homework, prepare his lunch and see that they all brush their teeth.
Then it’s off to school for Adam and I drop Matthew at pre-school.
I spend the rest of the morning with
Katy, taking her out for walks in the
park where I often bump into au pair
Boston
friends doing the same thing. We bring
Matthew back home for lunch – he
sometimes has play dates in the
afternoons, which I fit in
around Adam’s soccer
practice, or I play in the
den with them until their
Mom gets home.
Matthew
Au Pair Extraordinaires
receive a higher weekly
payment of US$200 in
addition to all the
educational, travel and
support benefits of the
main program – not to
mention a year of useful
career experience.
Adam
Katy
AU PAIR EXTRAORDINAIRE REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for Au Pair Extraordinaire you must meet all the
general Au Pair in America requirements PLUS you will need:
A recognised childcare qualification (details on website)
OR
2 years’ recent full time childcare experience as a nanny,
childcare provider or nursery school teacher and be a
minimum of 20 years of age
I’ve made new friends from all over the world; we go to coffee shops, the movies and baseball
games, or just sit and talk. My year here has been fantastic.
PAGE 6
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
ent
on Monum
W ashingt
EDUCARE IN AMERICA
Hi I’m Sofie! I chose EduCare in America because
I wanted to study more while lo oking after children.
Ryan
EDUCARE REQUIREMENTS
Jessie
In addition to the standard
requirements for all Au Pair
in America programs (see page
3), to qualify for EduCare you
will need:
to be a confident driver,
with a full license for at least
six months
AND
very good English skills
MY DAY
I lo ok after Jessie, who’s 7 and Ryan who is 11 and my duties are mainly
before and after scho ol. Once I’ve made breakfast and driven them to scho ol, I’m off until
I pick them up. By 3.30 we’re back in the house for a snack. I see to it that they do all
their homework before they play outside, go to a class or j ust hang out and watch TV.
Sometimes they have play dates and it’s my job to drive them. Later we all have dinner as
a family and then I head out with friends.
US education is usually expensive for foreign students – up to US$35,000 a year.
But being an EduCare companion gives you a real taste of American college life
without having to pay high fees. You earn US$105 a week, do no more than 30
hours’ childcare a week plus receive up to US$1,000 study allowance. You may
need to add to your study allowance depending on the courses you choose.
MY COURSES
College
Friends!
Most days I go to college here in Washington
D.C. I’m doing two courses as a non-degree
student – American politics and computer
graphics. I go to class at least six hours a
week during term time and use the library lots.
Check out the website to see the wide range
of colleges and courses on offer. For more
choice in courses you should take the “TOEFL”
English language test before leaving home.
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
PAGE 7
WHAT YOU PAY
To find out what you pay, lo ok on the left for Au Pair in America and Au Pair Extraordinaire,
and on the right for EduCare in America. Don’t forget you pay nothing until you’re matched with
a suitable family. To see what you get in return, check out ‘The Deal’ on page 3. For EduCare,
although you pay a little more, you get a fantastic study allowance of up to US$1,000.
THE EDUCARE PACKAGE
THE AU PAIR IN AMERICA
PACKAGE
Non-refundable Placement Fee
US$100
US$750
Non-refundable Placement Fee
US$100
Program Fee
Program Fee
US$500
Flight surcharge (if required – see website)
Comprehensive
Insurance Plan (optional)
Flight surcharge (if required – see website)
Comprehensive
Insurance Plan (optional)
US$250
COMPLETION BONUS: When you successfully complete
12 months as an Au Pair in America or an Au Pair
Extraordinaire, including the educational requirement,
you receive a US$400 Completion Bonus. If you do not
complete the program for any reason, you forfeit your
Completion Bonus and pay for your own flight home.
Special arrangements apply in South Africa - please ask your local interviewer.
Note: Fees may be subject to increase
US$250
SUMMER AND WINTER DEADLINES: Courses start in
September or January, so departures take place in
July/August or December to allow you to settle in. For a
summer departure, you must attend your local interview
by April 15th. The interview deadline for winter departures
is August 31st.
EDUCARE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO APPLICANTS FROM:
Australia • Austria • Belgium • Brazil • Canada • Denmark •
Finland • France • Germany • Iceland • Italy • Netherlands •
New Zealand • South Africa • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • UK
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
We take care of your travel arrangements to and from America. Many
flights are free but some do carry a surcharge - for full details visit
www.aupairinamerica.com. At the end of your stay, flights are only arranged
back to your home country and there will be a similar surcharge.
