Extending visa for 2nd year?

[Anonymous]

We are going to extend with our current au pair. She has heard that some APs who extend will either go back to their home country, or to Canada, and get a new visa for the 2nd year. This enables them to travel outside the US during their 2nd year. Is this right? I thought that the visa they get is what they're stuck with even if they stay the full 2 years. Can someone confirm that what my AP heard is true? I hope it is, b/c I know she'd like to be able to visit home during her 2nd year.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about Canada, but when my prior au pair was considering extending, our LCC told her that she could get a new visa in her home country (Austria) during a planned trip home over Christmas (which was in the 11 month of her first year) as long as she was already matched with a new host family (she was planning on extending in a different city). She ended up deciding not to extend so she never tried to do so. And, yes, this does mean that she re-entered the country with only 3 weeks left of her visa, which our agency advised against but we allowed her to do and she had no problems.

[Anonymous]

I have heard this as well, but current au pair decided against going to Canada.

[Anonymous]

It’s correct. 2nd year APs cannot leave the country unless they get a new visa issued abroad.

[Anonymous]

They can visit Canada and the Caribbean as part of the visa revalidation program. Google it.