Practical information

The process of matching host families and au pairs can take up to a few weeks. FIDEOJOY recommends starting your search for a host family 2 to 3 months before the expected departure date, allowing more time if travelling to a country that requires a VISA (e.g. The United States of America). 

This will ensure a successful experience.

Furthermore, you are going to leave for several weeks or months : make sure that you share the same vision of your mission with the family or families you have selected so that your experience will be as successful as possible.

Questions/Answers

FIDEOJOY connects Catholic families, Au pairs and students in a warm catholic environment, offering exchanges, language stays and Au Pair expériences. On this platform, you can now create your profile and search for sponsors. In a second step, we will give you access to the search so that you can find the family to realize an Au Pair experience!

1. Become an Au Pair in USA

Be an Au Pair in the United States involves formalities below:

First of all, you must contact a certified agency (16 officially recognised) to work as an Au Pair in the United States. These agencies ensure a personalized assistance and help with the visa application. You must:

• Go for a minimum of 12 months
• Have a minimum age of 18 years
• Have a driver's license and a bachelor's degree.

Being part of an certified agency will also allow you to obtain a J1 visa. First of all, you will have an interview with the agency, then they will require specific documents:

• 3 references that prove your childcare skills (references that will be checked)
• Clean criminal record
• Medical certificate (no smoking)
• Psychological test to ensure your abilities.

Once these documents have been delivered to the agency and your visa has been confirmed, you will be given a 5-day orientation course on arrival in the USA before you start with the host family.

We are not approved for visa formalities, a visit to an agency will be required.

2. Become an Au Pair in UK

• Since 1 January 2021 and the entry into force of the new immigration law, only visits (family, tourist or, in specific and limited cases, for study or professional reasons) of a maximum duration of 6 months are not subject to a visa requirement. Any other type of stay (to work or to settle in the United Kingdom in particular) can only be authorised under cover of a visa.

The scope of mobility, in particular for young people, has been reduced since 1 January. Thus, stays to carry out work placements or "au pair" are not authorised under the current regulations. Any such stay is likely to be subject to a refusal of entry to the UK. 

We recommend that you check the UK entry requirements for your country. Please ask your local British embassy or visit the British Foreign Office website.

3. Become an Au Pair in Europe

• If you come from a European Union country, being an Au Pair in Europe does not require any special formalities.
• If you come from a country outside the European Union, it may be necessary to obtain a visa for the country you wish to go.

We wish you the best luck on you research!