At Cultural Care we believe that cultural exchange makes the world a better place. With the current time of uncertainty during the COVID-19/Coronavirus development worldwide, there is no better time to think about what really matters, and for us that is bringing global families together. To help support you, our program participants, we have created this page to keep you updated and informed during this time. We will share updates as they happen on this page, and have created some frequently asked questions to help you with the information you need. Please refer back to this page as we will update it with any new developments!

#### Updates:
##### Update on the 22nd June Executive Order and possible exceptions for au pairs The U.S. State Department has issued information on the ability for some au pairs travelling to host families who meet certain criteria to receive a waiver which will allow them to apply for a J-1 visa during the period of the 22nd June Executive order. The information can be found on their [website](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/exceptions-to-p-p-10014-10052-suspending-entry-of-immigrants-non-immigrants-presenting-risk-to-us-labor-market-during-economic-recovery.html). The specific J-1 exceptions for the au pair program are as follows: - Travel to provide care for a minor U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or nonimmigrant in lawful status by an au pair possessing special skills required for a child with particular needs (e.g., medical, special education, or sign language). Childcare services provided for a child with medical issues diagnosed by a qualified medical professional by an individual who possesses skills to care for such child will be considered to be in the national interest. - Travel by an au pair that prevents a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or other nonimmigrant in lawful status from becoming a public health charge or ward of the state of a medical or other public funded institution. - Childcare services provided for a child whose parents are involved with the provision of medical care to individuals who have contracted COVID-19 or medical research at United States facilities to help the United States combat COVID-19. We suggest any placed au pairs who had planned to travel during the Executive Order should reach out to their host family to talk about their situation and to see whether they could qualify for one of the exceptions. We are sending this information to all au pairs who could be impacted. If a host family’s situation does not allow for the au pair to be part of this waiver, please know that Cultural Care in the USA continues to advocate for an exception for all au pairs and will continue to support them to start their au pair journey.
##### Update on Executive Order and au pairs who already have a visa and are waiting to travel We are very happy to have clarified that au pairs who already have a visa will be able to travel to the USA as long as their visa is valid, and as soon as any local travel restrictions have been lifted. We’re excited to get you on your way to the USA!
##### Update on the Executive Order to suspend the entry of au pair J-1 visas The President of the United States has issued an [Executive Order](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/) on 22nd June which suspends the entry of certain visa categories to the U.S. until the end of December 2020. The J-1 visa for au pairs has been included in this order. This order is a __temporary__ measure and people with au pair visas will be able to travel to the USA again after the period of the order ends. This will impact the departure of some au pairs to the USA, as they will not be able to travel to the USA until after 31st December 2020. Cultural Care in the USA are reaching out to the US State Department for clarity, and we will update this page if there is any additional information. We are particularly looking for clarity on whether au pairs who already have a visa will be able to travel or not. Through this week we will be reaching out to all au pairs who are impacted. We are dedicated to get all our au pairs to the USA to start their au pair adventure as soon as possible once the order is over! Cultural Care in the USA will continue its efforts to advocate to the Presidential Administration and Members of Congress for the exemption of au pairs from the Executive order. They will keep advocating for the opportunity for host families and au pairs to experience life changing cultural exchanges together.
##### Update on U.S. Department of State extension options due to COVID-19 for in country au pairs The U.S. Department of State has announced an extension program that allows au pairs to remain legally in the US on their J1 visa for 2 to 6-months. This is an option for au pairs who are in the USA, and would like to stay with their current host family. This update was made as the U.S. Department of State recognized the interest of program participants to extend their terms further due to visa and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 situation. Cultural Care in the USA is communicating with au pairs who will have this opportunity.
##### Update on travel advice for au pairs travelling in May & June Cultural Care au pairs from some countries will start travelling again in the coming weeks, we want to make sure that you have the information you need to keep yourself safe. We advise all travelling au pairs to follow the advice as outlined by the CDC ([check the advice here](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html)), or by their own country. Make sure to follow these tips in particular: - Wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds, especially if you have touched surfaces at the airport. It’s a good idea to carry hand sanitizer with you for when you cannot access soap and water - Keep a distance of 2 meters away from other people - Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth - We will provide you with a face mask – make sure to use it throughout your journey
##### Update on departures in May Unfortunately, we have now had to cancel some departures in May due to COVID-19. We are reaching out to all au pairs who are impacted to inform them of their new travel date. At Cultural Care we are very excited for our au pairs to start travelling in June! We recommend that all au pairs who are travelling in June should talk to their host family on how they are social distancing in their home to be prepared before arrival.
##### Update on travelling in May Because of the continuing efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 there could be a further delay than May for au pairs to travel to the USA. We are doing our best so that our au pairs can travel on time, however, there are some factors which could temporarily delay your travel: - Travel restrictions in the US or in your home country – this may temporarily delay your travel into the USA or out of your home country. We continue to monitor the situation and will reach out to you should your planned travel dates be affected. - Visa appointments – if you do not already have your visa already travel will be delayed until you have it. Keep checking in with your embassy to get the first possible visa appointment. - Flight availability – Currently there are limited options for flights around the world, however once travel restrictions are lifted, we are hopeful that there will be an increase in flight availability. We have a dedicated team ready and waiting to book your flights as soon as possible. - Online Training School – Remember that you must have completed your training before departing to your host family – make sure to plan ahead so you can take part on your allocated dates Every au pair’s situation is different, so some of these factors may affect you and some not. We are dedicated to getting you to the USA as soon as possible to start your au pair adventure!

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