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.

Dungeondragon15 - there are no loopholes to exploit au pairs - they are meant to work for 25 hours a week and get paid a minimum of £100 (though most families I know pay a lot more) - there are rules - it's British people who exploit those rules and make them into a do it all for their house - child care - cleaner - babysitter etc...... That's got nothing to do with how rules might change under Brexit and everything to do with human nature and selfish people exploiting young girls who want to travel and it's a disgrace.

Sorry I can’t post any more, need to get my 4 year old ready to come to a night shift in Wormwood Scrubs 🙄

So on the 29th of March all Europeans who are already here suddenly have a two year timer started. If they fill in the right to remain form within that time they will stay if they don’t then they will be at risk of deportation same as someone from outside Europe who is here on a visa 🤷‍♀️ Immigration is still going to happen as it always has it just will be a slightly different way! The media is throwing around a lot of misinformation with brexit and it’s causing a panic which is exactly what they want but no one knows what life will be like in two months time but we will find out!

Don't the doom-merchants realise that the people responsible for this type of scaremongering are Remainers? No mainstream Leaver has ever made any statement about BANNING immigration or STOPPING immigration; just CONTROLLING it, so where there's a need, people will be able to come from the rest of the world and work, with a visa, just as if any of you went to work anywhere else in the world. Remainers WANT to put the fear of God into EU citizens because it provides ammunition for them to use in any further referendum campaign. I know of a German surgeon who is worried about his status which is worrying as well as daft. Any such individual is obviously doing a vital job and so their future is secure. It isn't in the MSM's interests to make this clear as they are almost exclusively anti-Brexit, and nor has it been emphasised enough by Government because they are mainly Remainers. It is shameless propaganda and the authors of it know full well that their sometimes ludicrous claims will be passed on as "gospel" by worried Remain voters from 2016.

Foramen
So you are happy that after Brexit the number of immigrants will be the same if not higher?

What exactly do you think is scaremongering here foramen? Because OP is quite correct to point out that there's no provision for EU nationals to come to the UK to work as au pairs, as things stand.

As for shameless propaganda about those already here, the Home Office making a habit of telling EU nationals and their families who are already here that they need to go home has rather a lot to do with it. Take it from someone who's been approached for assistance more than once after letters were sent out. Or after people realised they weren't actually here legally when they'd thought they were and been treated as though they were for many years. The conditions of the settled status scheme were only announced fairly recently, and it's HO not the media who are responsible for the fact that many people were worried they would be removed because of the delay in reassuring those who were self sufficient with no health insurance.

Personally I'm a lot more worried about the shortage of seasonal agricultural labour.

To those who are saying that au pairs aren't only for the wealthy - what planet are you living on?! One where every child has a room of its own and a spare with an en-suite just in case. If you have the latter you lead a pretty privileged life compared to most.

Has it changed?
When I was an aupair we were required 15 hours.
Over that it was called mother's help or smth and it was obviously better pocket money.

@Foramen Fear not, we in Scotland are already setting about overseas recruitment of nurses as part of our emergency action now that the numbers are precariously low due amongst other factors to a large exodus of EU staff for reasons you canI'm sure guess. Some research across NHS facilities in the UK revealed that there was a link between Brexit and dangerous depletion if staff numbers in many NHS regions.
I really don't see the logic of this whole sorry affair. Was the primary aim to send friends and family fro abroad back to their original homes with a sore heart and to ensure a good number of broken hearts here? I can see no other effect except in the matter of economic uncertainty.

The UK allowed au pairs before the EU no borders policy. In the 60s Swedish au pairs flooded the market. USA, Australians also came. They were not allowed to stay and I think had a limited time contract as an au pair. Probably need to apply for permission but can't think of it being a problem. Is the aim of an au pair still considered to be someone wishing to learn English whilst living and helping in a British household.

manic
But after Brexit they will not be allowed in unless they are earning £30k under the Uk's visa rules .....

Dear god. There are plenty of people from round the world who would work as au pairs. This is hardly some end of the world problem 🤦🏼‍♀️

The UK allowed au pairs before the EU no borders policy

FFS, not another one who thinks we can just turn back the clock and pretend that the last 43 years never happened. As Dalia explained upthread:

Pre-EU there was a specific visa for au pairs. That doesn't exist any more AFAIK - it changed and now there is the youth mobility tier 5 visa scheme which is open to young people from citizen of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea or Taiwan. And...that's it. The assumption became that European young people would just come here through freedom of movement.

The government would need to expand the tier 5 youth mobility scheme or come up with new legislation which won't happen automatically. I imagine they will do in time, but in the short term, yeah, there will probably be a significant shortage of au pairs

manicmij - it is but I can’t imagine many Australians or Americans come to learn the language so let’s call a spade a spade.

I am British, and I have been an au pair in the UK. It didn't work out, but for different reasons.

Tofty
They may want to be au pairs, but unless they are going to be paid over £30k, the UK's visa laws will not let them in

There does exist current provision for some people to come to the UK and work in this type of role, sometimes along studies, so it's not necessarily the case that they'll definitely have to earn 30k. It's just that there would need to be specific legislative provision made to include EU nationals in this, provision that so far hasn't been confirmed. If it was, then there'd be no need to earn 30k.

But yes, thinking this is about a shortage of people who'd want to do it rather than a lack of legal provision completely misses the point and shows a failure to RTFT. And the fact that it's not exactly one of the most important issues facing our society at the moment is, if anything, more of a reason for people who think it's important to be aware of the legal situation, and make their voices heard. The extension of the Tier 5 Youth Mobility scheme isn't likely to be a policy priority otherwise. When you say how minor this is in the grand scheme of things, you actually kind of make OPs point for her.

But after Brexit they will not be allowed in unless they are earning £30k under the Uk's visa rules

Not true and in any event that law won't come into effect until, I think, 2025. It hasn't even gone through parliament yet.

If you are worried about this please don't listen to strangers on the internet, go to the government website and look for accurate (as far as it is possible to give accurate info at the moment) information.

Au pairs will be allowed and they will not be deported. Please stop the scaremongering (and I voted remain).

Not true and in any event that law won't come into effect until, I think, 2025. It hasn't even gone through parliament yet.
What are you talking about?
The Visa rules are here
www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Au pairs will be allowed and they will not be deported
Link to most recent visa rules for Au Pairs
www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-4-work-experience
updated 1st February 2019

I am a single mum and aupairs have been a life saver for me for the last 5 years. I've seen aupair interest dried up in the recent years due to Brexit. I am currently on what is meant to be my last aupair (my older DC is off to secondary school next September), but I do worry about aupair status for those who will need them after Brexit. Chances are, some legislation is going to be sorted for aupairs to be able to stay and work, as it was long years ago before EU. In any case UK is not so attractive for aupairs anymore which is a shame.

And it is by no means a middle class luxury as someone has said! It is just a survival tool for those who have no family around (and live on one salary like me).

Au pairs appear to be having a ball in London