The Au Pair program is one of the cheapest, most structured ways for young Africans to live legally in America for 1-2 years. You live with an American family, help with their kids, and in return you get free flights, free housing, free meals, a weekly stipend, health insurance, and money toward college classes. This guide covers everything from start to finish. _________________________________________ _________________________________________ First: Check if your country is eligible A December 2025 travel ban blocked nationals from 28 African countries from getting J-1 visas. Before you do anything else, check this list. Fully blocked (all visas suspended): Burkina Faso, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan J-1 visas specifically suspended: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe Still fully eligible (examples): South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, eSwatini, Rwanda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar If you hold dual nationality with a non-banned country, you may still be eligible. Talk to an immigration attorney. _________________________________________ _________________________________________ What you need to qualify: - Age 18-26 - Completed secondary school (matric or equivalent) - Conversational English - At least 200 hours of childcare experience outside your own family - For infant care (kids under 2): 200 additional hours with infants - Valid driver's license (not technically required, but almost impossible to match without one) - No criminal record - Medically fit - Single with no dependents _________________________________________ _________________________________________ What you get: - Round-trip flights (home country to USA and back) - Private bedroom in host family's home - Three meals a day - Weekly stipend of $195.75 minimum (some agencies pay $215+) - Up to $500 toward college classes - Health insurance for 12 months - 1.5 days off per week + one full weekend off per month - 2 weeks paid vacation per year - 30-day travel period after program ends - Option to extend for 6, 9, or 12 more months - Car access for childcare duties