WaPo story about AuPairCare refusing to let au pair stay after cancer diagnosis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

Yes. If I read the article correctly, they are not *renewing* her visa, but they are also somehow allowing her to stay on an extension of some kind. It puts her in a legal limbo. Someone in the comments mentioned that there is also a visa for medical treatment she could apply for.

This is why I think her status as a lawyer in Columbia and her host family's status as immigration attorneys means there's more going on here. I suspect that they want a visa status (like the one she had) that would allow her to look for another, more permanent job when the au pair gig ends, with a view to immigrating eventually. Whatever the current visa compromise is means that the host family is basically hosting her as a guest, I think, and she can't look for another job.

There's really no excuse for the AP agency to have denied her the second year extension. Don't make up excuses for their egregious behavior towards the Au Pair and her host family.

If the agency is ultimately responsible for her well-being, and they are telling the government that the visa is for work, not health care, then, yes, there is a very good reason for them to not give her the extension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read this more detailed summary from the host mom and then decide:

https://www.change.org/p/aupaircare-against-to-the-decision-with-aupaircare-in-edna-valenzuela-case?recruiter=542065886&utm_source=petitions_share&utm_medium=copylink

There's nothing in this article that convinces me that the au pair agency is the bad guy. She should get a medical visa to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read this more detailed summary from the host mom and then decide:

https://www.change.org/p/aupaircare-against-to-the-decision-with-aupaircare-in-edna-valenzuela-case?recruiter=542065886&utm_source=petitions_share&utm_medium=copylink

There's nothing in this article that convinces me that the au pair agency is the bad guy. She should get a medical visa to stay.

If that story is true- APC tried to shut down her visa for the current year. That's pretty shitty.

There must be an update on this by now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

Yes. If I read the article correctly, they are not *renewing* her visa, but they are also somehow allowing her to stay on an extension of some kind. It puts her in a legal limbo. Someone in the comments mentioned that there is also a visa for medical treatment she could apply for.

This is why I think her status as a lawyer in Columbia and her host family's status as immigration attorneys means there's more going on here. I suspect that they want a visa status (like the one she had) that would allow her to look for another, more permanent job when the au pair gig ends, with a view to immigrating eventually. Whatever the current visa compromise is means that the host family is basically hosting her as a guest, I think, and she can't look for another job.

There's really no excuse for the AP agency to have denied her the second year extension. Don't make up excuses for their egregious behavior towards the Au Pair and her host family.

If the agency is ultimately responsible for her well-being, and they are telling the government that the visa is for work, not health care, then, yes, there is a very good reason for them to not give her the extension.

I hope when you find yourself in a time of need that your employers treat you with more respect, generosity, and integrity than this poor au pair has experienced. Maybe then you'll learn the value of compassion and human life.

[Anonymous]

Kudos to the host family willing just about about anything (it seems to me) for the Au pair to extend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to the host family willing just about about anything (it seems to me) for the Au pair to extend.

*just about to do anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

Yes. If I read the article correctly, they are not *renewing* her visa, but they are also somehow allowing her to stay on an extension of some kind. It puts her in a legal limbo. Someone in the comments mentioned that there is also a visa for medical treatment she could apply for.

This is why I think her status as a lawyer in Columbia and her host family's status as immigration attorneys means there's more going on here. I suspect that they want a visa status (like the one she had) that would allow her to look for another, more permanent job when the au pair gig ends, with a view to immigrating eventually. Whatever the current visa compromise is means that the host family is basically hosting her as a guest, I think, and she can't look for another job.

There's really no excuse for the AP agency to have denied her the second year extension. Don't make up excuses for their egregious behavior towards the Au Pair and her host family.

If the agency is ultimately responsible for her well-being, and they are telling the government that the visa is for work, not health care, then, yes, there is a very good reason for them to not give her the extension.

I hope when you find yourself in a time of need that your employers treat you with more respect, generosity, and integrity than this poor au pair has experienced. Maybe then you'll learn the value of compassion and human life.

