From Euraupair Host Families
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A Publication for EurAupair Program Participants and Friends Around the World! Volume 76 • Published August 2020 Following the Presidential Proclamation of June 22nd, 2020 suspending J-1 visas for Au Pairs (among other visas) until December 31, 2020, EurAupair received a massive amount of testimonials and support from Au Pairs, Host Families, Partners, Area Coordinators, Community Counselors and Staff members explaining what the Au Pair program means to them and why this suspension should be lifted immediately. In this special edition of the EurAupair Gazette, we gathered a sample of the letters we received. From the bottom of our heart, we would like to thank you all for supporting our program and Cultural Exchange in general. Sincerely, The EurAupair Family About Us... From EurAupair Host Families EurAupair Intercultural Child Care Programs is a non-profit, public benefit to the White House and Congress in response to organization designated by the U.S. the suspension of J-1 visas for Au Pairs Department of State to conduct the Au Pair cultural exchange program under the Fulbright Hays Mutual From a EurAupair Host Mom interested in furthering their student and being a part of Educational and Cultural Exchange Act in Arkansas: own education, having some our family for the next year. of 1961 and is intended “to promote “I am writing you to implore experience with special needs and After reviewing more than 220 mutual understanding between the that you do what you can in order older children, willing to provide applications and conducting what people of the United States and other countries by means of educational and to convince the administration additional learning opportunities seemed like countless interviews, cultural exchanges”. to remove language from the for advanced learners, willing we finally found a person that June 22, 2020 Executive Order to commit to at least a year, would meet our needs. EurAupair Intercultural Child Care Programs that applies a visa ban on J-1 and sharing our respect for the We selected a lady who is an visas as they apply to Au Pairs. pandemic and health issues English teacher in Mexico. She 250 North Coast Highway If this is not possible in the very driving this choice. has worked with special needs Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA Tel: 949/494-5500 near future, I would ask that you After speaking to nanny learners and has tutored other E-mail: [email protected] investigate what can be done to agencies, friends, countless children. She wanted to come to Web: www.euraupair.com assist the State Department to interviews curated from websites the United States to improve her create an expedited exemption connecting us to local caregivers, I English and study our education process to start granting found that either these caregivers system for the next year. She is Return Service Requested CA 92651 USA Laguna Beach, Highway Coast 250 North Gazette EurAupair exemptions prior to the start of were out of my price range; were trilingual and willing to teach school in August. The Order not as likely to be able to keep up my children other languages to arbitrarily and capriciously takes with an active 7 year old if they keep them invested and involved away my ability to decide how to had higher experience levels; in their current curriculum. At best educate my children, which were lacking the education level the end of that time, she intended is contrary to the President’s that was needed/desired; were to return to Mexico to complete recently announced school choice lacking experience with special her Master’s Degree related to policy. Furthermore, the action needs learners; indicated a desire teaching language to special needs against J1 visas actually does not for a short term appointment; learners, focusing primarily on realize the central theme of the did not have appropriate respect how best to do this with children Order: to protect American jobs. for the virus and the reasons why who have ADHD. Her time I am a single mother of we need to create the learning spent here would then be utilized two children in Arkansas, ages environment that we are; and/ not only in her future education, 11 and 7. One of my children or lacked any background or but also in teaching her language medical issues that will prevent interest in education. Any of students and future leaders in my children from being able to the candidates would have been Mexico about the United States safely return to a traditional sufficient for babysitting for a few of America. school environment while we hours or as a nanny for toddlers. We had just matched with continue to see a rise in cases due They did not meet our specific our Au Pair and started the to the coronavirus. As a single needs for a more specialized process to apply for the visa when mother, however, I am unable to caregiver. we learned about the restrictions homeschool my children without Feeling frustrated with the on J1 visas that would impact help. I have a responsibility to pool of candidates, I did more our au pair – with less than 1 my family and community to research and learned about the month before the start of the continue to work. Au Pair program. Through school term. Our needs, issues, With the decision to the program, we were able to concerns, and available job pool homeschool, I knew that I would specify our needs. In exchange have not changed. Yet this order have to find someone who not for opening our home, providing prohibited my ability to provide PAID U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO. 963 PERMIT California 92651 only could watch the children, room, board, transportation, a quality education in a safe Laguna Beach Organization but who could assist in their assisting with educational fees environment that I selected for Non-Profit education. I made a list of my and studies, and a modest salary, my children and to ensure that I ‘must haves’ for this position: an au pair would assist in child (Continued on next page...) a newer teacher with a degree, care while acting as an exchange could return to work. how to provide needed services for would seem to meet the national diplomacy. Our selected au pair The Executive Order does the new normal, especially when interest standard. planned to learn about and will provide for certain exemptions there are children such as mine Moreover, the national subsequently teach utilizing what and discretion by the Department who are more at risk? By providing interest is met by allowing for she learned from the United States of State that I believe could a way for parents to thoughtfully the continued economic recovery education system and United apply in our situation. Section dictate the direction of their of the United States. Au pairs States culture to Mexican students 3(b)(iv) provides that the order children’s learning and provide allow working parents, and single who may grow to be business and shall not apply to any alien a more secure environment, it parents like myself, the ability to government leaders in the future. whose presence would be in alleviates some of the stress that return to work in a traditional Our interactions help teach our the national interest. Further, schools are having to address for environment. This in and of itself children different world points of Section 4 allows for standards to in person instruction and protects stimulates the local economy and view, strengthen our bonds and be established to define categories our teachers who are currently adds to morale. After all, a parent shared interests between nations, of aliens that further standards rewriting their wills before forced to sacrifice a child for the teaches empathy, and growth of diplomacy and are necessary returning to work. Moreover, national economy tends not to of character. It also develops for the immediate and continued it supports President Trump’s make for an invested workforce. additional connections and shared economic recovery of the United statement to the American public In addition, though, the au pairs interests between our countries, States. Finally, Section 5(b) of the a mere two weeks ago on June 16 study in the United States and which creates a goodwill which Order specifies which visa holders when he said that, “school choice pay educational tuition and fees may be relied upon in the future. must be scrutinized for being at is the civil rights statement of the to local universities and colleges. Therefore, I request you to risk of taking American jobs and year, of the decade, and probably They engage in the community in look into this matter for any relief fails to mention J1 visa holders beyond, because all children volunteer opportunities. They buy that may be achieved. Preferably, entirely. have to have access to a quality local. They take the opportunity to the limitations toward J1s would I believe that our Au Pair does education.” Failure to allow for travel and see the country adding be removed from the Executive meet all of these exceptions. First, a parent to provide an educator to the tourism revenue of states. Order. However, as there are the United States of America has a for their children when it is clear They also file and pay American natural exemptions for all au continued and ongoing interest in it is not a threat to American jobs taxes. pairs under this order, a suitable ensuring the education of its youth specifically takes school choice Likewise, au pairs are in outcome could still be achieved in a manner deemed appropriate away from parents during this the country as part of a culture through an expedited exception by their parents.