WA Educational Options
- APIA Advantage Course – UCLA Extension Program – APIA designed American history course approved by the Department of State. All online coursework over 19 weeks.
- Coursera – database of online courses. Course must be taken from a US based college and found in the accreditation database listed above. IMPORTANT – Check with APIA CC prior to approval. No international colleges.
- edX – database of online courses. Course must be taken from a US based college and found in the accreditation database listed above. IMPORTANT – Check with APIA CC prior to approval.
Local WA Colleges and Universities:
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology (Kirkland)
- MOST POPULAR – North Seattle Community College
- Photographic Center Northwest – Seattle hybrid courses
- MOST POPULAR – Seattle Central Community College
- UW – Continuing Education
Weekend Programs – designed for Au Pair community
- Au Pair Weekend – MOST POPULAR (Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, LA and around the US with various accredited universities)
- College of St. Rose – Silver Bay (Albany, NY and Las Vegas, NV)
- University Au Pair Program – Long Island University (Brookville, NY)
- Classroom Au Pair – Hudson College- (NJ)
- Learning Across America – Towson University (various locations)
- Borough of Manhattan Community College – Various in-person cities
English as a Second Language (ESL) focus:
- Alps Language School (4 week sessions for 40 hours of instruction – some possible TOEFL testing prep)
- North Seattle Community College
- Seattle Central Community College
- Cascadia College (J-1 students would need to enroll through the College & Career Foundations office on campus. They can be reached by email at eslabe@cascadia.edu.)
- Classroom Au Pair – Toefl and English online courses
- UC Irvine – sample English online course
- UW – sample English online course
Online English Second Language (or Toefl) worth 36 or 72 hours – taught live:
● UCEDA
● ZONI
● LADO
Health, Driving, Social Security, Tax and LGBTQ+ Resources
- 24/7 CISI Insurance Chat
- AXA for online doctor services call: 855-327-1411 or email: medassist-usa@axa-assistance.us
- American Red Cross Training (not part of J-1 education requirement).– Scholarships available for active au pairs with more than 6 months remaining.
- Finding a Doctor or Urgent Care Center – CISI Insurance. For further insurance assistance, au pairs can call 18009AUPAIR ext. 5130 or claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com
To locate the closest urgent care to you, enter your zip code and select “primary” insurance in this Aetna Search Tool: www.aetna.com/docfind/custom/passport
- Planned Parenthood – women’s health care – out of insurance network
- Open Path – psychotherapy collective – out of insurance network
- Lost Insurance Card – If you lost your insurance card, email or call CISI (info above) and include your full name, ID number and your host family’s address. They will send you another card.
- Bartell Drug Care Clinics (typically $75 per visit)
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How to File an Insurance Claim
Click here to get the form. For claim submission questions, call (800) 303-8120, prompt 5 or 203-399-5130 or email claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com
- Sports Insurance Registration Form (for added skiing, ice skating and other sports insurance, email: apinsurance@aifs.com)
- Modestly Priced Dental Care from UW
- Modestly Priced Dental Care in King County
- Social Security Office Locator, Scheduler and Information
You will need to pre-register online and bring in person for verification: 1) Your passport and visa 2) Your 1-94 entrance number 3) Your DS-2019 form, including host family name, address and contact info. SS card should be mailed 5-7 days after in person approval. (Should you encounter issues please refer to the POM -program operations manual- for social security and the reference to au pair information can be found in section RM 10211.345.)
- I-94 Numbers and Cards
- Swerve Driving Classes/Evaluation
- 9-1-1 Driving School
- WA Driver’s License Guide
- WA State Drivers License Info
- WA Driving Test Locations
- WA Practice Written Driving Tests
- What to Do After an Accident
- What to Keep in the Car Glove Box
- YMCA – Greater Seattle area community center
- Expat Tax Services and Frequently Asked Questions – HR Block
- More Tax Info from APIA
- IRS Au Pair Tax Info
- USPS Change of Address (use confirmation letter for proof of residency, if you have moved)
- Gay City
- DEI Learning Journey (learn more about being an ally)
Local Volunteering Resources
- Boys and Girls Clubs of King County
- Duwamish Alive!
- Global Awareness
- March of Dimes in WA
- Northwest Harvest
- Puget Sound Blood Center
- Treehouse
- ELLA – Practice your conversational English (does not count toward educational hours)
- VolunteerMatch – to find the volunteer program that best fits you
Local Places to Go/Things to Do with Kids
- Kidz Bounce in Issaquah
- Macaroni Kid – Eastside
- Macaroni Kid – South Puget Sound
- NW Trek Wildlife Park
- Pacific Science Center
- Seattle Aquarium
- Seattle Gymnastic Academy
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Tiny Beans Seattle
- Funtastic Playtorium and Slime – Factoria
Childcare Links Relating to Positive Discipline and US Style Parenting
- 5 Ways to Get Kids to Listen
- Negotiating with Kids
- Positive Discipline
- Dealing with Power Struggles
- Teaching Responsibility – Chore Charts
Travel Links for Au Pairs (International travel is limited – contact your CC before you travel.)
- APIA Form for Travel Outside the US (Fill this form out and email along with your original DS2019 form to the CT office for international travel, including Canada and Mexico. This signature will allow your visa to be a multiple entry visa. If emailing, check spam folder for the returned form. Allow 7 days for processing.)
- Travel Outside of US Policies
- International Travel
- Visiting Mexico
- Visiting Canada (Find out if you need a visa depending on your citizenship and if you fly or drive.)
- Amtrak – NW Train Routes
- APIA Affiliated Travel Groups
- Flix Bus to Portland, Vancouver, and more
- Hostelling International
- Hostels.com
- McMenamins Hotels in PNW
- Shuttle Express – ride to SeaTac Airport
- TrekAmerica – Grand American Adventures Travel Tours – 1-800-TREKUSA
- Shipping Items Back Home
- MTA Bus Routes – Trip Planner for Greater Seattle/Eastside
- Park and Ride Locations for using public transportation – Greater Seattle/Eastside
- Automatic Revalidation Policy (Carry for travel in to Canada, Mexico & the adjacent islands in year two)