An au pair is a young foreign person who comes to the United States temporarily (usually for a year) for a cultural exchange and provides childcare for up to 45 hours a week. They also attend an educational course and receive a weekly stipend in exchange for their host family’s room and board.
Au Pair Stipend
A week-by-week stipend is included in the program cost to help au pairs with their day-to-day living expenses. The U.S. Department of State sets this amount and accounts for room & board and Fair Labor Standards Act considerations. Au pairs should always save part of this stipend to cover unexpected expenses, meet their educational requirement, or for other purposes as needed during the program year.
In addition to the weekly stipend, au pairs receive a two-week paid vacation. Au pairs must plan and save for this period as it is a time to enjoy freedom in America. Au Pairs must also take at least six credits of academic courses ranging from linear algebra to French cooking to motorcycle repair. Host families are responsible for covering up to $500 of these class costs.
Some au pairs have reported abuses and bad treatment by host families, which is unfortunate. The au pair agencies should aggressively kick families off the program for mistreating au pairs. Unfortunately, some au pairs are unwilling to leave bad hosts because of the risk of deportation and loss of their work visa. In these cases, au pairs should contact their program about the abusive situation, as well as local social services.
Transportation
There are additional au pair program costs that you should consider, such as the match processing fee, visa or “SEVIS” fees, background check fees, and any other expenses your agency may have. You are also responsible for any educational classes your au pair takes as part of the program, and you are expected to contribute towards those credited courses (it’s not included in her weekly stipend). Some families offer Uber/Lyft credits or will pay for her gas to make sure she has the transportation to get to these classes.
Another consideration is your au pair’s two weeks of paid vacation time. You will need to make arrangements for care during that time as it would be against Department of State regulations to leave her alone in your home for longer than that. It would help if you also planned family vacations, assuming you want her to come along.
Ultimately, a quality au pair is an investment that can bring value to your family far beyond the weekly stipend she receives. These caregivers form strong relationships with their host families and can nurture your children in a way impossible with babysitters or daycare providers. With that in mind, it’s important to make clear expectations with your au pair about what you expect her to do and not do with your children.
Educational Reimbursement
The au pair program is a cultural exchange, not a traditional employee-employer relationship. While some parents have been pushing back against the image of privileged au pairs taking advantage of families, Department of State regulations require au pairs to fulfill educational requirements during their year in the U.S.
Host families on the standard and Extraordinaire programs pay tuition and related fees for your au pair’s educational and cultural classes. Host families work with their au pair to establish agreeable time frames and provide transportation to and from these classes.
Au pairs also participate in Academy, an online training program that starts before their match and continues after they arrive in the U.S. This training program provides au pairs with an introduction to the United States, childcare skills and CPR/first aid and helps au pairs understand their role and responsibilities as part of the host family.
Host families should remain mindful that au pairs live in their homes as household members and have other recurring expenses like mobile phones, personal electronic devices and Internet use, special toiletries, additional cultural experiences, sports, recreation, and travel. Additionally, most au pairs will need to purchase clothes and shoes for weather conditions in the U.S. that differ from their home countries.
Room & Board
Au pairs live with their host families for 12 months, becoming full family members while providing childcare and helping out around the house. They are compensated for their time with a minimum weekly stipend plus room and board. The au pair program is unique in that it’s not an employer-employee relationship — it’s an educational exchange program regulated by the Department of State.
Room and board are fundamental parts of the au pair experience. It enables cultural exchange by creating a home environment that’s supportive and comfortable. Host parents are responsible for supplying au pairs with a private room, bed, desk, and dresser. The family dining table allows au pairs to experience local cuisine and become part of the family’s mealtime traditions.
Conclusion
Besides providing au pairs with housing, the host family is also expected to provide them with meals. This is to ensure their nutritional needs are met, encourage au pairs to participate in family life and activities and make them feel like a valued household member. Depending on their specific needs, au pairs may require additional items such as personal clothing and toiletries or extra spending money for sports, hobbies and travel.
