Not singled out, just checked. As I said to the OP: They'd (the Swiss) have to look at the passports (check them) in order to single out foreigners, that does not make sense. They simply check all passports on non Schengen flights.

That does not really make a difference, as soon as the passport is inserted in one of em little machines, there is much more checking going on than any human being could ever do. You can be sure that if you were ever on a no fly list, the reaction would be just the same.


As I said, as soon as the passport is swiped, your data is in the system (which will also be double checked against the flight data and vice-versa).

Most of the illegals will arrive either on a tourist visa or cross the border on the ground.

When did they start that?

I came here on a one way ticket (actually, I had a one-way to Brussels, and rented a car and drove here).

Tom

Here, they check ALL passports, even when flying within CH!

Tom

I came to Zurich in May of this year on a one way ticket and was not required to have a return ticket to the US.

I'm not sure Switzerland does [have a requirement for U.S. citizens to have a return ticket]. But the airline's check-in system seems to think it is a requirement. (We've never flown with this carrier before - but our normal carrier got bought out by them. I think there's some merging pains.) My husband was a bit frustrated. Fortunately on-line check-in is optional.

When I flew to Madrid, no one looked at my passport (though I did scan it at the auto-ticket machine to get my boarding pass). But when I flew to the US, I went through passport control (someone looking at my passport and permit and me) before going onto Terminal E.

I have flown Zurich - Paris many times and not had any ID checked at all (passport or otherwise). Same for a few other locations within Schengen.

They always check mine and want to see my B permit as well.

When flying to non-Schengen countries (I've only flown to the UK, but the same passport check covers all the short haul non-Schengen flights), there is a passport check for all departing passengers. I don't recall having to show it in an immigration context for intra-Schengen flights, though (but I've shown it as a photo-ID-for-flying purposes). I've never been asked to show my passport on any of my land border crossings, and I've never been asked to show my permit on any of the times I've crossed the border (but then maybe I don't look dodgy enough).

It's fairly common for me to be the only one asked for my passport when in a car with white people.

Before Switzerland joined Schengen, I had a few instances when I would arrive in and leave Zurich airport, border control would just look at the cover of my US passport for a few seconds and hand it back to me without even opening it or scanning it.

These days though, I just show up with my US passport and C Permit in hand. A couple of times, they would just have a quick look at the C Permit and hand it back without evening opening the passport.

They check you coming in and out if you are travelling to or from the US or outside of the Schengen. If you are a US citizen and travelling to Spain for example then no checking of any passport.

For Americans - Does anyone know if other documents are necessary at the airport when leaving switzerland permanently (I have a B permit that I will give up to the Geneva canton)?

Thanks

Like jbray, they ask for my passport (US) and my C permit. Every time.

For a long time I thought it was a discrimination thing because I was committing the crime of Flying While Muslim. So I asked why they needed to see my Swiss permit if I was *leaving* the country, and the border dude said that he asks because of the controls they do on their computers- not having the permit creates extra work because of supplemental information/questions that need to be asked and would have to be entered manually if the permit data isn't there.

I thought he was bullsh*tting me but the next time my permit was way down in my purse and couldn't get to it, so he started with the questions - where do you live, what do you do.. and then I magically found my permit and the border dude shut up.

Ouuuuch.

I know this thread is a few months old, but regarding the kids -- mine have the same last name and they have both been asked in the U.S. "Who's this?" with the TSA guy pointing jokingly at me. Of course security acts like it's a joke, but they are serious about the kid's reaction.

We lived on the Canadian border and it's well known there that if one parent (especially if it's dad) travels alone with a child, he/she should have a letter from the other parent. Sure, it would be easy to forge, but it's still recommended. There is no doubt a significant problem with one parent bringing a child into another country and not returning to the other parent, causing international custody nightmares.

Yes, they check. But show them your residence permit and it's kein problem.

Actually, if you're not leaving Schengen you don't need a passport, but they will say to show your passport. If you show them your permit or national ID it works just as well. They just need to verify that you are the person to whom the tickeet was issued

By passport, I also meant ID (passports aren't needed even for non-Schengen countries within Europe).

I only ever use a passport for going to the US/Canada.

Tom