Au Pair In America - Requirements And What You Really Need To Be

I often say that Au Pairs live in a Care-free bubble. The Au Pair bubble. As Au pair you don’t have to worry about paying rent, groceries, car, insurance, utilities like electric or your job for a year. As an adult who lived already alone it’s a pretty sweet deal but also for young adults who are just starting out and finished school this can be a great transition. You get to travel and experience a new culture not just as a tourist. On top you will still earn money that you can spend all on yourself. (you don’t get that option if you do an exchange year in high school or even study here). 

Let’s talk what it takes to become an Au Pair in America. There is more to it than just the requirements from the Agency to become an Au pair.

Requirements

First thing you need to know is that you need an Agency to become an Au pair in the US, you can’t do it by yourself how it is in many other countries possible. The reason for that is simply safety. Without the Agency the Host family would sponsor the Visa and in a worst-case scenario they could try to manipulate you and holding the visa hostage. What made you unable to leave and this is illegal and a sign of human-trafficking. The State Department prevents this by having the Au pair Agencies in charge of the Visa. There are 15 Agencies approved but the State Department in the United States.

You can find a Host family outside of the Agency but don’t pay money or send documents without the Agency.

The requirements from the Agencies to get a visa as Au pair:

• You are aged between 18 – 26 years

• You have a full driver license

• You have at least 200 hours recent, non-family, practical childcare experience

• You are a secondary school graduate or equivalent

• You speak English to a good standard

• You have no criminal record

• You want to spend 12 months living with an American family 

• have no spouse or dependents

Other requirements you should have for the reality of being an Au pair

• You should be patient, keeping calm in Emergency’s, Enthusiasm, Communicate (verbal and non verbal) and have the ability to hide frustration or annoyance

  Working with kids is fun, full filing and wholesome. Most days. Some days it’s hard, frustrating and exhausting. You really have to like kids and be ready for the times when things are not easy going. Remember that you are the adult and you are a role model for behavior. Kids, no matter the age are still learning to regulate their feelings, if they are acting out they need you calm. No matter how annoying and inconvenient it is. With the language barrier that will happen it’s important that you can bring over your message non-verbal. When you say ‘No’ but smile it sends the signal of being funny and not serious. Be mindful of that for setting boundaries. 

• You should be open-minded

  As you enter a new culture be reminded that things can be handled very differently from what you know. You have to stay open to the idea to experience it and might adapt to it. Especially when it comes to different styles of raising kids. Make sure you are alright with how your Host parents want to raise the children, you are part of their team for a year. Over the year you will also realize that traditions are differently and getting celebrated in other ways. 

• You should be a good Roommate

  Have you ever lived with a person that never cleaned after themselves and you need to do their dishes before cooking?! Don’t be that person. Yes, you only have to do light housecleaning regarding to the kids. But don’t just do the bare minimum and hope for the best experience. Be pro active. Take care of your stuff and if you see the trash has to be taken out, do it. If you see the dishes are piling up and you don’t have anywhere to be? Do the dishes. Again you are a team with the Host parents to make sure the Household and kiddos are going well. Don’t let them use you, but also don’t just do the minimum. Find the golden middle.

• Communicate, A LOT

It will happen a lot that you don’t understand what is going on and I don’t mean just the language itself. Some times people will act a certain way, (For me, it was having strangers walking up to me and giving me compliments, something you would never do in Germany and I felt threaten by it at first) that’s very different from you culture. Ask Americans about it, your Host family or your local friends. Really get to know the cultural behavior. If something feels not right with your Host parents and they do something that feels rude to you, chances are that they meant it differently and you are just used to your culture and how to receive things.

After reading all of that do you think you would enjoy to become an Au pair? Then it’s time to find an Agency and apply! You should do that at least 6 months before you plan to start being an Au Pair. It takes time to find the right Host family for you. Not every Agency takes Au Pairs from every country so to find an agency that works for you, you have to do some research on your own. The Agency will help you with the whole application, matching and visa process. And as soon as you made it to the US I’m here for you to support you. Your Au pair bestie.

Love Michelle