And just like that, the ,Presidential Executive Order (P.P. 10052) expired on March 31, 2021. What does this mean exactly? Simply put, it means that qualifying individuals interested in applying for the J-1 Au Pair visa category will no longer be prohibited from doing so. Cultural exchange programming is back on track, but will require some time before it is fully revived and restored to pre-Covid times. Navigating the road ahead may still be challenging with pending travel restrictions and the U.S. Department of State’s response to fully resuming visa services. Country specific travel bans a ..read more

Are you looking for COVID-safe ways to make friends and meet new people in the U.S.? Here are some ways you can connect with others! Your Secret Weapon: Your Host Family! All of the suggestions below will work for just about anybody, but as an au pair you have an advantage: your host family and their network! See if your host parents know other people your age in the area who might want to join you for one of the activities below. Do you run into the same people when walking the family dog? Do your host kids have friends with nannies or older siblings that you get along with? Ask them to join ..read more

We are so excited to announce our BRAND NEW English Language Skills for Au Pairs Program! Our curriculum team has been working tirelessly for the past few months to create an ESOL program specifically for au pairs, and we think you’ll be really pleased with the results. Now you might be wondering what is ESOL? ESOL stands for English to Speakers of Other Languages and is a specific category of ESL (English as a Second Language). ESOL more accurately describes the au pair population because it accounts for individuals who speak multiple languages. Because for many au pairs English isn’t just t ..read more

For over 100 years women across the globe have been coming together to celebrate, lift up, and empower each other on March 8th. ,International Women’s Day is a day dedicated to honoring the historical achievements of females around the world. The theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, empowering women to spread awareness on women's rights and gender equality. This year, we’ll be taking a look at how we can all celebrate International Women’s Day in a COVID-safe and meaningful way. 1. Get inspired by influential women. Pick up a book or find a podcast on one of your favorite topics. This doesn ..read more

For 32 years, the ,American au pair program has provided a unique opportunity for participants to care for children in exchange for immersive and life changing experiences in the United States. This cultural exchange program was created to build strong ties between U.S. citizens and people around the world. However, in April 2020, the program was paused by a ,Presidential Executive Order (P.P. 10052) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the Executive Order is expected to expire on March 31, 2021. We here at APW are counting down the days! While we (and the rest of the world) wait in ant ..read more

2021 marks 15 years of APW serving the au pair community with quality, integrity and purpose. https://youtu.be/2JTSF646HAk Join us for this exclusive interview with APW founder Lora Cook as she takes us through how the company has grown through the years. “Au Pair Weekend started at a small community college in south Boston with our first class in October 2006 and we only had five au pairs, including my family's first au pair! After a couple of years we decided to expand to some additional cities. My husband and I co-created the curriculum and co-directed the weekend but we both had other full ..read more

Monday, January 18 marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. Dr. King was a Civil Rights leader known for his nonviolent activism in the 1950s - 1960s. He fought for desegregation, the right to vote for Black citizens, and civil rights for all. He is famous for his “I Have A Dream” speech. Today we remember his legacy with a federal holiday on the third Monday of every January, as well as a Memorial statue in Washington, D.C. and a street named after him in nearly every state. In line with Dr. King’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, this February 5-7 will be our inaugural ..read more

2020 was a rollercoaster of a year, but one good thing has come out of it: a one-time bonus extension option for au pairs! If you are in your second term, with an end date between December 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, you may be eligible to apply for an extra six month extension. Are you taking advantage of that option? What are some things you hope to do with your extra time in the U.S.? Personally, we recommend: 1. Making Snow Angels! The holidays might be over, but that doesn't mean all the magic and whimsy of winter is gone. If you live somewhere snowy, take your host kids out for this clas ..read more

“I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return." -Neil Gaiman The prospect of a brand new year is always exciting! With 2021 on the horizon, most of us are looking forward to a new year even more than usual as we hope to put the difficulties of 2020 behind us and wish for a return to normalcy. However, the dawning of a new year may also be a reminder of the goals we set...but did ..read more

This time of year brings to mind warm memories of spending time with family and loved ones. Unfortunately, many families are realizing that their holidays this year may look a little different than usual due to the restrictions on travel and large gatherings. Participating in family traditions is one way that loved ones can stay connected, even when they are apart. We interviewed some APW staff members and students to find out more about some of their favorite holiday traditions from around the world. Birgit S, APW Program Coordinator My mom was born in Stockholm, Sweden and passed along some ..read more