Hello, I am looking for some advice. I am an English nanny with over 5 years experience working with children as well as an NVQ (qualification) in children's care learning and development. I am currently working in Europe as a live in nanny, but i am looking to move to the US later on in the year or early 2012.I wanted to know if anybody knows anything about English nannies working in America? Where can i look, what qualification's do i need, what is the average pay packet, do i need to drive (as i don't currently) etc? All information would be appreciated as i really don't know where to start!!
Well, a lot depends on where you want to live here in the US. NYC is not, from what I understand, somewhere that you'd need to be able to drive, but LA, Atlanta, Dallas, and other major metro areas absolutely require driving.
ReplyDeleteI will gladly list some of the high end agencies for you later today (about to host a Pampered Chef Party right now, so no time!), and I would definitely suggest you use an agency. As a British Nanny, you'll appeal to a lot of high end families, if that is the sort of situation you are looking for. (And just out of curiousity, what is an NVQ? Is it related to Norland?)
Why use an agency? Besides the fact that higher end families still generally rely on agencies, IMO you need the help and protection of an agency that is reputable and willing to look out for your interests, since you are coming here without knowing what to expect from American families.
Pay varies tremendously based on location, education, experience, and what you are willing to do in your role as nanny. There is no real gauge, but you might look at nanny.org, the International Nanny Association website, and find their recent Salary Survey to get some idea of what you might expect.
I'll add that agency list later, unless MPP would rather I not do so?
Nanny Deb
I would imagine the biggest barrier would be a work visa. If you are 18-26yo you can work as an au pair (not ideal, but you would have your pick of families). I am not familiar with other visa options for nannies, but have been told it has become quite difficult.
ReplyDeleteNYC is the place if you don't want to drive. You can manage not driving in Boston or SF proper too, but probably not many other places.
Tales from the (Nanny)Hood,
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcome to leave links to others sites. I knew putting this question up some outside info would be necessary. Others might be able to use it, also.
Thanks for your help!
I agree, and say that NYC would be a great choice. I am a nanny here, and every other nanny friend I have is British!
ReplyDeleteOops, English not British! Hope you aren't offended..my boyfriend was born and raised in London, and he always gets annoyed when I confuse the two!
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree that getting a work visa would be the problem if you intent to be here legal.
ReplyDeleteIs your husband american? Can you find a job with diplomats? Thats how I stayed here legally until I won my green card.
You can probably find a family that doesn't care for legal statuses but those usually don't pay good or won't treat you well.
I think being English you may feel comfortable working in Boston, MA for a bit. You will not need a drivers license, the "T" will get you where ever you need to go. I know of a few English nannies that have worked in my area on and off over the past few years.
ReplyDeleteVisit beaconhillnannies.com and fill out an application. They are THE top of the line agency in Boston (OK technically Newton)
They are located at
825 Beacon Street, Suite 19
Newton, MA 02459 if you are visiting first.
Aww thank you all so much for the comments (english or British! very proud to be after the wedding!!)
ReplyDeleteI have thought a lot about new york and boston, so i will have a look into it some more. I'm not sure how a visa would work, i know i should be able to get at least a 6month working visa, but i'd have too see how that goes as i really don't want to work illegally. Many thanks for all your responses so far:)
Chicago may also be a good place for you too. In the city, you can travel by Metra to most places, and there are lots of kid friendly places. I am planning to move to Chicago after I graduate, since the nanny market here (Madison, WI) is only friendly toward UW-students and grads. (If you don't attend UW-Madison or didn't graduate from there, you don't get job offers) I know agencies in Chicago will match you with a family that lives near you to avoid the ridiculous rush hour mosh pit that occurs on Chicago freeways.
ReplyDeleteFirst Class Care and Nanny Boutique seem like great agencies in Chicago
I didn't even think of the visa issues! You might get some info from the following agencies on that though!
ReplyDeleteOf course your other option would be coming in as an au pair, but IDK if you'd consider that?
Or, if there is a family in England that is planning to come and live in the US for an extended period of time, working for them would accomplish your goal!
In any case, here is a list of Agencies that, based on what I have heard or experienced, are absolutely top notch:
Aunt Ann's In House Staffing
San Francisco, CA
http://www.inhousestaffing.com
Town & Country Resources
Palo Alto, CA
www.tandcr.com
The Lindquist Group
Palm Beach, FL
www.thelindquistgroup.com
American Nanny Company, Inc.
Newtonville, MA
www.americannannycompany.com
Beacon Hill Nannies, Inc.
Newton, MA
www.beaconhillnannies.com
White House Nannies, Inc.
Bethesda, MD
www.whitehousenannies.com
The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc.
Ardmore, PA
www.nannyagency.com
Morningside Nannies
Houston, TX
www.morningsidenannies.com
The Katie Facey Agency
Greenwich, CT
http://www.katiefaceyagency.com/
Hope this helps, and that you keep up updated on your search and what you decide to do!
Nanny Deb
Ahh thank you so much Nanny Deb! I shall be contacting all these ages over the next week! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOne to NOT consider in NYC - Celebrities Staffing. They are THE most unprofessional people I have EVER dealt with in ANY job search in my life! Even one of my references that they called asked why I would deal with them. Pavillion Agency in NYC is a good one, too.
ReplyDeleteOP have you ever thought of getting a sponsor? If you find a family who loves you and their children do as well, then perhaps they can sponsor you and you can live in the U.S. longer. Also, if you plan on moving to California, you will most def need a valid Driver's License since no one in California survives without a personal vehicle. Public transportation here is not functional and every one in the state drives.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck in your search and I think your "British Nanny" title will earn you much interest from the best families.
OP, I googled, and found the following:
ReplyDelete(http://www.visalaw.com/05aug3/2aug305.html)
If a nanny would like to come to the US to work with a family coming to the US on a work visa, the nanny may be able to work on a B-1 visa. Under Section 41.31 of the Foreign Affairs manual, personal or domestic servants who accompany or follow to join employers entering the US in B, E, F, H, I, J, L or M nonimmigrants may enter the US if
1. The employee has a residence abroad which he or she has no intention of abandoning (notwithstanding the fact that the employer may be in a non immigrant status which does not require such a showing);
2. The employee can demonstrate at least one year’s experience as a personal or domestic servant, and
3. The employee has been employed abroad by the employer as a personal or domestic servant, for at least one year prior to the date of the employer’s admission to the United States; or
4. If the employee-employer relationship existed immediately prior to the time of visa application, the employer can demonstrate that he or she has regularly employed (either year-round or seasonally) personal or domestic servants over a period of several years preceding the domestic servant’s visa application for a nonimmigrant B-1 visa.
5. The employer and the employee have signed an employment contract which contains statements that the employer guarantees the employee the minimum or prevailing wages, whichever is greater, and free room and board and will be the only provider of employment to the servant41.31 N6.3-4 Servants of Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).
and
Can a Nanny apply for an employment-based immigrant visa?
Yes, an employer can now apply to sponsor an alien as a Nanny or Nanny/Household Manager, under the EB3 employment- based immigrant visa. The new PERM regime now classifies the occupation of “Nanny” as a “Skilled Worker” instead of the previous classification of “Other Worker.” The newly defined classification, gives way for favorable treatment by the USCIS as the Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range for the occupation of Nanny is now 6.0<7.0. This means this occupation now requires training in vocation schools, relevant work experience, and/or an associates’ degree under PERM. Some positions may even require a bachelor’s degree. A Nanny’s duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Ability to perform CPR and first aid.
· Preparation and planning of meals
· Transportation of children
· Regulation of child’s rest periods.
· Participation in regular meetings with parents to discuss child activities and development.
· Child instruction on safe behaviors such as crossing the street with an adult and avoiding dangerous objects.
· Organization and implementation of age-appropriate activities for children.
· Observation of child’s behavior for irregularities such taking child’s temperature, transporting child to the doctor, maintaining child’s health.
