How to Become an Au Pair in the USA: J-1 Visa, Stipend, and Hours

To become an au pair in the USA, you apply through one of about nine sponsor organizations designated by the U.S. Department of State, qualify under federal age and childcare rules, and obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa before you travel. Independent placements are not allowed. The program runs 12 months, pairs part-time childcare with required college coursework, and pays a minimum weekly stipend of $195.75.

Who Qualifies

Federal regulations set the bar, and every applicant must meet all of it at the time the program begins.¹

You are between 18 and 26 years old.
You hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
You speak English well enough to communicate with your host family, their children, and emergency services.
A licensed physician has confirmed through a physical exam that you can handle childcare work.
You pass a criminal background check and provide at least three non-family references, school verification, and a personality profile.
If the host family has any child under age two, you have at least 200 documented hours of infant care experience.

A driver’s license is not required by regulation, but most host families expect you to drive kids to school and activities. Getting an International Driving Permit at home before you leave is worthwhile, and many U.S. states will require you to obtain a local license after arrival. A state ID card also functions as everyday photo identification.

Choose a Designated Sponsor Organization

The State Department controls access to the au pair program through a small group of approved sponsors, currently about nine. You cannot match with a host family on your own or skip this step. The sponsor screens you, vets the host family, and matches the two of you.¹

Your sponsor also issues your Form DS-2019, arranges your pre-placement training, monitors the placement throughout the year, and steps in when problems come up. The full list of approved sponsors is available by searching “au pair” on the State Department’s BridgeUSA sponsor page at j1visa.state.gov.

Documents You Will Need

Once you sign on with a sponsor, start gathering documents right away. Delays here push back your departure.

A medical report signed by a licensed physician confirming you are healthy enough for childcare.
A criminal background check covering local and national records in your home country.
Written proof of any infant care hours, if you will be placed with a child under two.¹
Your high school diploma or equivalent.
At least three non-family personal or professional references.

Your sponsor uses these materials to prepare your Form DS-2019, the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. It identifies you, names your sponsor, and lists your program start and end dates. Without it, you cannot schedule a visa interview.²

Apply for the J-1 Visa

With the DS-2019 in hand, three fees and one interview stand between you and your flight.

Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee first. This funds the electronic system that tracks exchange visitors in the United States. Au pairs are in a subsidized category, so the fee is $35 rather than the $220 charged to most other J-1 visitors.³

Then complete the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application and pay the Machine Readable Visa fee of $185.⁴ Schedule an in-person interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The consular officer reviews your DS-2019 and supporting documents, checks your English, and confirms you intend to return home after the program. Bring your passport, DS-2019, and SEVIS receipt, along with anything else your sponsor recommends.

Wait times vary by post. Straightforward cases can be decided in about a week, but administrative processing delays are common, and the State Department asks applicants to wait at least 180 days before inquiring on a stalled case.⁵ Book your interview as early as you can.

Arriving and Starting Training

At the U.S. port of entry, a Customs and Border Protection officer reviews your visa and passport and issues an electronic I-94 arrival record. That record is your proof of legal status and can be printed anytime from the CBP website or mobile app.⁶

Before you move in with your host family, you complete a mandatory sponsor-run training. The rule requires at least 32 hours: eight hours on child safety, with at least four focused on infants, and 24 hours on child development, again with at least four devoted to children under two.¹ Only after orientation does the placement officially start.

You will also need a Social Security Number to file U.S. taxes. Wait at least five business days after arrival for your SEVIS record to activate, then submit the SSN application and visit a local Social Security Administration office in person, ideally within 45 days. The card usually arrives by mail in four to six weeks, and you can begin working while you wait.

Hours, Time Off, and Pay

Working conditions are set by federal regulation, not by private negotiation with the host family. Knowing the rules before you arrive prevents the most common source of placement conflict.

