New Government Regulation to Enable Au Pairs to Return to U.S.

Au pairs who have successfully completed the U.S. Government designated cultural exchange/child care program will be able to return for an additional year under a new interim final rule announced June 27 by the U.S. Department of State. This interim rule will be effective 30 days from July 21, 2008.

Return au pairs must have resided outside the U.S. for two years after the completion of their initial participation and must be within the ages of 18 and 26, the regulatory au pair age range for au pair program eligibility.

An amendment to law 22 CFR Part 62, the ruling will allow American host families to select from a larger pool of candidates. In addition, a return au pair is a proven successful caretaker that is ‘likely to be more familiar with the American culture and overcome cultural challenges…and will be able to build on previous skills.’

“We are very excited to be offering our host families the option of selecting an au pair that has previously participated on the program,” states William L. Gertz, CEO and President of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), the parent company of the nation’s first legal au pair agency, Au Pair in America. “Return au pairs will have already established themselves as reliable caregivers in the U.S. and the cultural experience that they gained will be invaluable during their second year.”

Regulated by the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program, the au pair program allows 18 to 26-year-old foreign women the opportunity to live in the U.S. for up to two years as live-in child care providers. Each au pair is screened thoroughly, must have at least 200 hours of recent, documented child care experience and speak proficient English.

Source: Au Pair in America

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