Print from your Cultural Care Au Pair account the following:

Social Security Letter

Letter of Good Standing

Bring your DS2019 form

Your Passport

Fill out application at the SS office.

Go to any social security office and apply. The closest one is 50 Prospect St. in Waltham (closer for Newton) There is also one in Norwood (closer for Needham). They are open M-F 9-5pm. Again, bring all your identification documents.  There are SS offices located in Boston (Tip O’Neil Bldg.)

You NEED to WAIT at least 2 weeks after arrival until you are in the system to get a SS #. You are tracked by SEVIS, student exchange visitor information system. You will need to fill out an application form once you are at the office so bring a pen or fill out the form before you go. You may download one online.

After the process is complete your card should arrive within 3 weeks. The card that  you will receive is a non working social security card. The stamp should say” not valid without homeland security authorization”

German au pairs may obtain a Massachusetts drivers license without having to take the test. Please follow the following instructions:

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In Massachusetts benötigen Sie für die Umschreibung Ihren Pass, Social Security Number, den deutschen Führerschein mit Übersetzung und einen Registerauszug des Kraftfahrtbundesamtes.

Anträge für Registerauszüge vom Kraftfahrtbundesamt können hier heruntergeladen werden (wenn der link nicht funktioniert, bitte copy and paste…). Bitte drucken Sie das Formular aus und senden Sie es an die angegebene Adresse, zusammen mit einer Notiz, dass Sie Ihren Registerauszug in Englisch benoetigen und dass er an Ihre amerikanische Adresse geschickt werden soll. Dies kann bis zu zwei Wochen dauern und sollte daher zuerst beantragt werden.

Die Übersetzung Ihres Führerscheins wird im Generalkonsulat (3 Copley Pl # 500; Boston) vorgenommen. Bitten bringen Sie dazu Ihren Führerschein und Ihren deutschen Pass mit. Eine vorherige Terminabsprache ist nicht notwendig; die Gebühr beträgt derzeit 22,- US $.

Umschreibungsstelle in Boston: RMV, 10 Park Plaza (Transportation Building, T-Station Boylston oder China Town),  Tel.: 617-973-8860. Anträge für Umschreibungen deutscher Führerscheine können dort nach vorheriger Terminabsprache erfolgen. Die Gebühr betraegt $100.

Führerscheinübersetzung und Registerauszug dürfen nicht älter als 30 Tage bei Beantragung der Umschreibung sein!

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In order to convert your German license to a Massachusetts license you will need your passport, social security number, German license with the official translation and your driving record from the “Kraftfahrtbundesamt.”

To get your German driving record: click here, print out the form and send it to the given address. You also need to include note saying that you need the document in English and that they need to send it to your American address. It takes about two weeks so this should be done first…

Where to get your license translated: German Consulate Boston (3 Copley Pl # 500; Boston). Please bring your German passport und license. It is not necessary to make an appointment. The fee is $22.

Where to convert your license: RMV 10 Park Plaza, Boston (Transportation Building, T-Station Boylston or China Town). Call 617-973-8860 to make an appointment. The fee is $100.

Please note that the driving record and translation may not be older than 30 days in order to be able to get your license converted.
Ryan Levesque

The world is a big place and filled with all types of people.

I like living in the USA because we have the kind of country that for the most part is tolerant of differences and welcomes almost everyone. People that are not in the mainstream can live their life free from harassment and ridicule.

Here are some websites if you are interested or you may have a friend that is………

http://www.facebook.com/bagly

http://www.bagly.org/

Meeting & Event Rules:

Please consult my website for all meeting schedules. It is http://rlevesque.aupairnews.com You will know in advance (at least 30 days, if not more) when and where your meeting is. Sometimes we need to wait for other people to get back to me for scheduling. This cannot be helped.

You are not supposed to be scheduled to work during my meeting dates. Your HF must provide transportation to and from the event/ meeting. You may take a taxi , T or car pool w/ other au pairs. If you are scheduled to work, then you must make up the event with another LCC. 80% of meetings are on Sunday for your convenience.

If you cannot attend MY meeting then you have the choice to attend another LCC’s. Their names, numbers are on my website. If you attend another LCC’s meetings you must mark it down on your course deposit release form (CDRF) with the date, LCC name and what type of meeting it was so I can check if necessary. If you are traveling outside Mass. and you attend another LCC meeting, for example in New York, then I will count this, just provide the information on your form. If my meeting falls on your weekend off then attend another LCC’s that month. You cannot attend 2 in one month. You must see an LCC each month. Again, you are allowed to miss 2 for the year.

YOU MUST CALL OR E MAIL ME and let me know if you are not attending my meeting and provide a reason. You must do this BEFORE my meeting. Every month I must send a detailed report to the PD at the office.

If you have a friend from another group that wants to attend my meeting then YOU MUST ask me in advance if it is ok. DO NOT SHOW UP ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT and expect me to add him/her. I work with reservation agents that expect a total and final count in advance. I cannot keep adding and deleting people.

It is up to YOU to get ORGANIZED and PAY ATTENTION to dates and deadlines. Buy a day planner or appointment book to remind you.

You must send your check, never cash, PROPERLY filled out to me by the deadline date. Allow 2 days for the mail. DO NOT COMBINE CHECKS, SEPARATE CHECK AMOUNTS FOR SEPARATE EVENTS, Please.

If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to attend please ask me in advance. Do not assume you can bring them. I want you to socialize with other au pairs. This is the goal of meeting each month.

If I do not receive your check by the deadline you cannot attend unless I need more people to get a group rate.  Again, you need to pay attention and get organized & pay on time.

You should not miss any MANDATORY meeting. I have 2 per year. These are the CEP meetings or safety meetings. You are required to complete all 4 units so that I may sign your yellow course deposit card. If you complete them you will get your deposit back. You can go to another LCC’s CEP meeting but I must have documentation in the form of a call/e-mail from the LCC that you went to a CEP meeting and what units were covered. The only excusable absences are illness or traveling out of the area. It’s easier to attend mine than to try and find another LCC who is covering all the units you need. You can take the quiz & see me for meeting if you cannot be there because you are ill or traveling.

You have plenty of time to find the location of a meeting. If you can be on time for a movie or a boat trip you can be on time for a meeting. I will not accept tardiness. Other people are on time, you can be too! Leave earlier. DO NOT depend that the T will run on time. ALWAYS leave an extra 45 min. to get anywhere by T.

You will attend 10 meetings for the year even though the state dept. requires 12. You must complete 10 or I cannot sign your CDRF and you will not receive your deposit. You need my okay for your deposit return. If you did not pay a deposit you still need to attend classes and meetings. They are all linked together. The same rules still apply when you extend.

* If you extend..ALL your credits MUST be completed by the end of your 11month. NO exceptions per the Dept. of State. If you extend 12 months you need to complete 10 meetings,9 months,7 meetings and 6 months, 5 meetings.

I have to make a lot of people happy every month so I try to have different types of meetings/events. Most are very affordable ranging from $8.00 - $38.00 with the average being $12.00. You make $9,996.00 for the year. I know you can afford these meetings and only 7 or 8 for the year require a small fee. Please plan in advance and save money for the years meetings.

Thank You in advance for your cooperation.

Ryan Levesque