Susan Wildeboer

End of Year Survey + Deposit Status
60 days before the end of your year (or extension term), a box appears on the home page of your Au Pair online account, called “End of My Year” which contains the end of year survey as well as the deposit status. Just click on this and complete the information requested. You will need to enter the information

Extending your Au Pair year
Through the Extension Program, au pairs have the option to extend their stay in the United States for 6, 9, or 12 months either with the same family or with a new one. The Extension Program allows au pairs more time with their host family, more time to take classes and more time to travel and experience the United States. It also offers the host family the possibility of continuous childcare from a trusted, known childcare provider. For au pairs who choose to extend with a new family, an extension term offers them the opportunity for a whole new experience.

All the Basics about the Extension Program
The Extension Program has been introduced several years ago as a pilot program and became an official program in 2006. Although the Extension Program is essentially the same as the regular full year program, there are some differences.

Length
Au pairs can extend for either 6, 9 or 12 months. Au pairs can only extend one time and once the extension length is chosen and requested it can not be changed.

Deadlines
Au pairs extending with the same family must submit their extension application online 60 days prior to the end of an au pairs’ first year. Au pairs extending to a new family must apply online by 75 days prior to the end of the au pair’s first year and the au pair must be placed with a family by 45 days prior to the end of their year. If an au pair or host family misses the deadlines mentioned, it still may be possible to extend and the au pair should contact the Extension Program Director. All application material is on the host family and au pair’s Extranet account under the “Extension Program” tab.

Educational Completion Requirements for Extending
Au pairs who wishes to extend does not have the full 12 months to complete the educational component. An au pair must complete his or her educational component requirement in their first year by the end of their 11th month in order to extend*. Cultural Care must submit all extension requests to the Department of State at least 30 days before the end of the au pair’s first year, and extension requests cannot be submitted without proof that the educational component is complete. There are no exceptions to this requirement, therefore au pairs who are thinking of extending should not wait to take classes.

*If au pair’s 11th month date falls on Saturday or Sunday she/he must complete the education by the previous Thursday.

Au Pair Extension Fee
Au pairs must pay a $246 Extension Processing Fee, a non-refundable payment due when sending in Extension Enrollment paperwork. (many host families pay this fee if their au pair extends with them).

Host Family Program Fees 2009
Host families keeping their au pair pay discounted program fees:

6-month program fee with Extension Discount: $2,995 in 2009
9-month program fee with Extension Discount: $4,245 in 2009
12-month program fee with Extension Discount: $5,445 in 2009

IMPORTANT: Host families are only eligible for the discounted program fee if the au pair whom they are extending with arrived to the family’s home more than 4 months before the end of his or her first year legal departure date.

Educational Component
9- & 12-month extension au pairs must take 6 credits in their extension program term, and the host family is responsible for up to $500. 6-month extension au pairs must take 3 credits in their extension program term and the host family is responsible for up to $250. Au pairs can not “carry over” extra educational credits earned from their first year into their extension term.

Vacation
9- & 12-month extension au pairs receive two weeks (14 days) of paid and 6-month extension au pairs receive one week (7 days) of paid vacation during their extension.

Travel
Extension au pairs can travel to Mexico, Canada and the adjacent islands without having to renew their J1 visa first. Au pairs can travel outside of the continental U.S. during their second year as long as they travel to the US embassy in their home country to renew their J1 visa before attempting to reenter the US. Au pairs should contact the Operations Team immediately (1-800-333-6056 ext 4) if they are thinking about traveling.

Extended Insurance
Extended insurance is not necessary, but it is available and recommended. The au pair must purchase the insurance package based upon their length of stay and it must be purchased before the start of the extension period.