If you are going to be an Au Pair in France for a short term program (less than 90-days) you will not need a Visa. Just like our volunteer abroad program, Conversation Corps-France, you are fine with a tourist visa.
If you are going to stay in France longer than 90-days, you will need a student visa, because you will be required to take courses or French language classes.
Your U.S. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your stay. After GeoVisions places you with a family, you will need to obtain a Long-Stay Au Pair Visa before entering France. The French Ministry of Labor requires au pairs to take language courses while in France.
You may be wondering how you go about doing that? The family who hires you as their Au Pair will assist you in enrolling in classes, and the school will send you a Pre-Enrollment Certificate. (You can decide on hours and level once you arrive in France.)
Nest step, GeoVisions will then send you the Pre-Enrollment Certificate and an approved Accord de Placement. The Accord de Placement is the contract of your engagement as an au pair. Your family will obtain its approval from the French Ministry of Labor once you and the family have agreed on the placement. As soon as you have received these documents from GeoVisions, you will need to send or bring them to the nearest French consulate or embassy, along with your valid passport, completed visa application form, and a copy of your most recent diploma.
Do not leave the US before obtaining this visa! The fee for the visa is approximately $125.
When you arrive in France, you will need to obtain a residential permit from the local police authorities. Details on how to obtain this permit will be given to you from our office in Paris.