NP here, if the HF actually sponsors the AP, they have to show they have money in the bank AND sign an affidavit of support (which is legally binding) to pay for AP school in case AP can't pay it. And you can actually get sued for that. I know for sure because I have looked into sponsoring a student visa for a family member.

What most HFs do is help AP who already have some kind of money. So AP's family back home has about 15k to show for and the HF help AP stay with them while working illegally. This is still illegal but less risky for the family as they don't have any invested money and they are just hiring an illegal worker like many people (including the current president) do every day.

I suspect PP meant that if you are doing an under the table "you can live with us while you go to school, but we want some childcare in exchange" deal, its likely the AP will be expecting you to pay for the school. The researched response above noted $15K in the bank which I bet would come from HF. If the AP comes from a family that could afford to send her themselves on an F1, she'd live in the dorms or her own apartment, not with former HF.

Anonymous wrote:to clarify, the HF would have liability if the AP worked while a student. Also, you need to pay for their schooling.

Is that true? One of our former AP's asked us to sponsor her for an F-1, and what OP described was the process ... verifying we had assets to support and signing something that basically said we would take responsibility for her while she was here. We said no, of course, because we didn't think there was anyway she could come back and afford to live and go to school without illegally working, but I don't recall there being any obligation for us to support her studies.

Anonymous wrote:Americans have been sponsoring foreigners for decades. This is nothing new.

Umm... yes they have. Who said anything about it being new? What is the point of your post?

Anonymous wrote:I had a family sponsor me. Basically they have to say there is no American to do the job they advertised that’s why they need you, a foreign worker. They have to prove they’ve advertised and had no responses. The process as a Nanny was in excess of 10 years and I’m sure that hasn’t gotten quicker. You are also considered illegal even though they know you are here. If you leave the country you could be denied re-entry. I ended up getting a friend who owned his own business to sponsor me as a secretary because it’s skilled and the backlog was 2 years not 10. Still had to say no American wanted the job etc.

interesting, thanks for the info

Anonymous wrote:We looked into this quite extensively and ultimately decided it was pointless to even try.

There are 2 ways

- student visa - the student has to have a LOT of $ in their personal bank account (I think like $15k+?) to prove they can support themselves while here. They cannot legally work - literally no babysitting and these days they are on the lookout for this kind of stuff- getting the visa is expensive

- work visa - you have to prove no one in the US can provide what you need - long difficult process - you probably won’t even need childcare anymore by the time you get through the process - expensive to get the visa - probably won’t be approved for childcare anyway

Thanks, this is very helpful information!

We looked into this quite extensively and ultimately decided it was pointless to even try.

There are 2 ways

- student visa - the student has to have a LOT of $ in their personal bank account (I think like $15k+?) to prove they can support themselves while here. They cannot legally work - literally no babysitting and these days they are on the lookout for this kind of stuff- getting the visa is expensive

- work visa - you have to prove no one in the US can provide what you need - long difficult process - you probably won’t even need childcare anymore by the time you get through the process - expensive to get the visa - probably won’t be approved for childcare anyway

Is there a link for sponsorship regulations?

I had a family sponsor me. Basically they have to say there is no American to do the job they advertised that’s why they need you, a foreign worker. They have to prove they’ve advertised and had no responses. The process as a Nanny was in excess of 10 years and I’m sure that hasn’t gotten quicker. You are also considered illegal even though they know you are here. If you leave the country you could be denied re-entry. I ended up getting a friend who owned his own business to sponsor me as a secretary because it’s skilled and the backlog was 2 years not 10. Still had to say no American wanted the job etc.

Americans have been sponsoring foreigners for decades. This is nothing new.

Yeah no. I've spoken to other host families who told me that this is their ultimate plan to find a decent AP, extend the second year, then sponsor for the remaining years they need childcare. It leaves the AP partially dependent on them (so won't leave) because the family is the sponsor, meanwhile the AP gets to stay and get their education (because they're on a student visa).

to clarify, the HF would have liability if the AP worked while a student. Also, you need to pay for their schooling.

One way to do it is to sponsor a student visa, but under a student visa, the young person CANNOT work and the HF would have potential IRS and other liablility from what I understand. This is often raised on this forum. Bad idea.

My AP has two friends that she says are getting sponsored by host families so they will be able to stay in the US. I asked her what that entails and she said the host family just has to prove they have enough income to support the au pair. Like they just have to show their bank statements and W-2s. No way is that all there is to it, right? Let me make it clear that I am in NO WAY interested in sponsoring my AP, but I also don't want her believing it is THAT simple and why doesn't my HF do it for me if that is all there is to it.