An au-pair is a girl or a boy who helps their host family looking after the children and in child related duties, while the family returns the helper's work with payment and favours (e.g. language courses, holidays). The most important part of the au-pair programme is language learning. The meaning of babysitter and au-pair are often mixed in Hungary. While babysitters look after children for payment, the au-pairs' duty is more complex and diverse and means living together with the family, counting as a family member.

As the au-pair is loved and appreciated by all family members, he or she participates at family events and of course at everyday occasions (e.g. joint meals) as well. In addition to the use of rooms used commonly, the au-pair also gets their own room. We recommend all our au-pairs enquire and agree on the basic questions of living together with the host family as soon as possible after arrival. If questions arise later or there are disagreements, talk about it immediately and get it cleared.

The au-pair uses their free time as they use, going to language school, meeting friends etc. Opportunities for bigger trips and sightseeing tours are on weekends. The family should be informed about late nights out - the reason for this is very simple: the family is and feels responsible for the au-pair.
For people who live abroad as an au-pair the first things that catch the eye are cultural differences, which may come as a shock. Very often the stereotypes used in the country of origin do not match reality - 'cold' English, 'bohemian' French or 'accuracy-obsessed Germans'. We can freely state that foreigners are just as diverse as 'always-goulash-eating Hungarians'.

The tasks and working hours of the au-pair are set by the laws of the given country.
In general, au-pairs help 25-30 hours per week in childcare and everyday household work (making the bed, setting the table before meals, washing up, keeping the kitchen tidy, preparing the children's food, doing the ironing). The au-pair should not do heavy household work (e.g. cleaning doors and windows, keeping the restrooms tidy, scrubbing the floors, keeping the cellar and the car clean). The days of the au-pair are filled with looking after the children and language learning. The exact working hours depend on the routine of the family and the children and greatly vary with the age of the children.

Tasks:

• Playing with and looking after the children,
• Getting them dressed, bathing,
• Preparing food and elevenses,
• Feeding,
• Keeping the room and the playroom of the children tidy,
• Washing and ironing of the children's clothes,
• Taking them to school or kindergarten and bringing them back,
• Looking after yourself, keeping your room and your clothes in order.

Household tasks of au-pairs
This list was made in order to provide a clear view for the host families of what to expect from the au-pair when it comes to household duties. Considering these while putting together the weekly order of tasks is important.

Acceptable

• Vacuum cleaning
• Cleaning of the kitchen and hall floors
• Preparing the children's food
• Cleaning up the kitchen after meals
• Cleaning the bathtub, the sink and the mirrors
• Washing
• Ironing
• Putting away the children's clothes
• Tidying up in the children's rooms and in the playroom
• Changing the bed linen on the children's beds
• Emptying the waste bins around the house
• Emptying the dishwasher
• Taking the dog for a walk
• Occasional shopping (not weekly shopping)
• Anything related to the children

Not acceptable

• Changing the parents' bed linen
• Cleaning the oven and the microwave oven
• Cleaning the grill
• Defrosting fridges
• Cleaning windows
• Dusting and cleaning of floor moulding
• Cleaning outside the house
• Watering the garden
• Taking clothes to the drycleaner's
• Washing the car
• Preparing dinner events or helping in the preparation
• Anything related to the parents like cleaning up after them, putting away their clothes etc.

You could be an au-pair if:

• You are between 18-28 years
• You like caring for children and you have experience in childcare
• You speak the language of the chosen country on a communicative level
• You have finished high school
• You have a health reference, a valid certificate of good conduct and hold an international driving licence.
• You don't smoke or if you do you are prepared to quit if the host family would like you to do so.
• You are prepared to spend 12 months away

We receive applications throughout the year as there are many starting dates in every month.

You receive the necessary documentation from us to obtain the valid visa (We provide full-range help in this)
No other visa is needed to participate in the au-pair programme.
The J1 visa is issued for the duration of 1 year. The US Immigration Office allows the travel of au-pairs with a J1 visa and allows them to spend one more month to travel and see the country. The American Government does not extend the duration of the au-pair visa after 12 months. An au-pair visa is only issued once for everyone.

