Hi,
My queries are somewhat similar to two queries on this forum(link1 and link2), but there are some differences

I am a non-EU national and I am facing some issue getting my work permit in for employment in Bern because my master studies are still not completed - my studies will complete in January because my thesis defense is still to be done. All my courses are done and I don't have to take any classes but I have enrolled for another semester at the university to defend my thesis

My work permit has been in process since last 1.5 months now. Bern canton has approved the work permit and the decision is pending with Federal Office of Migration. My employer recently provided FOM with additional documents they requested from my university (provisional certificate from university, master transcript) and I think it will take some time to hear the decision of granting a work permit.

At the same time, my student permit is about to expire in a week. Now what is really confusing me is the following

- Can I stay in Switzerland after my student permit expires while my work permit is in process ? If no, seems like I will have to apply for renewal of student permit! But, can there be two Swiss permits in process - work and student permit - does that work? BTW, my residence permit is from Lugano as I studied in university there.

Thanks
JM

Yes you can. Go to your local town hall and ask for an extension while you are waiting for federal approval.

Do you mean I ask for extension as a student by applying for a student permit?

I am presently staying in Bern. Can I goto bern canton authorities and apply for student permit extension even though my studies were based in Lugano?

Hi guys,
I would really appreciate anyone who can give me some help on this confusion:

Just to paraphrase again the question:

- Do I need to apply for a renewal of my student permit(which is about to expire) although my work permit is still in process ?

If the answer is No,
- how do I officially extend my stay in Switzerland till the time I get to hear the decision from Federal office of migration on grant of work permit?

But if the answer is yes, while applying for student permit I need to show immigration office a rental contract
- Is it necessary to show the rental contract from Lugano where I studied or can I show rental contract from anywhere I want to stay in Swiss (say Bern)?
- Do I have to go to Lugano to apply for renewal of student permit or can I also apply for it in Bern immigration office?

Thanks
JM

Anyways, seems like I just have to goto FOM tomorrow then.

Thanks anyways

No.

They will extend your stay - probably by renewing or extending the visa in your passport.

@swissjob: Thanks for all the inputs. Actually the last one came a little bit late, but thanks.

In the meanwhile situation changed little bit. I went to Lugano and explained the situation to the immigration office personnel. They said I could stay in Swiss as long as my work permit is in process, but if I get a rejection on work permit then I have to leave Swiss and it will not be possible again to apply for another student permit. Because I couldn't take the chance of not having permission to stay and defend my thesis in Jan, 2012 to get my degree, I applied for renewal of student permit.

Good news is, that the very next day I got permission for work permit from Federal office. Now we are just waiting for the final permission letter from Bern canton. When this is done, I will go back to Lugano and withdraw my student permit application. As I understand they should allow me to withdraw the application: I will just tell them I got work permit and I don't need student permit anymore. Hopefully there should not be hassles on this front at least or could there be?

But the moral of the story for all non-EU`s who are hired in Swiss is to get your Swiss degree first. Getting work permit without Swiss degree is possible it seems now, but it is full of all sorts of complications. If I had it, nothing of this sort would have happened.

... and join Lufthansa?

Finally got my work permit two weeks ago. Thanks again for all replies

wow it was nice for you i wish i could also get some visa b permit and practice my profession here i only have visa L and 8 months to stay now.

Hi, I am now in a similar situation. I have a student B permit. My potential Swiss employer will apply for a work permit for me. My questions:
1. Do I have to apply for a work visa at the Swiss Embassy in my home country?
2. Will I have to collect the work visa at my home country?
I am based in Switzerland and hope that the procedure is much simpler for individuals who have Swiss residence permit and change it to work permit.