For Au-Pairs:

1.   What is an au pair placement?
2.   Which countries are included in the au pair scheme?
3.   Do I need a visa as an au pair?
4.   How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom as an au pair?
5.   Can I choose the area I want to go to in the UK?
6.   How long will it take once I have been accepted?
7.   If I get homesick, can I come home?
8.   What are the host families like?
9.   Will there be other Au-Pairs in my area?
10. How far ahead should I apply?
11. I am not a citizen of a participating country. Can I be an au-pair in the UK?
12. Will my host family meet me when I arrive in the UK?
13. Can I move to another 'host' family?
14. Is there any health insurance cover for me during my stay?
15. If I am not happy with the host family, can I request you to change my family?
16. Do you offer free accommodation for the au-pairs who have serious prrblems with their host families?
17. How can I contact you while I am an au-pair in the UK?
18. Can I extend my stay as an au pair?
19. Do I have to register with the police?
20. How do I apply?

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Answers:

1- What is an au-pair placement?
An au pair placement is an arrangement where a single person between 17 and 27 comes to the United Kingdom to study English and 

• lives for up to two years as a member of an English-speaking family and 

• helps in the home for up to five hours a day with at least two full days off a week, in return for a reasonable allowance and their own room. (The current recommended amount for the weekly allowance is £65.)

2-Which countries are included in the au pair scheme?
An au pair must be a national of EU countries or Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.

3-Do I need a visa as an au-pair?
Non EU nationals must get a Youth Mobility Visa from their British Embassy or Consulate before they travel to the United Kingdom.

4-How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom as an au pair?
You must show that you want to come to the United Kingdom on an au pair placement and that:

• you have no dependants;

• you do not plan to stay in the United Kingdom for more than two years as an au pair;

• you can support and accommodate yourself without help from public funds; and

• you plan to leave the United Kingdom when you complete your stay as an au pair.

5-Can I choose the area I want to go to in the UK?
Yes, you can. We place Au- Pairs mainly in England, some in Scotland and rarely in Wales and Northern Ireland. You will have a better chance of an immediate placement if you leave open to suggestion as many places as possible.

6-How long will it take once I have been accepted?
This will depend very much on when you apply and the strength of your application. Many au-pairs are placed shortly after their registration is accepted by our agency and typically au-pairs are placed within 4-6 weeks but sometimes more.

7-If I get homesick, can I go home?
There is no mandatory period for you to stay in England and you can return home at any time but you create a better impression if you stay for the period you have agreed. However, you must think carefully before you register and take into consideration that you will be away from your family and friends. Many au-pairs are initially homesick, which is natural, but very quickly they overcome this feeling with the help of their host families and other au-pairs.

8-What are the host families like?
In the majority of cases, both parents work and many have small children. The number of children are generally 2 and over. They generally live in suburbs or in the countryside but all areas where the families live have easily accessible public transport to the main amenities e.g. library, shoping centers, theatres, cinemas, parks, colleges, courses...

9-Will there be other Au-Pairs in my area?
Yes, we place au-pairs as much as possible in groups near to each other.

10-How far ahead should I apply?
We recommend that you apply as soon as you have made the desicion to participate. A minimum would be to apply 4 to 8 weeks before you wish to depart, but remember the sooner we have your application the greater your chances of placement.

11-I am not a citizen of a participating country. Can I be an au-pair in the UK?
No. You must hold a passport from one of the participating countries to be an au-pair in the UK. Sorry but there is no other way for you.

12-Will my host family meet me when I arrive in the UK?
Your host family will probably meet you if you arrive on their off days. It is also very important for you to arrive at the nearest airport to your host family's home. If your host family is not able to meet you at the airport, either a taxi (paid by the family) will be provided or we will meet you.

13-Can I move to another 'host' family?
You may move to another family as long as the new arrangements continue to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. If you have acceptable reasons to change the family, we guarantee that we will help you to change your family as soon as possible, but you should have an acceptable reason.

14-Is there any health insurance cover for me during my stay?
In United Kingdom, every Au-Pair who will stay more than 6 months in the UK is automatically covered by National Health Insurance Service at no cost.

16-Do you offer emergency accommodation for au-pairs who have serious problems with their host families?
YES. THIS SERVICE MAKES US MOST POPULAR ORGANISATION IN THE UK.

17-How can I contact you while I am an au-pair in the UK?
There is a freephone service available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This number will be given you before your arrival into the UK. Please keep this number secret and do not give it to anyone. This is only for your own use in a real emergency.

18-Can I extend my stay as an au pair?
You can apply to extend your stay if:

• you were given permission to enter the United Kingdom as an au pair;

• you have an au pair placement; and

• an extension would not take your stay beyond two years from the date you were first given permission to enter.

19- Do I have to register with the police?
If you have to register with the police, there will be a stamp in your passport saying the holder of the passport must be registered with the police. You must register within seven days of arriving in the United Kingdom.

To register, You will need your passport and two passport-size photographs of yourself. If you are staying in London Metropolitan Police Area, you should take these to the Overseas Visitors Records Office, Brandon House, 180 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LH, between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you are not staying in the Metropolitan Area, you should contact local police force in your area for the address and opening hours of other police registration offices. You will have to pay a fee for registering with the police. (current fee is £34.50)

20-How do I apply?
Just fill out our on-line application form.