Families should ensure their au pair sponsor agency is reputable and adheres to federal regulations. This includes checking that the agency provides a one-on-one match.
Visa Requirements
Navigating the legal process of how to get an au pair in USA can be tricky. Choosing the right agency can make all the difference. The Department of State runs the Au Pair Program through a list of designated sponsor organizations, and au pairs must apply to one of these agencies. Host families and au pairs must complete the necessary visa paperwork and comply with additional requirements of the Department of State.
The program is open to au pairs ages 18 to 26 who are fluent in English and willing to provide their host family up to 45 hours per week of child care. Participants receive room and board, weekly pocket money, and an educational stipend. According to the Department of Labor, au pair wages are considered employment income and must be paid by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
A substantial portion of complaints the Department of State received from au pairs involve allegations of abuse and harassment. Many au pairs, particularly those on the younger end of the spectrum, work in their first job and navigate unfamiliar cultural contexts and relationships. They may be unable to speak up without risking their status in the pro- gram and fear retaliation from their agency and host families.
Au pair agencies are motivated by profit and are often organized in ways that put the interests of their host families above those of their au pairs. Furthermore, the Department of State does not adequately protect reporting au pairs’ confidentiality or provide them with a means to seek recourse when they are victims of misconduct.
Requirements for Host Families
The au pair program allows young men and women worldwide to live with American families, learn about their culture, receive some college-level education, and provide childcare. As a host family, you will pay your au pair a modest wage for up to 45 hours of child care per week, plus a room and meals. You may also be responsible for the educational stipend, which ranges from $500 to $1,000, depending on your agency and the au pair program you choose. You should talk to your agency about these requirements before you begin the application process. Some agencies even go the extra mile to ensure you and your prospective au pair are a good match before making a placement. That means both parties must independently agree that the match will succeed. Aside from the hard skills required to provide quality childcare, au pairs should follow basic first aid protocols and know how to respond to injuries, illnesses, and accidents like choking or seizures. Some agencies require au pairs to complete a training course before they are placed with a family.
Taxes
When hosting an au pair, it’s essential to understand that her wages are considered income, and she must file a US tax return. Au pairs must also pay social security and Medicare taxes. The host family can decide whether to withhold but is responsible for paying any withheld taxes.
Host families are not required to withhold federal income tax from au pair wages, but they can choose to do so if both the host family and au pair agree. In that case, the au pair must complete Form W-4, indicating on line 6 that they voluntarily elect to have federal income tax withheld from their weekly au pair stipend. The host family will then report the amount withheld on Schedule H of their tax return.
The au pair may also be required to pay social security and Medicare taxes if she has been in the US on a J, F, M, or Q nonimmigrant visa in the past. Using au pairs as childcare is a great way for families to learn more about the cultural backgrounds of their children’s new friends while also providing them with affordable and qualified live-in child care. With the right planning, the experience can be an enriching one for everyone.
Immigration
The au pair program arose in Europe after World War II as social change increased the number of middle-class families seeking child care and as educational aspirations for girls made experiencing foreign cultures common goals. Unlike a domestic servant, an au pair is a cultural exchange visitor who lives with the host family and works for them full-time in return for room, board, and a weekly stipend.
When selecting an agency, ask the company what countries their au pairs hail from. While no one agency has the resources to represent au pairs from every country on earth, you can find a good match by choosing an au pair with the same cultural background as your family. Once you’ve found an au pair you want to work with, the agency will book the candidate’s flights and secure their visa. They also arrange for Au Pair training to ensure your new caregiver is prepared for the responsibilities you will assign her.
