Archive for April, 2009
Au Pair Extension & Education Requirement
No Comment |Posted by: aferreira on April 16, 2009
Dear Host Families & Au Pairs,
As participants in the Cultural Care Au Pair program, it is our obligation to update you with the necessary information for continued compliance with the U.S. Department of State regulations. As you know, au pairs have the opportunity to extend their program term through the extension program for 6, 9, or 12 additional months. In order to extend, an au pair must be in good standing with the program including completion of the required educational requirement:
Not less than 6 semester hours (or their equivalent) of academic credit at a post secondary accredited institution - 22 C.F.R. Part 62.31 K (1)
The Department of State regulations state that au pairs have 12 months to complete their educational component. However, Cultural Care is required to submit to the Department of State all extension requests 30 days prior to the end of the au pair’s first year. Based on recent clarification from the Department, all au pairs who plan to extend their program term 6, 9, or 12 months must now have their educational component COMPLETE by this deadline. This means that extending au pairs will NOT be able to complete or take any classes in the 12th month of their first year in order to fulfill their educational requirement. All classes must begin and conclude prior to the end of the au pair’s 11th month.
Cultural Care Au Pair will now require verbal or written confirmation from au pairs wishing to extend that his/her course has been or will be completed by the end of their 11th month in order to submit the extension application to the Department of State for approval. Final confirmation must be in the form of a certificate, transcript or letter from the school showing that the required credits have been obtained and this must be submitted to Cultural Care before the end of the 12th month. Please note that final approval of any extension application is subject to the sole discretion of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs and cannot be guaranteed by Cultural Care.
We have been informed that further clarification on the educational component is forthcoming from the Department of State and we will share that information with you as soon as it is made available
We encourage au pairs to take steps to explore educational opportunities in their communities immediately upon arrival to the U.S. The educational component is an important part of their program experience as well as a condition of their visa. Fulfilling the requirement as early in the year as possible will help to keep au pairs in compliance and will leave open the possibility for participation in the extension program without complication.
Please be reminded that au pairs who are not planning to extend their program term are, of course, required to complete their educational component and noncompliance with this requirement will result in forfeit of deposit and return flight.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Natalie Jordan
Senior Vice President
Cultural Care Au Pair
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April Monthly Meeting
No Comment |Posted by: aferreira on April 16, 2009
Hello girls!
When: Sunday, April 19th at 2pm
Where: Barnes & Noble Downtown DC (At the corner of 12th and “E” Streets, NW / See you at the Cafe)
Nearest metro stop: Metro Center
This month we will have our Spring CEP (continuing educational program) and a new group who is going to join us, 13 currently au pairs from Bethesda. I am excited to meet you all!
Adri
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New York City Disco Cruise 2009
No Comment |Posted by: aferreira on April 4, 2009
Hello girls!
Time to have fun…
You’re invited to bring your friends and join hundreds of other au pairs in the NYC area for a night of dancing, music and fun as we take a cruise around the Big Apple and enjoy the sights by night! See NYC as you’ve never seen it before!
There will be a chance to win some fabulous prizes!
Go to the website and reserve your ticket today.
https://culturalcare.wufoo.com/forms/new-york-city-disco-cruise-2009/
Cheers,
Adri
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