Hour Limits

Standard au pairs can provide up to 45 hours of childcare per week and no more than 10 hours on any single day. The EduCare track, meant for au pairs taking a heavier course load, caps work at 30 hours per week with the same 10-hour daily limit.¹

Time Off and Vacation

Your sponsor must ensure you receive at least one and a half days off every week and one full weekend off each month. You are also entitled to two weeks of paid vacation over the 12-month program. Vacation days do not have to run consecutively; you and your host family arrange the timing.¹

Weekly Stipend

Host families must pay a minimum weekly stipend of $195.75 for a standard au pair. The figure is calculated by multiplying the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour by 45 hours and subtracting a room-and-board credit allowed under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Because the federal minimum wage has not changed in years, this number has held steady. Families may pay more, and you can discuss pay during matching. EduCare au pairs receive a proportionally lower stipend based on 30 hours.

On top of the stipend, your host family provides a private bedroom, all meals, and up to $500 toward your required coursework. EduCare participants receive up to $1,000 for education.¹

Coursework During the Program

The au pair program is a cultural exchange, and the educational piece is required. Over your 12 months you must complete at least six semester hours of academic credit, roughly two courses, at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution. EduCare au pairs must complete at least 12 semester hours.¹

Community colleges, universities, and other accredited institutions all qualify. Whether an online-only class counts depends on your sponsor’s rules, so confirm before you enroll. Costs above the $500 host-family contribution ($1,000 for EduCare) are your responsibility. Falling short on credits can put your program standing at risk, so register early.

Health Insurance

You must carry health insurance for the entire program. Federal regulations set the floors your policy has to meet:⁷

Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness.
Medical evacuation coverage of at least $50,000.
Repatriation of remains coverage of at least $25,000.
A deductible of no more than $500 per accident or illness.

Most sponsors offer a group plan that meets these floors and roll the premium into program fees. Confirm the plan details before you leave home and keep your insurance card accessible.

Taxes on Your Stipend

This one catches many au pairs by surprise: your stipend counts as taxable income, and you have to file a U.S. tax return. Most au pairs on J-1 visas are classified as nonresident aliens for tax purposes and file Form 1040-NR.⁸

Because your wages are treated as domestic household work, your host family is not required to withhold federal income tax. The full stipend hits your pocket each week, but you owe taxes at filing time. As a nonresident alien you generally cannot claim the standard deduction, the Earned Income Tax Credit, or education tax credits, so expect a bill. If you and your host family agree, they can voluntarily withhold taxes from your pay through a W-4 to spread the cost out.⁸

Extending Your Program

After the initial 12 months, you can extend for six, nine, or 12 additional months if you have met all program requirements, including your credits. You can stay with the same host family or match with a new one anywhere in the country.

Extensions carry their own coursework and vacation rules. A six-month extension requires three more semester hours with up to $250 from the host family and one week of paid vacation. A nine- or 12-month extension requires six more semester hours with up to $500 from the host family and two weeks of paid vacation. Start the extension process through your sponsor well before your program end date; gaps in status are not allowed.

The Two-Year Home-Country Rule

Some J-1 exchange visitors must return home for at least two years before they can apply for an H or L work visa, a K fiancé visa, or a green card. This does not automatically apply to every au pair, but it is triggered if your program received U.S. or home-country government funding, or if your home country lists childcare-related skills on the Exchange Visitor Skills List.⁹

Your DS-2019 states whether you are subject to the rule. If you are, you can apply for a waiver using Form DS-3035, but approval is not guaranteed. Check the box on your DS-2019 and talk to your sponsor before making plans that assume you can stay in the United States after the program ends.

1
eCFR. 22 CFR 62.31 – Au Pairs
2
BridgeUSA. About DS-2019
3
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I-901 SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Questions
4
U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services
5
U.S. Department of State. Visa Appointment Wait Times
6
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94/I-95 Frequently Asked Questions
7
eCFR. 22 CFR 62.14 – Insurance
8
Internal Revenue Service. Au Pairs
9
U.S. Department of State. Eligibility for a Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement