au pair visa help!

[LeilaL]

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction because Mr Google is not helping...

I have met a Brazilian girl studying here who would like to continue her studies. She would make an ideal au pair. Her current visa expires in the autumn.

When I looked up Au Pair Visa UK, it appeared that the au pair visa route had closed and that the only option is something called youth mobility tier 5 which in any case is only applicable to certain countries, not including Brazil.

I am really confused now. Surely non-EU nationals can work in the UK as au pairs, especially if they have a family ready to support them?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

I think it's all changed, I think they can only if they are studying, something like that.
Someone in the know will tell you

Nope, don't know of any way for a Brazilian national to work in the UK.

Youth Mobility Scheme
EEA Note: Special arrangements for Bulgarian or Romanian National

It seems that she might qualify on a tier four student visa... but that would only allow her to work ten hours a week. Does being an au pair count as work? Not being facetious, it's just that I've seen several references to au pairs not being employees and the au pair set up being more like a cultural exchange. In other words, it's babysitting in exchange for board and lodging and a bit of pocket money. Is that work?

Yes, there has been lots of discussion about that recently. Au-Pair is considered to be a Worker.

So for Employment Law purposes, presume they are an employee. For tax purposes you would not need to operate PAYE, as pocket money would be usually below the threshold - as long as they don't have any other income.

Tier 4 is not a suggested route. Who would be the sponsor (has to be an educational establishment which has a Tier 4 licence)? Would she have the required funds £7200 if in London, plus the course fees. Plus £145 application fee for the visa (if applying from abroad). Course fees could be £18-£22k (see AbbeyLondon Fee Calculator)

Shall we call it £29-30k... does your prospective au-pair have that sort of money available? I highly doubt it.