Want to experience the United States in an exciting, dynamic way? Then signing up to become an au pair might be just the solution you’ve been looking for. The au pair program allows internationals aged between 18 and 26 the chance to spend up to 24 months on a cultural exchange visit to the United States, during which time you’ll live with a host family and assist with their childcare needs.
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In exchange, you’ll get a place to live, food, a stipend, and the chance to explore this fascinating country in a way that most people never get the chance to! By the time you’re finished, you’ll return to your home country full of happy memories, more confidence, and a new extended family.
Of course, you can’t just turn up in the States and begin au pairing. You’ll need to work with an au pair agency to make sure you’re doing things by the book, and that you feel safe and supported during your stay.
There are a bunch of au pair agencies to choose from, though they’re not all created equal. Some will help to make your dreams come true, but others may prove to be nothing but trouble.
With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to put together a list of the best agencies for au pairs in the United States. Choose one of the agencies on this list, and you’ll be setting yourself up to have an all-out awesome experience both during the application process and when you touchdown in the United States.
Go Au Pair: The Best Au Pair Agency in the United States
Even in a sea of good au pair agencies, Go Au Pair manages to stand out from the crowd. Having been founded in 1989, this is an agency with a long history of placing au pairs with host families. It’s a role they take seriously, offering extensive support to ensure that their au pairs feel comfortable every step of the way.
They have a relatively straightforward application process, ensuring that it’s as easy as possible to get your au pairing adventure underway. Once you’ve applied, you’ll have the chance to speak to potential host families, and, once you’ve settled on a family, it’ll be time to pack your bags and board a flight to the United States!
Go Au Pair’s extensive experience and expertise can give prospective au pairs peace of mind that they’re in the right hands. In the unlikely event that you experience a problem or have questions, you’ll be able to reach out to the Go Au Pair team.
If you’re thinking of becoming an au pair in the United States, then there’s no reason to look beyond Go Au Pair. They’re large enough to ensure that au pairs can always find a match, but small enough that you won’t feel like just another number. It’s the best of both worlds, allowing you to make the most from your time in the United States.
2. Au Pair 4 Me: A Good Option for Au Pairs
Au Pair 4 Me is one of the smaller au pair agencies in the United States, but they’ve proven that they’re here to stay. They were founded back in 2013 and, since then, have helped plenty of international youngsters spend up to 24 months on the cultural exchange program. While it can take a little longer than usual to get a placement, au pairs who choose to work with Au Pair 4 Me can expect a high level of support at all stages of their au pair journey. The agency provides online courses, workshops, and American Red Cross courses to ensure that every au pair is ready to provide excellent care once they’re with their host family.
3. Agent Au Pair: Offering a High Level of Education for Au Pairs
Agent Au Pair was founded back in 2003 with the aim of doing things a little differently from what other au pair agencies were doing. Today, au pairs who sign up with Agent Au Pair can expect access to a large pool of host families, as well as access to a whole host of educational opportunities during their stay. They take on au pair applicants from more than fifty countries, who will have a chance to stay in over 300 cities across the United States. They also have local staff in all the areas they serve, which can give confidence that there’s someone nearby if you run into any issues.
4. Expert Au Pair: A Professional Au Pair Service
Expert Au Pair has been placing au pairs in American homes since 2006. They’re a smaller agency than others on this list, which brings both pros and cons. On the plus side, au pairs often benefit from a more personalized experience. On the not-so-good side, some au pairs have felt that Expert Au Pair doesn’t have the resources to handle problems as effectively as larger agencies. They also have a higher-than-average application fee, and put a large number of other expenses onto the au pairs, too. Still, au pairs who are happy to pay slightly over the odds should find that they have few problems, especially if they’re paired with a perfect host family.
5. Cultural Care: the Largest Au Pair Agency in the United States
Cultural Care has been in operation since 1989, and since then has placed thousands of au pairs with American families. They’re the largest au pair agency in the country, which can make it faster for au pairs to be paired with a family. They also have an extensive network of childcare professionals across the country, who perform monthly checks to ensure things are going well and also provide round-the-clock support.
So, Which Au Pair Agency Should You Go With?
As we said above, choosing the right au pair agency is vital for ensuring a smooth au pair experience. In our view, you can’t go wrong with Go Au Pair, an agency that has shown time and time again it’s the best au pair agency in the United States over the past 36 years.
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