Work as an Au Pair in the USA
Earn $11,700 a year, free flights, accommodation & meals included!
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Group Size: N/A
Trip code: USAP
Duration: 12 months
Do you want to work with children? Become an Au Pair in the USA and spend 12 months living with an American host family in a paid childcare role. If you are British, aged 18-26, have previous childcare experience and hold a UK driving license then you could be the perfect fit as an Au Pair. Earn over USD11,700 while living free with an American family as an Au Pair!
There is just a £99 deposit to book onto the Au Pair programme! You pay the remaining programme cost once you have been matched with a host family.
Trip highlights
- Become an Au Pair for a year and live with an American host family, gaining amazing childcare experience abroad
- Earn over USD11,700 for the year, with all accommodation and meals included as well – incredible!
- FREE flights and medical insurance are also included – wow!
- Participate in an amazing online training course that covers topics such as first aid training, American culture, child development and more!
- Enjoy 1.5 days off per week, 1 weekend off per month and 2 weeks paid holiday – plus 1 month’s extra time to travel at the end of your placement.
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- 100% Financially Secure
- We have provided financial bonds which guarantee that your money is totally safe with Gap 360 Ltd.
- 12 month Au Pair placement with a host family
- Over USD11,700 earnings per year (approx £185 weekly allowance)
- Free flights (round trip airfare)
- Accommodation and meals with your host family
- Online orientation
- In-country travel costs to your host family location
- Access to our online matching system
- 1.5 days off per week, and one full weekend off a month
- Two weeks (11 days) of paid holiday time
- 30 days travel time/ holiday after the end of your placement
- Medical insurance (additional travel insurance is recommended)
- USD 500 educational allowance
- Application and visa assistance
- SEVIS visa fee
- Monthly cluster meetings with other Au Pairs, for advice & support
- Au Pair America Handbook and Childcare Guide
- 24 hour emergency support
- Travel insurance (medical insurance is included but we recommend purchasing additional travel insurance)
- Airport transfer on arrival (USD20)
- DBS criminal background check (£65)
- Medical report costs (approx charge from GP £30)
- US J1 Visa Fee (paid to the US Embassy): Approx £100
- Travel expenses to Gap 360 office for interview
- Travel costs to US Embassy in London
- Travel costs to departure airport
- Return flight if you leave your placement early
- Costs you may incur during any holiday or travel time
- Any additional costs needed to cover your academic course (usually no more than USD200, dependent on the course you choose)
Want to be an Au Pair for a year in the USA? Earn over USD11,700 plus free flights, insurance, accommodation and meals included - wow!
Benefits of being an Au Pair!
Here are a few of the best, brilliant reasons to become an Au Pair in the USA:
- Gain childcare experience abroad working with amazing kids in the USA
- Free flights are included
- Earn USD11,700 income per year!
- Accommodation and meals are included for 12 months, over and above your pay packet!
- Free medical insurance included
- Get at least 1.5 days off per week, 1 full weekend off per month and 2 weeks paid holiday!
- Monthly meetings with other Au Pairs in your area & your local coordinator
- Receive USD500 towards extra study sessions in your chosen subject
- 1 month’s time off to travel at the end of your placement: Why not add in our brilliant road trip in the USA and make the most of your final month in America?
Are you eligible to become an Au Pair in the USA?
You are eligible to become an Au Pair in the USA if you meet the following criteria set by the United States Government:
- Aged 18-26
- British passport holder
- Hold a full UK driving license
- Can provide two references for non-family related childcare (200 hours for female applicants, 500 hours for male applicants)
- Are available for a full 12 months
- Must be physically and mentally capable of handling the responsibilities of the programme for the duration of the time in the USA
- Have not participated in an Au Pair programme in the USA within the last 2 years
- Have secondary school exams (GCSEs or equivalent)
- Can get a recent, enhanced DBS check in advance of travel
If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, are permanently residing in the UK, and meet the other eligibility criteria, then you may be eligible to apply. Please contact us for details.
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine
InterExchange
Gap 360 are the exclusive UK partner of Au Pair USA by InterExchange, one of the few official US State Department sponsor for J1 visas.
Between Gap 360 and Au Pair USA by InterExchange we have over 25 years of experience sending Au Pairs to the USA.
Au Pair USA is a member of IAPA (International Au Pair Association) the global trade association for the Au Pair community.
A day in the life of an Au Pair
Every Au Pair's role is different, depending on your host family. However, every Au Pair will work up to 45 hours of childcare each week, working no more than 10 hours a day. Common Au Pair duties include:
- Getting the children up and ready for the day
- Providing them with breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner
- Playing and organising activities
- Taking the children to and from school
- Helping the children with home work
- Organising the children's bedroom and laundry
- Going on play dates with other Au Pairs
- Entertaining the children during school vacations
- Looking after the children when they are sick or have unexpected days off
- Taking the children on fun outings
Our American host families are based all over the United States and have been thoroughly checked as suitable hosts for our Au Pairs.
