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Original poster

AP Youth mobility Visa

28 replies

DrEvil · 16/06/2009 08:10

Hi all,

A while ago I posted about having an Australian AP / Mothers Help and I just wanted to update you on the ease of getting the visa sorted.

The girl that is coming over to help us now has her visa, she sent in application forms and about 6 weeks later was invited to an interview and a week after that was notified the visa had been granted. I provided her with a letter outlining what she would be doing, confirming dates and provinding my details. It all seems to have been an easy process.

So, we have the flight booked, I have redecorated the bedroom, I have a great 'agreement' that a helpful mnetter copied to me and will probably suplement this with a contract from Payefornannies who I will also be using for payroll. What else needs to go into a sort of 'pack' to make everything when she arrives?

I have no idea what our houserules might be as we're generally pretty relaxed and everything I think of seems to just be common sense, ie no loud music / loud socialising upstairs after the ds are in bed.

She's 20 so it seems a bit bizarre to be putting a curfew on her as I would assume that having had a ft job since leaving school she realises that to be up and working at 7am she needs some sleep.

Any help or advice for a 1st time AP employer very welcome.

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Original poster
DrEvil · 16/06/2009 21:44

Thanks for the input. It's really helpful.

A friend I was chatting to today says they they always start off by saying the ap is not allowed friends over in the evening. To me this seems a little unfair but I'd also be keen to hear opinions on this as I want to balance her comfort with ours.

We have a 3 bed end terrace so no separate wing for ap! She will have quite a mini bedroom but we do have a living room, dining room and a conservatory. Surely the girl will want to have friends round sometimes?

OP posts:
DadInsteadofMum · 16/06/2009 18:51

A curfew, I don't think you thats practical - I just ask whether or not they will be home, and if they are in after I have gone to bed then please make sure they lock up when they get in.

I am fairly relaxed on house rules, just a clear understanding that they have to consider everybody else in the house and that we have to respect their privacy when appropriate.

That and lots of talking in the first few weeks so if either side is doing something that annoys the other they tell early before it builds up and emphasising that it should be a genuine two way dialogue.

Millarkie · 16/06/2009 09:18

We don't do curfews either - my feeling is that it's up to them to make sure they are up and able to work at 7am and if they go back to bed in the middle of the day I don't care
I do try to emphasise security (close windows/lock doors/switch on alarm when leaving house) because our contents insurance only covers us if there is evidence of a break in (because we have a 'stranger' living in the house).

In our 'pack' we have:

  • list of important phone numbers - our mobiles/work/nhs direct/AMBULANCE dial 999/doctors/school/grandparents/people with spare keys to house and addresses for some of these.
-safety info about the house - location of fire extinguisher/fire blankets. main fuse for electrics, water stopcock, LPG cylinders - how to work washing machine, cooker, etc - where things are kept - craft stuff, puzzles, games, computers (and passwords) - children's routines, parent's routines. hours of duty for AP - info on children's allergies/diet - suggestions for snacks to feed children (and simple meals if AP is going to prepare some) and our philosophy on food - we eat everything except fast food, fizzy drinks and chewy gelatine containing sweets, but we try to eat lots of different colour food every day and keep sweets for treats. - ideas for things to do with kids - puzzles, games, bike rides, football, singing and dancing, reading And we provide a folder of information for the AP's entertainment, so a map of village and local walks,map of local town, map of local city, A-Z of London, train time table, bus timetables, info on free touristy things to do locally, info on nearest cinemas, gym, pool opening hours, and (if we haven't already sorted it out) info on the different English courses. I think that's all.

In their rooms I put a dressing gown, (usually get them slippers once I know what size their feet are - we have cold wood floors), new towels (our APs destroy their towels within a couple of months!) and generally something little like some nice showergel/flowers/chocolates. Their room is a bit like a student bed-sit with en-suite shower/loo, tv/computer and hairdryer,rack to dry washing on, laundry basket, etc so they can be as self-sufficient as possible.