· Performance as a role model of appropriate social behaviors and the cultivation of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
· Participation in the implementation of discipline programs to promote desirable behaviors in the child.
· Observation and development of family schedule.
Note that high demand in the EB-3 category has caused a backlog of applications and potentially long waits for green cards.
Reese, I agree that getting a sponsor is a great idea. But if a family were to sponsor this nanny, they would need to show that they make a great income and that they are willing to support this nanny if she cannot for the next ten years. The nanny cannot get any type of government assistance in the next ten years including food stamps, disability, unemployment, financial aid for school, etc. There is a lot of paperwork involved and the nanny must pass an interview at the embassy in her native country. If a family chose to do this for their nanny, this would be an awesome thing to do and I would commend them.
ReplyDeleteTales,
ReplyDeleteIs this a new visa status? I thought the US pretty much got rid of employer-sponsored nanny citizenship in about 2002?
nycmom, I couldn't find a date on the writings on the link provided.
ReplyDeleteWRT the first quote, the employee (nanny) is n ot allowed to give up her home in her native country - she's simply coming into the US with her employers when THEY come in to work for a short time.
WRT the second quote, I found a link dated 12/2010 which seems to basically say that it's extremely tough to manage to attain an EB3 visa, although they have apparently tightened educational requirements for people seeking EB3 status as a nanny.
http://immigration.lawyers.com/blogs/archives/10599-Continued-Retrogression-for-EB-3-Employment-Based-Immigrant-Visas-Why.html
Frankly, the legalese gives me an enormous headache, and I would think OP will need to not only have the help of a terrific agency but also a good immigration lawyer to come here without a job lined up.
As I said above, her best shot may be finding work with a family that is coming here to the US for the parent(s) job(s) and entering the country temporarily with them.
In other words, IDK????
Just wanted to add:
ReplyDeleteI do think that entering the country as an au pair (which is the only way a "sponsor" seems to be useful) is possible, but IDk how happy OP would be as an au pair, and I don't know how well au pairs are treated, generally speaking, in NYC or other big cities.
OP might not be able to take the pay cut to be an au pair anyhow.
I think to be an "au-pair" you cannot be older than 26, but I may be wrong. Also in my area, the "au-pairs" make waay less $$ cash money than a regular live-in nanny does.
ReplyDeletetry care.com, for jobs in many american cities! I would highly recommend Boston, also many famiies will pay you under the table without a visa and many of them will pay excellent rates and treat you well, but its best to do things the right way and excellent references are a must! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteand I should add, be prepared for a major paycut if you decide to go the au pair route!
Just want to point out that Care(less).com allows "nanny" jobs to be posted for $5 per hour. Their excuse (as best as I can tell!) is that since some few people search for high school age sitters through their site they don't have to comply with minimum wager laws at all in any of their job areas.
ReplyDeleteAnd their claim of "screening" people is true in a minimalistic ask 10 questions over the phone kind of way.
Not a good choice for nannies or parents, IMO.
Hi there
ReplyDeleteI am a qualified british nanny and have been working in NYC for just over 4 years now. I came over on an au pair visa (J1) in 2007 and worked for a family in the city. I went through an agency called Peekaboo in London, I was what`s known as a 'pre match', so I found the US family on my own, then went through the agency to get the paperwork done. I renewed my J1 once, so i had it for 2 years in all. After I could not renew it again (I was too old at that point, and I may be wrong but i think you can only renew it once anyway). I found a job through a friend who was leaving her position. I now work for a British family who came over on I and O visas so they were able to get me a B1 visa based on that. I am now on my 3rd B1 visa, however the family just got their green cards, and want to sponsor me, but it is very confusing, and really difficult. I saw an attorney at the immigration advocacy service in Queens, but he didn't seem to know much about qualified nanny rights. Anyway, just found an attorney in Mississippi, who apparently is experienced in working to get green cards for nannies....we`ll see!.
All in all it is not impossible just make sure that you really want to be here, and that the family you work for is nice - it makes a huge difference!. Good Luck.