Orientation
As part of your Au Pair experience you will participate in an exciting and informative online orientation before you begin your Au Pair placement.
Topics covered during the orientation include rules & regulations, the practicalities of living and working in America, information about childcare, child safety and first aid and childhood development.
Time off
Au Pairs will get at least 1.5 days off per week, with 1 full weekend off per month and 2 weeks paid holiday so you can discover more of America!
Au Pair pay
Au Pairs will earn an amazing USD11,700 income over the entire 12 months placement. You will be paid USD225 (equivalent to approximately £185) weekly.
Au Pair support
Compulsory cluster meetings are held once a month for all international Au Pairs living in your area, and offer the ideal chance to meet other Au Pairs, make new friends and enjoy a ready-made social network. These monthly meetings also offer a chance to talk with your local coordinator about any questions or concerns.
Educational classes
As this is officially a cultural exchange programme, part of your visa requirement is that you must complete educational classes at a recognised US educational institution during you year as an Au Pair. This works out to be around 1 hour of classes per week or equivalent. During your first meeting with your local coordinator you will be shown a list of the courses available so you can choose your favourites: Subjects include fun options such as photography and fashion classes. You will receive USD500 to go towards these classes, which will cover some or all of the cost (depending on the courses you choose). You may have to top up the cost of these classes, but your contribution should not be much more than an additional USD200 in total.
One month to travel after your Au Pair placement ends!
As part of your J1 visa, you are allowed up to a month of travel time in the USA once your Au Pair placement ends – awesome! Make the most of this free time to travel and add in our incredible, fun road trip in America and explore the stunning sights, landscapes and cities of the USA...
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Online booking is unavailable for this trip
Online booking isn't currently available but if you'd like to enquire please use the form below. Alternatively if you'd like to discuss alternate trips or if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us.Your inclusive flights for this trip will be arranged for you once your visa has been approved. Flights can depart from a UK airport of your choice and you will arrive into the nearest international airport to your host family. Your host family will arrange transport from the airport to your home for the next year.
For the duration of your Au Pair placement you’ll be living with the host family you work for, providing them with up to 45 hours a week of childcare in return for your accommodation, meals as well as a weekly allowance of around £185! As a new member of the family, you’ll have all the privileges you would expect, and will have your own private bedroom in which to relax and switch off, plus meals provided with the family. You’ll soon settle into your new US home from home!
Who is eligible to be an Au Pair in the USA?
You are eligible to become an Au Pair in the USA if you meet the following criteria set by the United States Government:
- Aged 18-26
- UK Citizen and British passport holder (see below if you are a citizen of another country)
- Hold a full driving license
- Can provide two references for non-family related childcare (200 hours for female applicants, 500 hours for male applicants)
- Are available for a full 12 months
- Must be physically and mentally capable of handling the responsibilities of the programme for the whole duration of the programme.
- Have not participated in an Au Pair programme in the USA within the last 2 years
- Have secondary school exams (GCSEs or equivalent)
- Can get a recent, enhanced DBS check in advance of travel
If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, are permanently residing in the UK, and meet the other eligibility criteria, then you may be eligible to apply. Please contact us for details.
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine
Application Process
- Book your place with a just a £99 deposit
- Send in 2 childcare references, 1 character reference and a medical form
- Interview with our friendly Au Pair coordinator at the Gap 360 office in Tunbridge Wells.
- Send off for a DBS police record check.
- Complete an online profile
- Skype with potential host families and find a match with an American host family!
- Once you are matched you will pay the remaining programme cost.
- Make a visa appointment at the embassy in London so you can start your J1 visa application process
- Once you have your J1 visa we will book your inclusive flights from your chosen departure airport to the USA. Your flights and health insurance information will be sent to you via email.
- Go to the USA to begin your Au Pair adventure!
Visa
Once you have been matched with your American host family we will assist you with applying for your J1 Exchange Visitor Visa. Our partner company in the USA will issue your visa invitation letter. This allows you to make an appointment at the US embassy. You will attend your appointment at the embassy, and then your passport will be sent back to you with your J1 visa 5 working days later. Included in your programme is the SEVIS fee for your visa but the embassy will ask you to pay for an MRV Fee, which is approximately USD160 (£100).
We will provide you with comprehensive instructions and offer you guidance throughout this process.
DBS (CRB) Checks
On this particular programme, as you’ll be working with children you’ll need to undergo an enhanced DBS (previously CRB) check. We will help you to do this. There is an addition cost for the DBS check, please speak to your travel advisor at the time of booking. The DBS application is done online, so just bring in 3 forms of ID when you come for your Au Pair interview: It's really simple and easy to do.