AP Youth mobility Visa

[DrEvil]

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.

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.

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.

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?

Mine have never had friends over in the evenings - -but they do like to have friends from home visit and stay for a few days. This week our AP has her boyfriend visiting for a few days - a lot of AP host families would not allow that. The APs tend to meet up with the other APs in coffee shops or the gym in the day and in pubs/cinema at the evening. There was an AP nearby who had a self-contained flat and she would occasionally host sleepovers/dvd evenings.
This may be because we live in a village and the other APs are scattered over a large distance though.

Remember, depending on whereabouts in Oz she's from you might think it's a hot Summer's day, she might be freezing! Have some extra bedding on hand.

We are remote as are a lot of other local APs (inc Millarkie) they all meet up in town (and occasionally crash their with some other porr family) have had friends from home to stay, but I say not until they have settled in.

Lol at SunnyD's extra bedding. Australia or not APs seem to be cold, current one will be putting on jumpers whilst I am wandering around in a Tshirt and she's Dutch!

"...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"

I have found it is wise to write down the things you think are common sense.

Things like:
It is not okay to have sex on my living room floor even if I am at work.
Please lock the house when you are the last one to leave it.
Please turn lights and computer off when you go on holiday for two weeks.
Please don't do the ironing in your skimpy clothes which reveal your clevage and your butt cheecks just inside the front door with the front door wide open so you can show all the neighbors what exactly you have to offer.

These are all things that have either happened in my house or I have read on here. "Common sense" I find is not universal.

athene you have just made me laugh so much!!

I would rephrase AN's first house rule to include all other shared rooms of the house particularly on brand new rugs

How about:
It is not ok to rearrange my furniture or create sculptures in the garden using firewood.
If you are told that food is for the children's school lunches this is not an invitation to eat it all now.

Okay, you lot are the experts

So you think it would be prudent to include:

1. If you are chilly put on a jumper don't heat the house to 50 degrees
2. No shagging in the public areas
3. Wear clothes that cover both tits and arse
4. Feck off out to be social (I am both miserable and an old boot)
5. Remember to lock door/ switch lights off
6. Fromage frais are never for you.

I was also thinking maybe a welcome gift of Rolf Harris' greatest hits and a woolly poncho...

I think I would phrase 1 more like "If you meddle with the heating 1- you will find the bill on your desk and 2- I will have to walk round butt naked dripping with sweat and trust me you don't want to look at my hairy arse.!

DrEvil - I like your list but I wouldn't wish Rolf Harris even on current AP.
How about - if your family are going to use the house phone to ring you on (rather than skype direct to your headset) teach them to say 'hello, can I speak to X please' rather than silence and then embarrassed giggling?

Someone mentioned about APs having expensive accidents with household equipment so I'll also be adding a large laminated sign above the front door saying 'All breakages must be paid for' a la those old granny ornament shoppe places.

I do hope my little rules aren't getting too unreasonable.

Oh, there was a thread once about an au pair who stunk because she never showered. SO you want want to ask her to keep on top oof her person hygeine.

So, adding to my little book of eminently reasonable rules;

Please remember to wash regularly and deodorise, you have free access to the washing machine.

And after hearing another story today,

Please do not feel free to try and seduce my dh, although he is a friendly chap he is not part of the pay and benefits package.

I really feel as if, with all the help of you good ladies, my career as an AP host is going to get off to a swimming start.

Ps: ok then, I'll treat the poor girl to Craig McLaughlan's Greatest Hits, 'Heeeeeeeyyy Mona ...'

Sorry Dadinsteadofmum, all you lovely ladies and gentlemen

thank you

:DDD love your rules!

Incidentally should anybody be interested latest AOP - arrived last week on a Youth Mobility Visa (Canadian). No problems getting the visa and sailed through immigration at Heathrow - so that all apears to be working OK.

AOP = AP truly a fat finger error.

Glad she's arrive ok DIOM, hope she's settling in well. Ours arrives next Saturday.

All is well - she seems to have a cleaning obsession - but this I can live with

...the last diet coke...

Never forget the last diet coke rule, or it'll end in tears.

LOl at Squiffy, I have the Last Diet Coke rule at my bosses house too - except it applies to them not drinking MY last DC! Usually they don't drink caffeinated stuff other than coffee so I get a 6 pack of DCs in the fridge for my consumption. Every now and then (usually after a night out) MB or DB might help themselves and woe betide if it's my last one, DC is my sole remaining sin and I am not a nice person if I go to the fridge and there isn't one there!!!!!

OMG, mananny, there would be a war over Diet Coke in the house if you worked for me.