Studying as an au pair in the US?

Question

I have done camp for 4 years and from camp met my boyfriend of over 18 months who lives in NYC. As the opportunitys to move to the US are so rare and difficult and wed like to spend more than a few months together at a time i am looking into becoming an au pair for a year or two.

Id like confirmation that as a british au pair in the US that i HAVE to be a live in au pair, is that correct??? That would be ok as seeing him once a week would still be better than once every two months!! plus i love children and think id be a great au pair.

Also as an au pair it says you have to study?? At the moment im excited by that prospect, but i dont know to what extent you have to study? Do i get to choose what i study or is a subject given to me? If you can tell me anything about these questions id be very greatful,also ive signed up to greataupair.com but havent paid up as a full member just a guest at the moment, can you recommend them???

Answer 1

Yes au pairs must be a live-in au pair and by law the hosting family must provide the au pair with a private bedroom, meals, a full weekend off each month, two weeks paid vacation, upto $500 towards attending an institution of higher learning and a cash stripend tied to the U.S. minimum wage.

You are also not allowed to work more than 10 hours a day and not more than 45 hours a week. You must be between the ages of 18 and 26 and you are not permited to remain in the United States for longer than 12 months - so you are restricted to being an au pair for just the one year and not two.

With regards to studying, as an au pair you must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. This simply equates to about two classes, twice a week and 6 hours of school a week. There are no restrictions on where you can study, except that you must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution i.e. a college or university and you are free to study what you want.

You will also find that many au pairs enjoy the school life in the U.S. and at the end of their 12 months, decide that they wish to enroll full-time is their school to complete the education which they have started and so change their status to that of an F-1 (student).

I wouldn't recommend any website for which you have to pay a membership although for many au pair agencies you can expect to pay training and insurance fees - which are to be expected. Furthermore the organization which sponsors you must be an offically approved exhange visitor program overseen by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Click the link below for more information on approved organizations.