au pairin america

ideal for first time travellers

spend a year in the usa enjoying life as an au pair!If you love working with children and you’d like to live, work and travel in the USA for a year, we have the perfect opportunity for you.

You can live with a host family, looking after their children as an equal family member, and in return you receive meals, your own room and $10,000 a year! Plus there are loads more great benefits…read on!.

about gap360Gap 360 is based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Each year we send thousands of young people all over the world on gap years.

With our partner office in New York we arrange host family placements, help you with the visa, and support you every step of the way.

the whole process has been very easy and the Gap 360 staff are always on hand if you need help with anything from getting your visa to finding your perfect host family.

love children?

A wonderful mind-broadening and cultural experience

- Claire Gordon, Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Dallas

San Francisco

BostonChicago

Philidelphia

New York

Atlanta

Miami

Seattle

01892-527392 www.gap360-aupair.com aupair@gap360.com

1. I have not been an au pair in America before.

2. I am between 18 – 26 (inclusive).

3. I have GCSE’s or equivalent.

4. I can commit to 12 months as an au pair in America.

5. I have at least 200 hours of childcare experience (non - family related).

6. I can swim.

7. I am a non-smoker.

8. I do not have children.

9. I have never been married.

10. I have never been treated for any type of mental illness (such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders).

11. I do not have any serious medical conditions.

12. I have never been convicted or cautioned for a criminal offence.

13. I do not hold US Citizenship and nor do my parents.

14. I have never been denied a visa to the United States.

15. I am resident in the UK.

If you can you answer TRUE to the following statements, you are qualified to apply...

I am now sat in my new home in New Jersey, USA with my 3 adorable host children who I help to take care of every day, I can happily say it was the best decision I have ever made.

- Charlotte Hurst, New Jersey

who can be an au pair?

common au pair duties include:

for the day

and washing

For lots more details visit www.gap360-aupair.com

the jobAmerican host families are located all over the United States mostly near the major cities. Most families will have both parents working, and many will have two or more children, but families could be single parents with just one child too.

My host family is perfect! And I couldn’t be happier with how things worked out I wouldn’t want it any other way! I am 3 months into my adventure and already excited about extending.

- Hannah Bridges, Boston

benefits for youIt’s a great job! you’ll receive:

of your placement

what’s the cost?Gap 360 programme fee £399DBS police check fee £50Medical form from your doctor (approx) £30US Visa fee $160 (approx) £100Spending money New York (average) £150Travel expenses to Gap 360 office, VariesUS Embassy and airport

01892-527392 www.gap360-aupair.com aupair@gap360.com

I would recommend the au pair programme to anybody because not only do you get to become part of an American family for a year, but there is also the chance to study and travel.- Amy Smith, Santa Monica

You can choose your host family. The procedure is very simple. Families will contact you and ask for a Skype interview. You may have several interviews. You can choose if you want to be their au pair.

It’s important that you consider:

parents working from home, same sex families)

delay your placement)

choose ahost family

Make your application1. Pay your £99.00 deposit online or by phone 2. Complete your reference and medical documents3. Attend an interview at the Gap 360 office with your completed forms.4. If you are accepted pay the remaining programme fee of £300.00.5. Fill in your online profile and obtain a police record check6. Once your application is complete we begin the matching process.

Matching1. Your profile will go live on the database for host families to view 2. Participate in phone/Skype interviews with host families.3. Accept a host families offer to be their au pair.

Visa1. Once you have matched with a host family we will help you get the visa2. Attend your appointment at the embassy with all the paperwork and pay the visa fee $1603. You should receive your visa within a week

How long does this all take?Between 4 and 8 months from application to arrival in the USA

what happens next?

Emma at Gap 360 au pair was brilliant and made the whole process easy for me.

- Sherri Ann Barnes, Chicago

01892-527392 www.gap360-aupair.com aupair@gap360.com

time to go..!!Preparation before you goBefore you go, we’ll send you a pre-arrival pack with everything you need. And of course you can call the Gap 360 office with questions.

Flights and New York arrivalWe’ll book and pay for your flights to the 5-day orientation in New York City. You’ll transfer to our hotel in Manhattan and meet lots of other new au pairs.

Orientation programme You’ll have helpful sessions on programme rules and regulations, driving in the US, dealing with taxes and loads of other stuff.

There are very useful sessions on childhood development including skills you can use everyday and how to cope with all kinds of situations, both physical and emotional. There is a child safety workshop, which will include training on important issues such as emergency CPR training, choking prevention, household safety and many other aspects of looking after children.

New York City TourJoin your fellow au pairs on an amazing night-time tour of New York (costs $30.00), a great way to see the sights of this amazing city!

meeting your local coordinatorYour local coordinator will meet you within the first 2 weeks of your placement. She will live within an hour’s drive from you, and will give you support throughout your year. They will also carry a 24-hour number so you can contact them at any time in case of an unexpected emergency.

cluster meetingsCluster meetings are a chance to meet other au pairs, make friends and socialise. You’ll have fun and swap stories, and talk with your local coordinator about any issues. Sometimes you’ll have days out with your fellow au pairs to places of interest.

meet your host family!After the orientation, it is time to travel to your Host Family (they pay the cost).

This is the big day everyone has been waiting for! The family will have been briefed and given a home orientation handbook so they will be fully prepared for your arrival.

The first 3 days are spent getting to know each other and establishing your role and environment. You will go through lots of details together, such as how the house works, the family schedule, a local orientation of where everything is, driving practise and so on, and of course you’ll get to know the children.

medical insuranceMedical bills in America can be hugely expensive, so we include an insurance policy for you with up to $200,000 of coverage, which is four times the minimum amount of coverage required by the State Department. This will be covered in your Orientation meeting.

holidays and travelYou get 1½ days a week off, plus a paid 2 week holiday during the year, and many au pairs also go on holidays with the family as well.

At the end of your stay you have 30 days to travel. We recommend that you book an adventure tour of America!

questions?You are bound to have lots of questions. You can check out the most frequently asked questions at www.gap360-aupair.com and of course you can call Gap 360 too on 01892-527392.

other details

01892-527392 www.gap360-aupair.com aupair@gap360.com