According to the laws of the chosen country, the host family or the au-pair is obliged to pay the entire cost of travel.

After the au-pair has got in touch with the host family, they will receive a workbook that is a draft of the textbook to be used during the training. This has to be read and many tests have to be filled in before the au-pair arrives in the US. The training programme is intensive and its content tops the au-pair training programme assessed by the governmental regulations. This programme was developed and is taught by experts working in education and healthcare. The curriculum includes the use of workbooks, lectures, video presentations and practice training in safety and first aid. In addition to that it offers general information on healthcare and safety, development from birth to 12 years and information on the demands of the au-pair, cultural differences and adapting to the US and the life of the American family. Besides this the training offers information on how the au-pair can effectively communicate with the host parents on childcare matters.
The programme is greatly overlapped by the education-training programme organised by us so it will not be particularly difficult to acquire.

After application to the programme, the host family-to-be and the au-pair receive handbooks with detailed information on the entire programme. These books offer practical advice based on the experience of host families and au-pairs. In addition to the written information, every au-pair and host family can take advantage of the assistance services of the local representative living in the same region as the host family. The local representative makes an interview with the family, helps the family to choose an au-pair, organises monthly group meetings and gives advice to the au-pair on learning opportunities. The group meetings offer au-pairs the opportunity to get in touch with each other and exchange experience. Holiday gatherings, sports events and one-day excursions in the surroundings are activities that are doable for au-pairs as well.

The learning component of the programme requires active participation from every au-pair. An au-pair can enter the US with a J1 visa, which obliges the participants to take part in courses. The programme regulation of the US obliges the au-pair to take courses worth 6 credit points. The au-pair can choose between university courses, trainings related to the au-pair's career and English language courses. You will receive information on these on the spot.

Our programme offers every au-pair accident insurance from the day of entry to the US to the end of the 12 month programme. The extended service covering full accident, health, luggage and legal representation costs USD 425.

Just like any other member of the family, an au-pair can suffer short illnesses during the year that can prevent them from looking after the children. Because of this the host family has to ensure alternative childminding and if this happens the au-pair still has to be paid his or her pocket money.

The host families live in areas of the US where driving is indispensable. The au-pair has to have driving experience. In some states of the US au-pairs are forced to have an American driving licence so one has to be prepared to take a driving exam in the US if required. Our foreign partner provides all necessary educational materials for this in advance.
It is not a problem if obtaining your driving licence is in progress as your application can still be accepted.

• Health and accident insurance / not compulsory, but strongly recommended
• Deposit: Even before you arrive in the US the host family will have spent a considerable amount of money on you. The deposit is a warrant for them that you take your commitments seriously and you will comply with the regulations of the programme. If you return to your country after a year, the deposit will be paid back. If you can not comply with the 12 month programme commitment, you have to travel home at your own expense and the deposit will be withdrawn from you.
• Visa fee: USD 100
• Brokerage for our office

• The opportunity for legal residence in the US
• Accommodation with a family with references checked during a personal meeting
• Your own room and full board in the host family's home
• A weekly salary of USD 194,05 for 51 weeks
• Preparation course from Tuesday to Friday in New York after you arrival in the US
• Free accident insurance
• A learning opportunity chosen by the au-pair according to their interests and a USD 500 tuition fee contribution
• A J1 visa, the only legal visa allowing work as an au-pair in the US
• The opportunity to travel wherever you want in the US in the 13th month after the end of the 1 year programme
• Two weeks paid holiday and at least one free weekend every month

• 4 happy passport photographs
• A completed 4 page application form
• two recommendations in childcare
• letter of recommendation from the language teacher or employer
• valid certificate of good conduct
• translation of school-leaving examination certificates into English
• copy of the international driving licence
• medical certificate
• CV (tell the family everything about you, your life, your family, your objectives)
• Photo album: include at least 6 photos of your family, your friends, the children you have looked after, your place of living