Riccarda Smith

Tip on getting your Au Pair set up.

I was asked by one of my families if I could put pointers on my website for after the Au Pair arrives at the families home. I always tell everyone that I was an AP and I had to go through that whole process myself.  The biggest change since I was an AP, is they now need a Social Security number. Plan on taking some time within the first week after the AP arrives in your home to get these things done. That is what my HM did. Oh, and don’t worry if you don’t like the way how I put it together and maybe have a better way or easier way.  Just let me know and I could put it on my website so everyone could take a look at this.

Call your car insurance company to add your AP.   You could also do this a few days before he/she gets here, that’s up to you.

Open a bank account for your AP. I went to Wells Fargo but I also heard Bank of America is ok.

Next you could go to the Social Security office and get him/her a Social Security number. There is a link on my website if you want to read a little more.  You might be able to just full out a form online.  It should take about 2 weeks to get the number.

If you like, you can set up a weekly automatic transfer from your account to the AP’s new account so that you don’t have to worry about paying the AP.

An Au Pair who is under 25 years old must do a written DWI test if they want a drivers license. You get the forms at the MVD.  You have to mail a request form with a cashiers check to get the DWI test which comes to you in the mail.  The AP can pay you back for the test fee.  If you don’t want to wait for it to be mailed to you, ask the MVD where she could go to pick it up.  Before receiving the test, the AP could read the drivers manual to understand all the rules, and he /she could fill out the DWI paperwork.   Feel free to take her for rides around town so she gets use to driving.  Also talk to her about the traffic laws to make them easier for her to understand.  There is also a link on my website where she could do a little fun quiz to learn traffic rules.

The AP should have their license before within three months of starting their year.  Under the program, the AP is allowed to drive if he/she has a driver’s license and permission from you to use your car.