We have 2 new
Au Pairs arriving this week, so I thought this post would be nice! Here's some important info!
We have a new host family in the area too, the group is getting bigger! Ya!
During Your Year With An Au Pair Arrival Your
Au Pairs arrival is an exciting time for everyone. This section is to help prepare you for the first few days your Au Pair is in your home.
When your
Au Pair arrives, keep in mind that she has just finished a very long international flight and is jet lagged. It is normal for Au Pairs to be very tired for the first few days while they are adjusting to the new time.
An adult must be present in the home for 3 days following the Au Pair's arrival to allow time for adjustment and to instruct the
Au Pair on responsibilities and schedules.
When you are scheduling your Au Pair's arrival, you will need to keep in mind that someone must be present for her first 3 days.
Your
Au Pair will need to call her family to let them know that she has arrived safely. To avoid a large phone bill, help the Au Pair use an international calling card.
goAUPAIR will mail your Au Pair a Welcome Packet shortly after she arrives. This packet will contain general program information as well as her insurance card and a list of Au Pairs in your area. Encourage your Au Pair to meet Au Pairs in your area so she is able to make new friends.
Most
Au Pairs will experience some form of culture shock when they arrive in the U.S. Culture shock is a period of adjustment to a new surrounding and most Au Pairs will follow this cycle:
Arrival excitement. Some people refer to this as the "tourist phase" because everything will be new and exciting, and
Au Pairs will want to experience it all at once.
Fatigue. After the initial excitement, Au Pairs may begin to notice all of the cultural differences and may feel homesick. Physical and mental exhaustion are common in this stage but the first step to moving on is understanding this cycle.
Initial Adjustment. In this phase, the Au Pair is overcoming fatigue cycle and is beginning to adjust to life in a new country. Au Pairs in this stage are beginning to feel more comfortable with the new surroundings.
True Adjustment. This final phase occurs when an
Au Pairs has fully acclimated to the U.S.
Orientation During the first 2 weeks of your
Au Pairs arrival, your Local Area Representative will schedule an orientation in your home. The orientation is an important part of the program and its completion is required.
The
Au Pairs and at least one host parent must be present for the orientation. The topics discussed during the orientation include:
Au Pair's responsibilities Schedules
Stipend
Host Family specific child care requirements
House rules
General conduct
Education
Department of State regulations
Problem resolution
Your Local Area Representative will be able to answer any specific questions for you, so use the orientation as a guideline for your year. In addition to the orientation, you will want to schedule a meeting each week with your Au Pair so that you can review her performance, discuss any issues that have come up and provide her with a schedule for the next week.
Support While you may contact your Local Area Representative any time, your Local Area Representative will contact you and your Au Pair every month to ensure your program is going well. You will also receive quarterly communication and information on any program updates from the
goAUPAIR corporate office throughout your year.
goAUPAIR also provides Host Families and
Au Pairs support during the year in the event of any problems. If a problem arises between a Host Family and Au Pair, it is important that certain steps are taken. goAUPAIR has developed a grievance procedure based on our 20 years of experience placing Au Pairs. Families and Au Pairs agree to follow these three steps in the event of a problem:
Discuss the problem within the home. Based on our experience we have found that many Au Pairs and Host Families are not aware there is a problem until it is brought to the other party's attention. It is important to communicate with your
Au Pais and discuss any problems or misunderstandings you have to help build a strong relationship.
Discuss the problem with your Local Area Representative. Your Local Area Representative is a valuable resource because she is able to provide advice and mediation as needed to help you and your
Au Pair resolve any issues.
Discuss the problem with your Placement Coordinator. Your Placement Coordinator works with other families and Au Pairs in the U.S. and is often able to provide a unique insight on different situations.
In the event a problem arises that cannot be resolved through the grievance procedures, a refund or replacement option is available to you as part of goAUPAIR's Flexible Choice Program.
Travel Au Pairs are allowed to travel freely within the U.S. and may travel internationally during their first year.
Au Pairs will need to send their DS-2019 form into
goAUPAIR's corporate office for travel validation prior to leaving the U.S.
If you plan to take your
Au Pairs on a vacation with your family, keep in mind that travel restrictions for U.S. citizens will be different than those for your Au Pair. Au Pairs will need to check with the embassy of the country they are travelling to see if they will need a visa.
Social Security Social Security numbers are not required for
Au Pairs to participate in the program, but in order to receive a U.S. driver’s license or a bank account, Au Pairs will need to apply for a non-working Social Security number.
Au Pairs will need to apply at their local Social Security office. Some of the offices will require an appointment to be made, so call ahead to be sure. Your
Au Pair will need to take her passport with visa, DS-2019 and I-94 card. The I-94 card is given to the Au Pair during her flight to the U.S. This is a white card that shows legal entry into the U.S. and is often stapled to the passport by Customs.
The Social Security office will need to verify the Au Pair's visa status and this cannot be done during the first 10 days in the United States. Your Local Area Representative will be available to guide you through the entire process.
Taxes While
goAUPAIR is not able to provide tax advice to Host Families and
Au Pairs, we have been provided information regarding Au Pair taxes by the IRS. This letter is included in each Au Pair’s Welcome Packet which is sent out when the Au Pair arrives.
Many Host Families will use the program fees paid to
goAUPAIR for their child care tax credit or child care flexible spending account.
goAUPAIR is happy to provide you with the necessary invoices and tax ID.
