Agencies love to steal candidates from one another. Contact the agencies themselves and ask if there’s anything they can do.

Anonymous wrote:I know of a family member who went on visa from cultural care, didn’t get along with the family, left the agency and has now been in America for 25 months. She has now left that 2nd family because 2 yrs ( 1 year plus 12 month extension done) she has now moved to another state to care for the aged. Is this possible? What kind of visa would she be on and what about the agency who initially sponsored her?

Green card or expired visa

Anonymous wrote:I know of a family member who went on visa from cultural care, didn’t get along with the family, left the agency and has now been in America for 25 months. She has now left that 2nd family because 2 yrs ( 1 year plus 12 month extension done) she has now moved to another state to care for the aged. Is this possible? What kind of visa would she be on and what about the agency who initially sponsored her?

She isn’t on a visa and is staying illegally in the country.

I’m surprised a truly good AP with a HF reference is having trouble finding an in country match. There’s always a need. How much time left in her original visa? But I agree with PPs that it’s easier for host family to sign on to new agency for specific match than AP to switch while in US. AP would also have to pay new agency fee which would be rough.

That's very nice from you to help her

Maybe you can create an ad for her over here with her email contact info (or have her do it) ...

Good luck !

(I'm a former AP)

I know of a family member who went on visa from cultural care, didn’t get along with the family, left the agency and has now been in America for 25 months. She has now left that 2nd family because 2 yrs ( 1 year plus 12 month extension done) she has now moved to another state to care for the aged. Is this possible? What kind of visa would she be on and what about the agency who initially sponsored her?

She has to stick with the agency that sponsored her visa. She can still look for prospect families outside her agency. It's a breeze for families to switch to a new agency, and I think most families would be open to switching for a fantastic au pair (assuming the agency covers their geographical region).

I think they can.

I think the new agency applies for a new J-1 visa for the au pair -- and it is quicker to get since she is already here.

No, they cannot. At all. Everone who comes to this country on a J1 visa must have a sponsorship. The agencies are the sponsors. This is NOT a transferable thing. There is no grand scheme. Take it up with the US governmenr.

No, au pairs are stuck with their agencies as they sponsor their J-1 visas.

Theoretically speaking, it should be possible to switch sponsors. Rumor has it that it has been done... but other than hearing about somebody who knows someone who has read something on the internet...
Even if this was possible, I am sure there is an agreement between the different agencies that this isn't done or if it's done, it's not made public. If your AP is as lovely as you say, she will surely find a new HF in your agency.

I am a host mom, and for reasons I won't get into -- we are in rematch with our current au pair. She's actually a lovely girl, but not a good match for our family for one very specific reason that really isn't her fault.

She's in rematch with our agency, but getting very little interest. She (understandably) had planned on spending a year in the U.S., and really doesn't want to go home. In a good way, I think she is trying to be her own best advocate. I think one of her au pair friends told her about a website, or perhaps she's been contacting other agencies... but it sounds like she has had a couple of (potential) host moms contacting her with interest. I'd like to help her if I can. She's a nice girl, and really would make a lovely au pair for the right family.

She asked our LCC about switching agencies, and was told that she couldn't. I'm not sure this is 100% correct, although I'm not surprised this is the answer she got... but maybe it is. I suspect the reality is that the agency loses money, or there is overhead involved with switching the sponsor for her visa?

Does anyone know the real scoop?