American Au Pair

Hi Everyone!

I am an American Au Pair moving to England in January.

What do I need to do to insure that I don't get deported back to the US or banned from the EU for the next 10 years.

Register and apply for extended visa with the consulate when I get there?

Thanks for all of your help!

First, you get 6 months on a visit visa, not three.  Second, you can't work if you're a visitor, not even as an au pair.  If you want to work in the UK on a long-term basis you have to obtain a visa.  Check out the Visas and Citizenship board for more information. 

Hi Everyone!

I am an American Au Pair moving to England in January and I'd like to stay longer than the 3 month "free travel visa" provides for.

What do I need to do to insure that I don't get deported back to the US or banned from the EU for the next 10 years.

Register and apply for extended visa with the consulate when I get there?

Thanks for all of your help!

Hiya and welcome to Uk Yankee there is a wealth of information here.
However I hate to say it and not trying to scare you but its not a "free travel visa".. The stamp that gets put in a visitors passport is just that for a visit.. It is usually valid for a 6 month period out of 12. You are not allowed to work on a visitors visa. That includes paid/unpaid/volunteer. Unless you can obtain a proper visa you risk being turned away at immigration. They are going to want to see proof that you have ties to the US to go back to. That can include a job to go back to.. apartment/house rent/payment. That kind of thing.. If they think that there is a slight possibility that you are coming for more than just a visit they have the authority to detain you put you back on the next flight back to where you came from.
If you come over here without the proper visa you risk being banned for 10 years and a hefty fine.
Sorry to be such a downer but you want to make sure you do everything by the book to avoid any future ban and/or dissapointment.
Do a search on visas and immigration rules and you'll find lots of information.

In order to be an Au Pair in the UK, you need to get a visa that allows you to work as an Au Pair. However, the UK government got rid of the Au Pair visa back in November 2008 and replaced it with the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, which unfortunately is only open to citizens of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, so if you are a US citizen you cannot apply for that visa.