Au Pair Documents
The DS-2019 Form, the J-1 Visa and the I-94 Card
The DS-2019 Form
While InterExchange maintains the highest standards and double checks each of the
forms, occasionally there may be a discrepancy or mistake on the form. Please take a
moment to verify that all the information is correct.
THE J-1 VISA
If the au pair's visa is approved, the Consular Officer will put a J-1 visa in the au pair's passport as a sticker. The J-1 Visa is a TRAVEL DOCUMENT that allows the holder to enter the USA. It does not allow or prove that the au pair is allowed to work. When accompanied by a valid DS-2019 form, the J-1 Visa provides permission to enter the USA as an au pair participating in a cultural exchange program. Once the au pair arrives in the United States he/she must pass through immigration. The immigration official will look at the au pair's J-1 Visa and his/her DS-2019 form. The officer will validate the visa by stamping the passport and the accompanying DS-2019 form. The immigration officer will also staple the "I-94 Arrival and Departure Card" (which the au pair would have filled out during his/her flight) in the au pair's passport.
Most au pairs will be issued a “multiple entry” visa which will allow them to re-enter the
USA as many times as necessary before its expiry date. The dates on the J-1 visa will
not always match the program dates of the DS-2019 form. Sometimes the J-1 Visa
dates will expire before the program year is finished. In this case, the au pair is still
allowed to stay in the USA until the end of the program (plus the 30 days for travel).
The I-94 Card
The I-94 Card is a document that the au pair will fill-in on the airplane to the USA. After landing, the au pair will go through Customs and Immigration. At this point the Customs Officer will stamp the DS-2019 form and this I-94 card with the arrival date and visa type. A portion of the I-94 card will be stapled into the au pair"s passport. It is very important that the au pair not lose this form.
