Quality of Life

Having a live-in au pair from Europe generously improves your quality of life. It allows for a dedicated live-in companion with whom your child can bond and build a strong personal relationship. It affords older children the opportunity to participate in more after school activities because the au pair can drive them to their various Cub Scout meetings, soccer practice or sporting events. The host parents will have more quality time with the children because the au pair can clean the children's rooms, do their laundry, and make the children's meals.

Having an au pair offers more flexibility knowing there will always be someone home in case of last-minute plans or sickness. Since the au pair lives in the home, the host parents have freedom to go out in the evening knowing that childcare is already arranged. Leaving your children in the care of the au pair becomes natural for your children and minimizes any worries that you have about their caregiver.

For about $290 per week, an au pair can legally reside in your home for one year through a J-1 visa sponsored by Agent Au Pair. All of the legal documentation is processed by the agency before the au pair reaches your home. All au pairs are covered under an exchange visitor health insurance plan and possess a driver's license.

The host family must provide up to an additional amount of $500 to satisfy the educational component of the exchange program. The U.S. Department of State's educational requirement states that au pair participants are enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution for not less than six hours of academic credit or its equivalent.

The host family must have interviewed their prospective au pair by telephone at least once before inviting him/her into their home.