Obtaining a Visa Au Pairs & Nannies
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The Au Pair program in the United States is a program in which foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 26 years old participate in the life of a host family in the U.S. and provide a limited amount of child care services to the host family for a period of up to one year.
Au pairs are limited to a maximum of 45 hours of work per week, and no more than 10 hours in a day. Au pairs are governed by labor laws. They must be proficient in English and are required to complete an educational component while they are in the U.S.
There are several au pair organizations that serve to connect host families with potential au pairs. Most of these organizations will assist the host family with the proper paperwork to obtain the necessary visa. Host families and au pairs sign a specific agreement that specifies the duration of the time they will be there, as well as details about their duties while they are in the United States. The specific visa is referred to as a J-1 au pair visa. There are eleven agencies that the U.S. government has authorized to make au pair arrangements. These agencies typically charge between $5,500 and $7,000 for their services.
If you select an au pair independently, you can also work through an independent immigration attorney to obtain an H1-B visa. This type of visa is a regular work visa, and does not have the educational requirements that the J-1 visa has. The H-1B visa typically requires the applicant to possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, and cannot be issued for an actual “au pair” position; rather, for this type of visa, the position would have be listed as a home-school teacher, educator, or other type of service that is not solely childcare related.
You also might be able to sponsor a student for an F-1 visa program who will work with your children. These types of students will carry 12 hours of college credit, and generally work for no more than 20 to 25 hours per week in childcare.
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