Hey there, just thought I would introduce myself. I am moving to Switzerland on March 29th, to re-unite with my fiance whom I will subsequently be married shortly therein (will be on a tourist visa, but our friend in the Soluthurn Canton office has assured us we have all the paperwork needed). This has been a long, long process, but I am glad things are finally coming together.

Seems like I will be here a lot, look forward to reading up on everything here!

Congratulations & Welcome!

Thank you! They say moving is stressful, but it has nothing on moving to a whole different country. I am just glad I speak conversational German.

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

Welcome to Switzerland!

Good luck with the move, don`t forget the police report.

Thank you! Police report?

Police report/ FBI background check. You will need this to prove you have no criminal history, and is required to receive your actual permit. If you don't have this, they will issue only a temporary residence allowance until you submit it.

When I had to get mine done in 2009, in Zurich, I was told that the police reports or other documents are no longer valid, and that only an FBI background check would be accepted. So you may want to check with your local contact at the Solothurn Cantonal office to be sure.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks


Be aware that when I did this, the website stated it would take up to 12 weeks. Several months later they updated it to say at least 13 weeks. Now it seems to have omitted any references to how long it will actually take to receive.

You CAN also send the application with your address here in Switzerland as the return address. I submitted all the paperwork for this after my arrival here. But it WILL delay your permit until after the migrationsamt has received it.

Welcome, and good luck!

Thanks for the information, hmm they never mentioned anything regarding a background check. I will look into it.

Thanks for the information, hmm they never mentioned anything regarding a background check. I will look into it.

Well this has got me in a panic. Apparently I have to get fingerprinted, but none of the areas in my state do fingerprinting for anything except a specific agency (i.e. company). Not allowed to get fingerprinted at a police office for immigration, ect.

Not sure if it is needed, but it is good timing. Found a police department that will do finger printing around here, though I will have to lie as to my reasons. Oh well. Anyways, I am going to go ahead and do it just in case. 10-13 weeks pretty much puts it right around the time I will be there anyways, and shortly after the marriage.

I don't know in the end if I need it in my case, in this specific canton (i.e. not sure if it is a canton specific thing, i.e. like in Zurich, or not). But better safe than sorry. Knowing my luck its there, but just one of the things that was left out.

Welcome to the forum!

When I was in the process of coming to Switzerland from the US, I found that my local police department did the fingerprinting at the station for anyone willing to pay a fee. I had to download the required FBI fingerprinting form from the internet and print it onto the correct cardstock prior to visiting the police department, as they did not provide the cards.

The things you do for love.

Apparently it might not be an issue in Soluthurn Canton. But I am going to do it anyways. I greatly appreciate the heads up, esp now, because I have time to get it done before the move.

Wait, now I'm a bit concerned... Did you apply for your D entry visa through the embassy? You should make sure at the commune that this is not required. Usually it is.

No need to panic. Usually the local police station will do this.

From the sound of your posts, you are in CH right now visiting before your official move. If you can print out the fingerprint card from the FBI website, any Kantonspolizei will print you for a fee of about 40 francs, if I remember correctly. (Stadtpolizei won't do it.) So doing it here is an option if you truly believe you will have difficulty doing back in the states.

I am going to get it all done on monday, no worries. And on the D permit, isn't required for my Canton and all. Thanks for all the help folks!