Yearly Archives: 2016

What To Do In A Car Accident

By Christine Connally

Whether you are you new to driving in the US or a seasoned driver, never drive without your drivers license and remember to keep other essential documents in the car glove box. These items will be necessary if you are stopped by a police officer or have an auto accident. Not having these items can result in your receiving a ticket (citation) from a police officer. If you are involved in an accident, call the police and your Host Family immediately.

Car accident

Photo: Morgan (Flickr)

Essential Documents

If you have an accident: (from Edmunds.com)

  1. Keep Safety First. Drivers involved in minor accidents with no serious injuries should move cars to the side of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leaving cars parked in the middle of the road or busy intersection can result in additional accidents and injuries. If a car cannot be moved, drivers and passengers should remain in the cars with seatbelts fastened for everyone’s safety until help arrives. Make sure to turn on hazard lights and set out cones, flares or warning triangles if possible.
  2. Exchange Information. After the accident, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number and license plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for each individual. Also make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and color — and the exact location of the collision and how it happened. Finally, be polite but don’t tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.
  3. Photograph and Document the Accident. Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles. Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the overall context of the accident so that you can make your case to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to get their contact information; they may be able to help you if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened.

Sticking around? The in’s and out’s of extension

By Ann Robertson

You’ve been here for a while now, – you know your way around town, you’ve gone to school, made friends, and are having a great American experience. And then . . . the question:

Would you like to extend?

If you have time for it in your life, and you meet the requirements, the extension program might be the right option for you.

The basics: You can choose to extend for 6, 9, or 12 months, and you may choose to extend with your current host family (if they are interested, of course), or with a new family – some au pairs dream of seeing another part of the country, finding different education options, or just experiencing another American family.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

MEDICAL INSURANCE:

Your medical policy expires for the first year, and you start your new policy during the year you extend.

For example:

-If your first year began February 2013, your insurance policy is the 2013 policy until Feb 2014.

-If you start your extension in February 2014, you start the 2014 policy in February. (be aware of the changes in the policy look on the blog for the brochure).

Your insurance card expires after one year, so you should receive a printable card when you start your extension year. If you do not receive it call the agency for a new card.

If you purchased the upgrade insurance in your first year, you must purchase it again in the second year.

If you purchased the sports insurance in your first year, it lasts only 12 months from the time you bought it. Depending on when you bought it, you will probably need to purchase it again.

EDUCATION

If you extend for 9 or 12 months you must earn  6 credits again or 72 hours of education to complete the program requirements.

If you extend for 6 months you only need 3 credits or 36 hours of education.

 

DRIVERS LICENSE

Check on the expiration of your driver’s license, you must renew it before it expires (DO NOT LET YOUR LICENSE EXPIRE). Most likely you will need to renew it before you start your extension year. Check with your new host family for laws in your new destination state.

VACATION

Vacation for a 6 month extension is 6 days.

Vacation for a 9 and 12 month is 2 weeks.

TRAVEL

Check on the expiration date of your visa. If it expires before your second year starts then you should not travel outside of the USA – there is a risk of not being able to return (Canada, and Mexico and contiguous islands are okay to travel to). With the exception that if you return home during your first year after your approval for extension, you can get your visa renewed for another year. You must ask the agency (contact Evelyn Blum) for the paperwork required for this renewal.

Photo: Dafne Cholet (Flickr)

Photo: Dafne Cholet (Flickr)

Childcare Focus: Supervision

Photo: SmartSign (Flickr)

Photo: SmartSign (Flickr)

Whether you are at the park, in the backyard or in the playroom, stay with the children at all times! If you are on duty the safety and well being of the children is your job. If you have a middle-schooler, who is able to walk to and from school, or play outside with friends, you still need to know where he/she is and whether an adult is present. Make plans for when he/she will call you, where you can find him/her, and what time you expect him/her home.

APIA’s 30th Anniversary Cultural Fair

Screen Shot 2016-03-04 at 2.36.22 PM

This year Au Pair in America is 30 years old! As part of our year-long celebration, we are hosting a CULTURAL FAIR at Nationals Park on Sunday, May 1 from 1-4 pm. Bring the kids, friends, neighbors for a day of fun at the Ballpark!  Learn all about different countries and explore the Ballpark when a game isn’t taking place. The event is FREE and Parking is FREE! More details to come.

APIA au pairs from around the world will present cultural information about their home countries through exhibits, costumes, music and dancing, and much more. This video from APIA’s 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair gives you a glimpse of our amazing au pairs and their many countries.

Au Pair Tax Info

By Christine Connally

Who is supposed to file taxes? – All au pairs who made $4000 or more in the calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31.) Au pairs who made less than $4000, are not required to file a tax return for 2015.

Will all au pairs have to pay something? – No, it depends on when you arrived and how much money you earned last year.

Photo: 401(K) 2012 (Flickr)a

Photo: 401(K) 2012 (Flickr)a

When are 2015 taxes due? – April 15, 2016

Where can I get the tax form? –  1040NR-EZ Form

Where can I get the instruction booklet? – 1040NR-EZ Booklet

Where can I get detailed information on filing my taxes? – APIA Tax Info for Au Pairs

Where can I see a sample au pair tax form? – Sample Completed Tax Form

Where should I mail my tax return form?
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1303
Charlotte, NC 28201-1303

How do I write a check or money order? – Check here

How do I make sure it gets to the IRS? – Go to the Post Office and send it by Certified Mail.

How do I address the envelope? – Check here

Au Pair Education Options

Photo: Oteo (Flickr)

Photo: Oteo (Flickr)

For a summary of State Department education requirements, click on this link.

The following DC-area classes are approved for our cluster and count towards your State Department education requirement.

Language Classes

  • American University’s English Language Program (ELP) (Business Communication and TOEFL Prep classes)
  • California University of Management and Sciences (CalUMS) English Language Development  program (Earn 72 hours in a 12-week course); Arlington, VA near metro; $500 Au Pair Scholarship; must qualify through free placement exam
  • Georgetown University’s Continuing Studies English program (Intermediate English, Advanced Business Communication and Writing, and TOEFL Prep classes)
  • International Language Institute’s English Programs (Intensive, Semi-intensive, and TOEFL Prep classes) & other foreign languages; 10% tuition discount for APIA au pairs
  • LADO International Institute’s English courses (Intensive, Semi-intensive, and TOEFL Prep classes and Business English and Idioms Workshops) and Spanish courses; 10% tuition discount for APIA au pairs
  • Mentora College’s Intensive ESL Program and others; 30% scholarship discount for APIA au pairs
  • Virginia International University’s Non-Intensive ESL classes (includes one-day Museum Trip classes held most Saturdays for 0.5 CEUs each class)

General Interest Classes

Online Class

Current Semester: January 4th-May 9th (Registration closes January 8th)

Upcoming Semester: March 28th-August 15th (Registration opens February 1st)

Course cost = $500     Course credits = 6

Note: This is the only on-line class approved by the State Department. It is only open to APIA Au Pairs.

The following programs are considered “weekend/travel” classes* by the State Department. Only one can count towards your education requirement. Read the program descriptions carefully; some do not include housing and/or transportation.