Medical Insurance

APIA’s health (medical) insurance plan is administered by Cultural Insurance Service International (CISI) and is part of the Aetna Health Network. It is valid anywhere in the world except your home country. It covers injuries and illnesses.

• Your Insurance Website & App – Use the myCISI app and the myCISI desktop log-in to obtain information about your insurance coverage, account and reprint your insurance card.

• Your Insurance Card – You should carry your personal health insurance card with you at all times. The card is attached to an email from ‘My CISI’ which you received at orientation. Search your email for “enrollments@mycisi.com”.  If you cannot find the email or you lose your insurance card, you can:
  • • Go on the myCISI desktop log-in and print a new card.
    • Contact the insurance company by calling 203-399-5130 or emailing Claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com. Please include your au pair ID number in the email along with your host family’s name and address. (If you call you may wait a while on hold with no music or sound, this is normal.)
• Doctor Search – You can search this database for an urgent care clinic or doctor who takes your insurance: click here After you enter your zip code, you will be asked to Select a Plan, choose “Passport to Healthcare Primary PPO Network”)

Social Security Card

Au pairs should wait until they have been in the U.S. for at least 4 days before going to apply for their Social Security card. You may go before 4 days, but please understand that you may encounter a problem. If an au pair’s information is not yet in the database, the application cannot be processed at the time and will get put to the side and processed at a later date. This can lead to a much longer wait for the card to arrive in the mail.

Step 1 – Gather Your Documents

• • Print your I-94 Card (Click on “Get Most Recent I-94” at the top of the page)
  • Print your Participation Letter (on your au pair portal)
  • Complete the Social Security Card Application
    • Be sure to fill out the application listing your name EXACTLY as it is shown on your visa. If you have more than one first or last name, it could be listed differently than how you would think.
    • In box 5 for citizenship information, check off “Legal Alien Allowed To Work”.
    • If there are any questions you are unsure about, leave them blank and ask at your appointment.
  • Take the following documents with you to the SS Office:
    • passport/visa
    • DS-2019
    • country driver’s license
    • international driver’s permit or certified translation
    • participation letter
    • I-94 card
    • completed SS application form

Step 2 – Go to the Social Security Office

No appointments are needed. Social Security has resumed walk-in service at all locations.

• Go to the Social Security Office Locator to find an office near you.
• Social Security Offices tend to be busiest early in the month, early in the week, and early in the day. Avoiding those times should reduce your wait time.

Travel Outside of the U.S.

NOTE: Before planning any international travel, look at your visa (inside your passport). Check to see the expiration date printed on your actual visa. That expiration date printed on your visa is sometimes earlier than your actual end date. You must return at least 1-2 weeks prior to the earlier date. 

Travel Validation is Required to Re-enter the U.S. – Complete the Travel Validation Request Form (To obtain APIA’s signature on your DS-2019 before traveling outside of the U.S.) Note: The travel validation ensures that you are in good standing with the program, it is not formal permission to travel. 

• • * NEW* You now have two options for sending the travel validation request form to Au Pair in America. The form explains the process in detail.
    • Option 1 – Email the scanned form along with your scanned DS-2019 form to APIA as .pdf files. The email address and complete instructions are on the form.
    • Option 2 – In the regular mail or an expedited service, send the form along with your original DS-2019 to APIA, at least 3-4 weeks prior to international travel. The mailing address and complete instructions are on the form.
      • Check out this blog post for step-by-step instructions on how to send mail in the U.S.

Travel Rules by Program Year

• • Year 1 Au Pairs must have a valid visa to travel internationally and plan to return to the U.S. at least 1-2 weeks prior to the expiration date printed on your visa. This can be different from the actual program end date.
    • • Year 1 International Travel Checklist
  • Year 2 Au Pairs may visit Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands due to the Automatic Revalidation Policy. (Carry this info with you for travel to Canada, Mexico, & Caribbean travel in Year 2.) No other international travel is allowed in Year 2.
    • • Year 2 International Travel Checklist