Our Safety Approach

1. Verified Contact Point (Systematic)

Every profile relies on a verified contact point from registration: verified email address or Google-connected phone. This ensures every member is reachable and prevents inactive or ghost profiles. This step is systematic and non-optional.

2. Voluntary KYC Certification (VIP Members)

KYC certification is a service offered to VIP members on a strictly voluntary basis without obligation. Members can have the following verified:

• Identity: official ID verification via Stripe Identity (OCR, document checks, and liveness detection to ensure document authenticity and match with the applicant).
• Proof of Address: recent official address document (utility bill, bank statement, tax notice, etc.).
• Criminal Record Check: depending on the country, through official administrative procedures.

Once all checks are validated, the profile receives the "Certified" badge, which is displayed publicly only after KYC completion. Certified profiles receive higher visibility, but members are never forced to undergo voluntary checks.

3. Compliance & Safety: the US federal framework (22 CFR § 62.31)

For placements in the United States, the au pair route sits inside the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The controlling federal rule is 22 CFR § 62.31, which we translate directly into our screening expectations. The key requirements are:

• Hours: childcare capped at 10 hours a day and 45 hours a week in the standard programme, and 30 hours a week in the EduCare programme (22 CFR § 62.31(c)(2) and (j)(2)).
• Private room: a host family may not be designated unless it can provide the au pair with a suitable private bedroom (22 CFR § 62.31(e)(6)). Board (meals) and a study space are part of the standard J-1 au pair placement and are set by contract with the sponsor, but they are not stated as a distinct federal obligation in § 62.31 itself.
• Stipend: there is no federal minimum. The weekly stipend is based on a 45-hour week and compliant with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and is fixed by contract with the designated sponsor. EduCare is set at 75% of the standard rate.
• Mandatory screening: the au pair must pass a background investigation covering school verification, three non-family personal and employment references, a criminal background check and a personality (psychometric) profile (22 CFR § 62.31(d)(6)); host parents and other adults living full-time in the household must also pass a background investigation with employment and personal character references (22 CFR § 62.31(h)(4)).
• Insurance: medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness, plus repatriation of remains ($25,000) and medical evacuation ($50,000), with deductibles not exceeding $500 — required under 22 CFR § 62.14(b).

Because the J-1 route legally requires a designated sponsor, the programme and sponsor formalities — and the screening above — are structural, not optional, when you host an au pair in the US.

Sources: eCFR — 22 CFR § 62.31 (Au pairs), eCFR — 22 CFR § 62.14 (Insurance), US Department of State — BridgeUSA au pair programme.

4. KYC Verification vs Manual Agencies

Both approaches aim to reduce risk. The difference lies in what is verified, by what method, and how the result is bounded and dated. The matrix below sets out the comparison honestly — verification tools reduce risk, they do not eliminate it.

5. Authentication Checklist Before You Commit

Verification lowers risk, but the final decision is yours. Run through this checklist before confirming a match or sharing direct contact information:

• Confirm the profile has a verified contact point, and check whether it carries the public "Certified" badge.
• Hold an integrated in-app video call and check that the person matches the identity on the profile.
• Ask for the original documents where the country requires them (visa, insurance, criminal record).
• Confirm the contractual terms in writing: hours, pocket money or stipend, board and lodging, and the notice period.
• Confirm the sponsor or agency where the route legally requires one (for example the J-1 designated sponsor in the US).
• Never send money outside the platform's official payment channels.
• Report any suspicious profile or request to our team at hello@aupairconnect.app.

Privacy & GDPR Compliance

In accordance with GDPR Article 9, the platform never stores raw criminal record details. Only the validation status (CLEAR, FLAGGED or INCONCLUSIVE) and timestamp are recorded. Sensitive documents remain solely within authorized identity verification partners under GDPR-compliant Data Processing Agreements.

7. Frequently Asked Questions