AIFS organizes a variety of
cultural exchange and educational
programs worldwide for more
than 50,000 students every year.
The Camp America program offers
students the opportunity to spend
a summer working as camp
counselors and support staff in US
summer camps. Our recently
launched Global Adventures Project
offers a variety of gap year
placements around the world.
For more details of AIFS programs
visit www.aifs.com.
PAGE 8
in America
Dear Au Pair
e here in the
awesome tim
best and
I’m having an
family is the
y
M
u!
yo
k
an
USA - th
w friends fr om
many gr eat ne
I’ve made so
orld.
all over the w
t
thinking abou
so much I’m
es
at
St
xt
e
ne
Th
a
I love
Camp Americ
ter pr ogram
ort or
sp
a
n
doing your sis
re
ild
’ll teach ch
I
be
ay
m
summer
staff.
ork as support
activity, or w
Thanks again,
Anna
program:
Another AIFS
merica.co.uk
www.campa
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAMS IS EASY!
Au pairs and au pair extraordinaires depart for
America all year round, so you can apply as so on
as you like (but at least three months before
you want to go). Your exact departure date will
depend on the requirements of your host family.
EduCare deadlines are specific, with departures
in July/August or December.
You can track th
e
pr ogress of your
application and
placement online
at
the website:
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
1. Download an application form direct from the website
or get one from your local Au Pair in America
interviewer. The website also has details of our
worldwide network of interviewers.
4. You will then be called by one or more host family who
will share with you details of their home, children,
community, au pair duties and local study options.
There may be several calls and e-mails before you both
agree to match.
2. Once you have completed your application form, you
arrange to meet up with your local interviewer. You also
have to complete a medical report and arrange a
criminal record check - your interviewer tells you how.
5. Once you are matched with your host family Au Pair in
America sends you your J-1 visa application forms,
details of your new home and the date of your flight.
3. Once your application is approved you will be notified
by e-mail and will receive an acceptance pack.
6. And before you know it, you are off on the adventure
of a lifetime!
FA QS
You're bound to have loads of questions - some are covered
below, but for more answers check out the Website.
How far ahead should I apply?
At least three months before you would like to go.
EduCare departures happen in July, August or December.
Can I apply if I do not have a full driving license?
No, because most American families need an au pair or
EduCare companion who can drive.
What if I know a family I would like to be placed with?
No problem, so long as both you and the family meet the
program’s requirements. You still need to submit a full
application and be interviewed in your country – just give
your local interviewer information on the family.
Can I choose where to live?
As anyone who has been will tell you, a happy and
successful year depends much more on being with the
right family than where they happen to live. That is why
the program places you with the most suitable host family
in any one of 165 cluster areas across 35 states, so you
need to be flexible over location.
What if I am not compatible with my family?
Ask your Counselor’s advice. If it is an extreme situation,
Au Pair in America may transfer you to another family.
Transfers do not normally happen in the first or last
months of a placement.
Are there any other costs?
A few - fees for your local interviewer, for visa processing
and for your criminal record check. Your doctor may also
make a charge for completing medical forms.
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
PAGE 9
Friends!
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM
My family!
My house!
Henry
Au Pair in
America Offices
UK Office:
Au Pair in America,
37 Queen’s Gate, London,
SW7 5HR, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7581 7322
Fax: +44 (0)20 7581 7345/55
E-mail: [email protected]
For the time of your life - Au Pair in America
4,000 participants each year take the opportunity to
live and work in the United States with Au Pair in
America, combining the rewards of childcare with study,
travel and friendship. We’re the world’s leading au pair
program to the USA with benefits including:
• A choice of programs
• Safe and secure
• The right family
• Time off for travel
• Study opportunities
• Local support
Your local agent:
US Office:
Au Pair in America,
River Plaza, 9 West Broad Street,
Stamford, CT 06902-3788, USA
Tel: +1 203 399 5000
Fax: +1 203 399 5592
AIFS Australia:
E-mail: [email protected]
www.aupairamerica.com.au
AIFS Deutschland:
E-mail: [email protected]
www.aifs.de
AIFS South Africa:
E-mail: [email protected]
www.aifs.co.za
WWW.AUPAIRINAMERICA.COM