Information on the coronavirus

USA

According to the current status, program starts for our programs in the USA are possible from 01.01.2021 at the earliest. The J1 programs for the categories Au pair, Work & Travel, Internship, Training and CampCounselor were suspended on 22.6.2020 until the end of the year (with a potential correction within 30 days of the effective date of the proclamation and every 60 days thereafter while the proclamation is in effect). From our side, we are happy to make it possible to postpone the start of the program to 2021 under the current contractual conditions.

However, if you are already in possession of a valid J1 visa, you could enter the USA as soon as the entry ban is lifted by the U.S. government. However, this would have to be done before the expiration date of your visa. You must also make sure that the DS-2019 form contains current program information or apply for a new DS-2019 form from us. Please contact your Program Coordinator for information on how to obtain a new DS-2019 Form.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Our programs in these countries can only take place again when entry is permitted. We will make every effort to contact the participants concerned as soon as possible in order to clarify the further procedure. If you have any questions, we recommend that you contact us.

Since we offer a wide range of programs, we would be happy to clarify this question with you individually. Please contact us by e-mail.

You are very welcome to apply for our programs (and without financial risk). Use the time now to create applications and start the process with us. However, your flexibility is needed, as we cannot yet say for sure when it will be exactly possible to enter the respective country. We will of course inform you immediately when it is possible to start again.

We will have detailed program information (prices, services, contracts) for most programs from September on. For the au pair program you can already go through the complete application process.

If your program includes insurance through Intrax, it will cover COVID-19 treatment as any other disease. Since the insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, it would not apply if you were already ill upon arrival. Also, the health insurance would not cover the costs of prophylactic tests without symptoms.

If your program does not include insurance about Intrax, you should check with your health insurance company.

President Trump’s executive order temporarily suspends the issuance of new visas for a number of programs through December 31, 2020, including the J-1 visa issued for the au pair program. For current placements already in the U.S., this will not affect your program participation.

Unfortunately, due to the executive order, au pairs without a visa in hand will not be able to arrive before December 31, 2020.

The executive order states that anyone who does not hold a valid nonimmigrant visa and does not have an official travel document outside the United States may not enter. If the au pair has a valid J-1 visa and a DS-2019 form, our interpretation is that her entry will be permitted.

Yes! Please check your portal for more information on extension opportunities.

Yes, as stated in the executive order, within 30 days of June 24, 2020, the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Labor will recommend any modifications. We will update au pairs and host families accordingly.

AuPairCare is reviewing these reports with contacts at the U.S. Department of State, the White House and policy makers to get clarity on these reports. As of now, we can only rely on the proclamation as stated. Should anything change, we will be sure to update you accordingly.

AuPairCare will continue to provide an excellent experience for thousands of au pairs and host families on program, and we will continue to do so as we believe in this cultural exchange program. We will also continue to advocate strongly for new visas to be issued to our international community and will keep host families updated of advocacy efforts and ways they can support these efforts individually

Yes! We encourage au pairs to continue to apply for the program if they can arrive in 2021. We will have host families who will be ready to match with them. 2021 Virtual and Standard (in person) Academy dates are being added to the AuPairCare arrival date calendar now.

AuPairCare does not anticipate an extension on the J1 visa restriction. As stated in the executive order, within 30 days of June 24, 2020, the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Labor will recommend any modifications. We will update au pairs and host families accordingly.

Yes! Please continue submitting applications. AuPairCare host families are already matching for 2021 arrival dates.

Au pairs have one year to match with a host family from the date their application is accepted. AuPairCare will be reviewing whether we need to extend the timeline for au pairs to match but 99%+ of our au pairs match within that time frame so we do not anticipate a problem.

There is no need to wait. AuPairCare recommends au pairs submit their applications when they are ready to begin interviewing and are ready to match for a 2021 arrival date.

Au pairs with withdrawn matches will be immediately available to match with a new host family. Au pairs should update their earliest available arrival to a 2021 date in their au pair room portal. Please alert your program advisor if you prefer to withdraw from the program rather than match with a new host family for a 2021 arrival date.

There will not be a matching suspension. AuPairCare host families are looking for 2021 au pair arrivals now.

We believe most visa appointments in 2020 will be cancelled. If an au pair still has a confirmed visa appointment, please alert your program advisor 14 days prior to the appointment.

It is our understanding that any DS-2019 form issued for a 2020 arrival date should not be used to apply for a J1 visa because US embassies will not be issuing J-1 visas for 2020 arrivals. AuPairCare will be monitoring the timeline of when embassies will begin issuing visas for 2021 arrivals. New 2021 arrival date DS-2019 forms will be issued as new matches are confirmed and as arrival dates change.

Au pairs should continue to update their visa interview date and visa status in their au pair portal. We recommend to also check directly with the US embassy in your home country to stay updated on earliest available visa appointments and embassy re-opening dates. Please pass these important updates to your program advisor.

Yes! We are also sending special safety and travel emails to these au pairs 1 and 2 weeks prior to their arrivals.

No, au pairs have all the documentation they need to travel and arrive to the U.S. The J1 visa and DS-2019 form satisfy the requirements to enter the USA.

Unfortunately, as the Presidential Proclamation is written today, these au pairs will not be able to participate on program. We know how disappointing this will be so AuPairCare is checking every option first before we withdraw any matches or cancel any programs for au pairs who will turn 27 before 2021.