Also work permits are required for all workers under the age of 18 in MD so hiring a teenager is also illegal. For a sitter you use once in a while, I would not sweat this.

My best au pair got married and worked a couple years as a nanny. She was legal to work. And, the assistant director at my son's well known daycare is a former au pair. While SOME au pairs stay on a student visa, or just overstay their au pair visa, that isn't always the case.

lots get married to US citizens, and have their visa that way. That being said- I agree that there are many on those sites who are working illegally.

Experience as an au pair isn’t the same as currently an au pair.

Some caregivers came to the US as an au pair and later returned as legal immigrants.

Come on. these girls get paid pennies.

Occasionally, I see someone on these sites that cite their experience as an au pair. If they are still an au pair, then they are working illegally because the terms of their visa only allow them to work for their host family.

If you're ok with hiring nannies under the table, then I'm sure this is fine for you too.

However, this is a lesser known issue that many people don't know about. There is NO legal way for an AP to convert their visa to stay and work. It's about equivalent to hiring someone on a student visa, who isn't allowed to legally work for anyone other than work-study/fellowships at their school.

-Signed someone who stays away from these sitters