au pair got married

[Anonymous]

We came home( after a week being away) to find a huge balloon hanging near our au pair's room saying "I do". We are not surprised as she told us a few weeks ago that she got engaged. Her fiance (probably husband now ) is a US citizen. She has a few more weeks left in the Program. I am wondering what aupair's do in such situation, do they inform the agency? She is away for the weekend. I am just trying to be prepared in case I need to find backup child care

[Anonymous]

Congratulation to your au pair! Some quit in this situation, some finish out the program. She won’t be able to get a job just because she got married so maybe she needs the money. In your shoes, if you like her, I might even try to extend so you have more time with her while she’s getting her work permit situation handled.

[Anonymous]

She will likely have to file a petition for a change in status, since she will be working on staying here legally. As she is enetering a new immigration process she won’t be able to extend with you legally or work at all.

[Anonymous]

Why do you assume she got married because of the balloon. It could have been from an engagement party or something else. She can't extend if she is married. Once you are married you can't be an au pair.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see any reason a J1 holder can’t continue to work if they haven’t filed their petition for change in status merely because they married. Anyone back up that claim?

[Anonymous]

As a former LCC I can tell you that getting married voids your ability to be in the au pair program. That being said if you don't report it I guess no one will know but it could screw up something down the road I suppose if she didn't report it. I don't really think it matters for the rest of the first year but there is paperwork to extend and she would not be eligible to stay on as an AP.

[Anonymous]

Plus... if she only has a few weeks on her first year all extension paperwork should have been filed. Bottom line is she has an obligation to tell her agency she is married.

[Anonymous]

When did OP mention extension? OP only said AP had a few weeks left.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately for you, marriage isn't permitted on the program. If she really has gotten married, she can't be your au pair anymore. Your first step is to determine whether she is definitely married and didn't just have an engagement party. If she is, your second step has to be to contact your counselor and start looking for a new au pair. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

She has no obligations. She will get a lawyer to get her status changed or do it on her own and it's nobody's business. She will be working with government and they will know all about her.
Would be nice of her to finish up and OP said that she has few weeks left, so it's all coming together.
I'm sure she will send the agency an e-mail to tell them she is done and changing her status. If no, non of their business. The agency has other things to do than to check were the Au Paris are. She is doing it all by the book so why would agency even care.

[Anonymous]

The agency sponsored her visa. They must verify that she completed her program and went home. If she doesn't, they must explain why/show documentation to the State Department. By sponsoring their visas, the agencies take on some responsibility for these young people.

[Anonymous]

I think OP should actually confirm that the Au Pair is legally married before worrying about any of this. A balloon is hardly a clear indicator.
I'd guess it was just from a little engagement party/hen do she had with her friends.

[Anonymous]

Our au pair got married toward the end of her year and didn’t tell us intentionally. It can seriously impair a family’s status if host parents have security clearances. It puts the host family in a terrible position. We called the lawyer at the agency who didn’t want to hear a word about it. Everyone looked the other way while AP walked around ecstatic thinking she had pulled something really clever off. It was selfish and a breach of rules. It is not ok to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our au pair got married toward the end of her year and didn’t tell us intentionally. It can seriously impair a family’s status if host parents have security clearances. It puts the host family in a terrible position. We called the lawyer at the agency who didn’t want to hear a word about it. Everyone looked the other way while AP walked around ecstatic thinking she had pulled something really clever off. It was selfish and a breach of rules. It is not ok to do that.

Which rule says she can’t get married?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our au pair got married toward the end of her year and didn’t tell us intentionally. It can seriously impair a family’s status if host parents have security clearances. It puts the host family in a terrible position. We called the lawyer at the agency who didn’t want to hear a word about it. Everyone looked the other way while AP walked around ecstatic thinking she had pulled something really clever off. It was selfish and a breach of rules. It is not ok to do that.

Which rule says she can’t get married?

Look at the contract. There's also something specific about APs get sent home if they get pregnant.