To ask if you realise au-pairs are seriously under threat after Brexit?

[Dontblameitontheboogie]

On another thread discussing a potential au-pair who would be starting this summer, I was struck that not a single poster pointed out that it’s far from certain au-pairs will be able to arrive or even stay after 29 March!?!

I thought this deserved its own thread, and in AIBU rather than the “Brexit” echo chamber. People may not even realise they could be affected.

Even in a “Deal” scenario, au-pair status isn’t guaranteed, as far as I know. They won’t qualify for pre-settled status, as they’re here temporarily and won’t be able to provide proof of ordinary residence. So technically they could be here illegally from 29 March. Access to health care would be a worry, as would re-entering the UK after trips home - or getting here in the first place.

The current au pair scheme is an EU-wide arrangement, that allows young EU nationals to temporarily live in another EU country without exercising Treaty rights. Some countries, like France or Germany extend the scheme to au-pairs from outside the EU too, but the U.K. doesn’t.

In case of a no deal Brexit, the Immigration Bill that was passed last Monday means that EU citizens wishing to come here must have a job offer worth at least £30,000k. Some exceptions I believe, such as nurses and doctors, but I haven’t seen any mention of au pairs anywhere.

Check out www.saveaupairs.uk for more info.

Au-pairs aren't all from the EU at the moment though so I suppose that in the event of a no deal Brexit they will have to apply under the scheme the non-EU au pairs use at the moment.

It's a luxury to have childcare so you can work? Well, that's a luxury that's pretty universal on here, then.

For those sneering about people who employ au pairs, I know quite a few doctors who do this. They need someone to be in the house if they are on call and have to leave in the middle of the night. Not a luxury at all.

@Dungeondragon15 there's a specific scheme for au pairs from certain commonwealth countries. So EU nationals won't be able to apply under that.

There are immigration laws that currently allow some non-EU nationals to work as au pairs, the point is that they don't include EU nationals now and we don't know if they will be changed or not.

Au-pairs aren't all from the EU at the moment though so I suppose that in the event of a no deal Brexit they will have to apply under the scheme the non-EU au pairs use at the moment.

They won't be eligible. Non-EU au pairs are only eligible to enter the country under the tier 5 youth mobility scheme which is only open to nationals of certain countries - Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan or
British overseas citizens.

oliversmum- that sounds a very dodgy option. Not likely to satisfy HMRC that they're au pairs not employees. The au pair scheme is something distinct. Having a British young adult living with you as an unqualified nanny, yet not paying them minimum wage, is dodgy

So it is ok to have an unqualified person from overseas coming to live in your house to look after your children but not a British person and I doubt overseas “au pairs” are paid minimum wage

You seem to have projected a huge amount on my short post.

I am interested to know how you think you know what friend was paying her “au pairs” or what my friend told the HMRC.

They won't be eligible. Non-EU au pairs are only eligible to enter the country under the tier 5 youth mobility scheme which is only open to nationals of certain countries - Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan or
British overseas citizens.

Yes, I know they won't be eligible at the moment. My point is that there is a system in place for some non EU countries and it could therefore be extended to EU countries.

They won't be eligible. Non-EU au pairs are only eligible to enter the country under the tier 5 youth mobility scheme which is only open to nationals of certain countries - Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan or
British overseas citizens.*

Yes, I know they won't be eligible at the moment. My point is that there is a system in place for some non EU countries and it could therefore be extended to EU countries.

Yes, I know they won't be eligible at the moment. My point is that there is a system in place for some non EU countries and it could therefore be extended to EU countries.

I’m sure it will, eventually. But like everything else, that will take time. And as people have pointed out, there are many more pressing concerns. So anyone currently here as an au pair, or planning to come by the summer, could be in trouble. Just worth checking, is all.

I’m sure it will, eventually. But like everything else, that will take time. And as people have pointed out, there are many more pressing concerns. So anyone currently here as an au pair, or planning to come by the summer, could be in trouble. Just worth checking, is all.

There will be more pressing concerns than sorting out visas for them. I doubt that people who are currently here as an au pair would be told to leave while it is being sorted though. I agree that it could be a problem for anyone planning to come though.

Mighty and others: they are clearly a luxury. You need to have a spare room and enough space to host an extra adult in the household in order to have an au pair.

If you have the space then yes, the extra outlay is not great.

I have nothing against au pairs, but you must realize that this kind of extra space is a luxury. I am not attacking you by saying so.

There will be more pressing concerns than sorting out visas for them. I doubt that people who are currently here as an au pair would be told to leave while it is being sorted though.

Given the UK's recent track record and reputation for how it can turn on people who arrive here entirely legally and are suddenly deemed to have fallen foul of the system, I don't know how many people would be willing to risk that.

Dungeondragon15 they may not be asked to leave, but what if they need emergency healthcare?

So wait, all these people using au pairs for shift work and therefore overnight are doing so illegally?

I doubt that people who are currently here as an au pair would be told to leave while it is being sorted though.

HO are always incorrectly telling people who actually have the right to be in the UK to leave, including at least two British citizens that I'm aware of, so I think that optimism is somewhat misplaced. This is what happens when you outsource things to Capita.

So wait, all these people using au pairs for shift work and therefore overnight are doing so illegally? absolutely not.

I was an au pair in Europe before the EU existed.
Also, not all au pairs are European/from the EU.
We had Slovak and Polish au pairs before Slovakia and Poland joined the EU. I know Australian and Canadian au pairs.

Umm a childminder isn't a luxury, but an au pair absolutely is!

Au pairs are cheaper than childminders and nurseries.

Herat yes but we've established that you need an extra bedroom (which could be seen as a luxury) and need to be on a decent income to begin with, in order to be able to pay for childcare without tax credits.

This is obviously a real dividing issue, but the reality is very few working class families have au pairs. It's almost exclusively a middle class thing.

Au pairs are cheaper than childminders and nurseries

But you don't need additional space in your house to accommodate them ...that's the luxury bit!

@KatherinaMinola some people are space rich but have no spare cash for a nanny. I.e. I have a spare bedroom but could not afford to pay for an extra space at nursery if we had another kid (and downsizing would only save £200pm probably). So in those circumstances an au pair would be affordable where a nanny/nursery place wouldn't.

Of course some people have neither. But having enough space for an au pair being a luxury is the same as having enough money for nursery being a luxury.

Also lots of hosts make their children share bedrooms to create the extra space needed for an au pair.

I am only in a three bed. My kids are sharing so that we can have an au pair. Young kids don't need their own room.

Some people only have two rooms though

Sure, I understand that, ID and cant. But for plenty of people, kids sharing a room is the norm - it's not a case of budging up for the au pair.

It is the "of course some people have neither" that I'm commenting on.