Emergency
If you have a legal or serious medical problem, notify your Community Counselor. If your Community Counselor is not available and you cannot wait for her return, call the 24-hour emergency service at 1-800-928-7247.
Au Pair Social Security Card
You can apply for your Social Security (SS) card four days after arriving in the US.
Required documents:
- Application For a Social Security Card Form SS-5 (In box 5 for citizenship information, check off “Legal Alien Allowed To Work.”)
- Unexpired passport with visa
- I-94 (Click on “Get Most Recent I-94” at the top of the page. Download and print your I-94.)
- DS-2019
- As an au pair, you do not need to provide an employment authorization letter since au pair is a category of J-1 visa participant who has authorization to work.
Locations:
- Important Update: the Social Security office at 2100 M Street is now permanently closed.
- Host families and au pairs have recommended the following location:
- 1300 D St, SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Use this link to confirm hours of operation and find other locations.
Au Pair Driver License and Identification Card
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How to obtain a DC Driver License
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How to obtain a Non-Driver Identification Card
Au Pair Education
Au Pair Health Care (if you are sick and need to see a doctor)
Au Pair Money Matters
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How to mail a package or letter in the US
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How to use US money and write a check
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H&R Block Tax Services for Au Pairs
Au Pair Travel Inside the US
Travel/Tour Companies & Travel Websites
- Cultural Highways Travel
- TrekAmerica (20% discount for APIA APs!)
- Kayak
- Hipmunk
Transportation
- AAA Bus Safety Reports
- Bolt Bus– trips between Baltimore, Boston, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and DC
- Vamoose Bus – trips between NYC and Bethesda, MD, Arlington, VA, or Lorton, VA
- MegaBus – trips between Washington, DC and many destinations up and down the East Coast. New routes from DC to Virginia Beach beginning Summer 2017
- Super Shuttle– transportation to and from airports in DC and all over the US
- Happy-Cars -car rental for 18+
Places to Stay
- Hostelling International
- The Jane Hotel, New York
- The Pod Hotel (in New York and DC)
Au Pair Travel Outside the US
- APIA Information on Traveling Outside of the US
- APIA Visa Information (including travel during your extension year)
- APIA Travel Validation Request Form (to obtain APIA’s signature on your DS-2019)
- Automatic Revalidation Fact Sheet (Canada, Mexico, & Caribbean travel for Extension APs)
- Do I need a Visa to travel?
- Washington DC Embassy Directory
- Visiting Canada