If they had any control over her immediate situation, I would agree. But instead, they have to trust that the family is really going to treat her like a cancer patient and not an employee if she takes a turn for the worse. All the liability and none of the control -- this would make me nervous, too. And they are working with them. They just aren't willing to give her the work visa.

[Anonymous]

She should go back to her country. We have citizens here who can't get health care and die why is she any different? Can I go to her country or another country and freely use their benefits I think not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

AuPair Care cannot grant the extension - this is the role of the State Department. The AP agency can only work within the State Dept guidelines, and they no way have the power to change a visa status on their own.

Not a fan of the au pair program as I personally believe the program condones bringing cheap child care to middle class families at the expense of the au pair. The agency fees are almost equal to what the au pair earns in a year. However the program is set up in State and that is where the change has to occur.

This here is a bigger symptom of the problem: http://nanny.org/au-pair-wages-class-action-suit/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to have an intelligent discussion about this or are you just choosing to use this as a way to bash the AP program.

If the former, I'm game. Let me know.

OP's post was not even remotely smacking of bashing the au pair program. You brought in the anger. Perhaps you should try posting something intelligent.

As for OP's post, this is difficult. The AP in question is 26 and her only means of support is the weekly stipend. I can see both sides, actually 3 points of view. But if the agency is responsible for her then I can understand their action. Will the host family continue to pay her no matter what happens with her therapy?

[Anonymous]

These agencies virtually *love* sending APs home, hoping the family will need yet another one. Sweet.

But this time the shit hit the fan with the WaPo report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

I don't think you understand what this says. She cannot be granted an extension of the Au Pair visa because she clearly cannot work as an Au Pair any more. What she is doing - and what the agency is working with - is to change her visa from Au Pair to another kind under which she can stay here and receive medical treatment. They are cooperating with her and the Department of State, which is the agency responsible for visa changes inside the U.S., to make that happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

I don't think you understand what this says. She cannot be granted an extension of the Au Pair visa because she clearly cannot work as an Au Pair any more. What she is doing - and what the agency is working with - is to change her visa from Au Pair to another kind under which she can stay here and receive medical treatment. They are cooperating with her and the Department of State, which is the agency responsible for visa changes inside the U.S., to make that happen.

Here's the order of events:

1. The agency cancelled the au pair's visa before it expired due to her sickness, even though the doctor said she could work.
2. Once the agency was exposed, they said they'd cooperate with the au pair and the host family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She should go back to her country. We have citizens here who can't get health care and die why is she any different? Can I go to her country or another country and freely use their benefits I think not.

You seriously have a chip missing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang on- there is no issue here, really.:

http://wjla.com/news/local/au-pair-fights-to-stay-in-us-to-continue-receiving-chemotherapy-treatment

"AuPairCare is totally committed to the health and well-being of all of our au pairs. We have been actively in communication with Edna Valenzuela and her host family throughout this process and continue working on Edna's behalf. Edna has been a fantastic au pair, and the love and care between Edna and her host family is clear. Our shared goal is to change Edna's visa so that she can stay in the United States to receive treatment through the clinical trial she is currently participating in through the National Institutes of Health. This visa change will allow Edna to stay in the U.S. and continue receiving her vital cancer treatments and to focus completely on her health. AuPairCare will continue doing everything possible to work with Edna, her host family and the U.S. State Department to ensure Edna receives her new visa status."

The Washington Post already reported Au Pair Care has refused to grant an extension.

Are you saying the pressure on them is forcing them to now allow her to stay?

I don't think you understand what this says. She cannot be granted an extension of the Au Pair visa because she clearly cannot work as an Au Pair any more. What she is doing - and what the agency is working with - is to change her visa from Au Pair to another kind under which she can stay here and receive medical treatment. They are cooperating with her and the Department of State, which is the agency responsible for visa changes inside the U.S., to make that happen.

Here's the order of events:

1. The agency cancelled the au pair's visa before it expired due to her sickness, even though the doctor said she could work.
2. Once the agency was exposed, they said they'd cooperate with the au pair and the host family.

Exactly. Shit on the agency, and all the other agencies just like them.