Program Information

The Exchange Visitor Program fosters global understanding through educational and cultural exchanges.  All exchange visitors are expected to return to their home country upon completion of their program in order to share their exchange experiences. Read this J-1 Fact Sheet to learn more about the Exchange Visitor Program.

Au Pair Program Information

Agent Au Pair offers multiple program options to meet your family’s needs! The first step to becoming a host family is to select the program that best accommodates the needs of your family

  • Au Pair Program – up to 45 hours of childcare per week
  • Infant Care Au Pairs – up to 45 hours of childcare per week for children 3-24 months
  • Pro Au Pair – up to 45 hours of childcare per week
  • TutorCare Au Pair- up to 30 hours of childcare a week
  • Au Pair Extention- extend for another 6, 9, or 12 months

For more information about our programs, please visit our Program Option page.
For more information about our Program’s Fees and current discounts, please visit Program Cost.

As of November 8, 2021, au pairs are required to be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine to return to the United States after traveling internationally.

To travel outside of the country during the first year of your program, au pairs must send their DS form to the Agent Au Pair Office 30 days prior to traveling. Please also include a return envelope with your original DS Form.

Agent Au Pair does not recommend au pairs traveling internationally during their extension year.

You can travel outside the country within your first year if you have your DS2019 signed before you leave the country. You can mail this to: Jodi DiMauro 837 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06515. You should not travel outside the country during your extension year.

The only way to guarantee the au pair gets back into the United States if if they return to their home country and renew his/her Visa before re-entering the United States.

Checklist for traveling outside of the US during your Au Pair year

Agent Au Pair infuses Renzulli teaching methods into our program to elevate its learning benefits. Renzulli has helped millions of children to develop advanced learning skills and higher academic performance. The unique training in Renzulli methods provides our host families with valuable educational benefits for their host child(ren) that no other au pair program can offer!

How will Renzulli Learning Benefit Au Pairs:

  • Enhance your child(ren)’s educational experience by utilizing Renzulli Learning with your au pair
  • Understand your child(ren)’s interests, learning styles, expression styles and creativity to achieve higher academic performance with the Renzulli Profiler
  • Expand your children’s knowledge base through interest-based activities and online resources

Learn more about Renzulli Learning by visiting: www.renzullilearning.com

New Household Guide

Agent Au Pair is pleased to be providing you with a new and improved Au Pair & Host Family Household Guide. Our new fillable pdf template is easy to fill out for the hosts and offers visual icons for English language learners. Hosts may transition to the new guide at any time during their current program year and should plan to create their new guide before their next au pair program. 
You can access the new guide here.

SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS
The Au Pair and Host Family Household Guide sets you up for success as your most important communication tool for your au pair year. It is not only your main training tool, but also your go-to resource throughout your program. 

SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY
Agent Au Pair covers important program information that proactively prevents common placement issues. The host family customizes the guide to their specific household and childcare needs. The local rep reviews the guide with the host and au pair. The au pair receives the structure and organizational tools she needs to feel confident and meet host family expectations. 

HOST FAMILY APPLICATION PROCESS
The Household Guide is completed during the host application process and is reviewed with the local representative during the in-home interview. The local rep provides feedback and edits to make sure the guide is well-polished and sets the tone for a successful program. The host family application is completed with the submission of the revised Household Guide (about 4 weeks prior to au pair arrival). 

AU PAIR ARRIVAL
The au pair receives an electronic copy of the Household Guide to read prior to arrival.  It is highly recommended that the au pair also receive a print copy for daily reference during her 30-day adjustment period and beyond. 

PRESENTATION & FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The hosts’ presentation of the Household Guide helps set a standard for the au pair’s performance. Handwritten guides typically do not look as professional and may unintentionally set a lower standard for au pairs. Download Adobe Reader for free at https://get.adobe.com to customize your guide electronically. 

Hosts are encouraged to use a binder with tabs or page protectors for their printed Household Guide. Additional copies of select pages may be posted in a highly visible location such as the refrigerator or family command center. The hosts may also choose to keep a 2nd print copy for their own use. 

AU PAIR TRAINING
It is advised that the host and au pair review each section of the guide together in the days leading up to the Orientation with the local rep. The au pair should be given time to study the material, translate unknown words and write down questions for her hosts as a training exercise. 

ORIENTATION
During the orientation, the local rep will engage the hosts and au pair in discussion regarding the topics covered in the Household Guide to make sure that both parties have the same understanding of the program requirements and household expectations. 

WEEKLY CHECK-INS
The Household Guide should be available for review each week at the host and au pair weekly check-in meeting. Maintaining open communication and addressing any issues early and often promotes a healthy relationship dynamic. Revisions may be made as necessary to address new or ongoing support needs. 

PLACEMENT ISSUES
If a placement issue occurs that requires the neutral, third party support of the agency, the most current version of the Household Guide will be needed before proceeding with the mediation process so an appropriate support plan can be devised. The most current guide can be provided by the host or the au pair. Hosts may be asked to edit, revise or add to their Household Guide as part of the conflict resolution process. 

Introduction to the Au Pair Program

Through the Au Pair program, participants and host families take part in a mutually rewarding, intercultural opportunity. Participants can continue their education while experiencing everyday life with an American family, and hosts receive reliable and responsible childcare from individuals who become part of the family.

The Au Pair Exchange Program was established in 1986 as an educational and cultural exchange program with a strong child care component. “Au pair” is French for “on par,” reminding host families that, although an employee, their international visitor is to be treated like a member of the family. Agent Au Pair and our Local Representatives have the responsibility for administering the program, within the regulations set by the Department of State.

Read these Department of State documents to learn about the Au Pair program and answer some frequently asked questions:

Tax Information

Agent Au Pair advises that au pairs and host families to speak with a tax professional to discuss specific tax information as tax laws differ in every state. We are happy to share general guidelines regarding host family and au pair taxes.

Agent Au Pair’s Tax ID: 94-3407180

Since taxes vary in every state, Agent Au Pair recommends that host families and au pairs speak to a professional tax advisor or directly with the Internal Revenue Service for answers to specific tax questions. We have provided some general tax information from the IRS and useful links below to help host families and au pairs to complete their taxes:

IRS Phone number: If you’re calling in the US: 1-800-829-1040
If you’re calling outside the U.S.: +1-267-941-1000
Useful Links:

U.S. Department of StateBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Private Sector Exchange – Tax Filing Recommendations for Exchange Visitors

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040esn.pdf
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Au-Pairs

Agent Au Pair advises host families to discuss this with a tax advisor. To claim the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for the weekly payments given to the au pair, the host family must provide the social security number of the au pair.

How can my au pair obtain a social security number?

Au pairs must apply at your local Social Security Office for a “work only with DHS authorization” social security card. Au pairs can apply for their social security card one week after they arrive in the United States.

To obtain a Social Security Card, the au pair will need:

  • A valid passport containing their J-1 Visa
  • I-94 card printed out
  • DS-2019 form
  • Proof of Identification that is at least one year old (passport, driver’s license, certified copy of birth certificate that is one year old)