I am writing on the behalf of a friend that is a refugee here in Switzerland but would like to move to another country. He thinks mainly about another European country and UK would be probably the first choice.
Does anyone knows if that is possible?

At the moment he's got a B permit and can travel almost everywhere but not to the UK. Would he be able to travel there and temporally stay?

Thanks for your help

He can travel to the UK ( the visa costs EUR99 ) if he choses to but only to vist, not to stay for longer than 6 months.

He must have firm reasons to asylum shop such as a work contract from the UK, strong family ties etc. There is an agreement called the EATRR, but rarely granted by the UK.

PDF for EATRR

I strongly suggest he signs up on this forum.

I'm interested here - he is a refugee from his own country. The swiss have kindly allowed him in and given him residence. And now he doesn't like it! I didn't realise that asylum was a form of tourism ....
Shouldn't he be grateful for gaining asylum - or am I missing something fundamental

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine-readable_passport

Does he have an XXB Swiss issued Refugee Travel Document ( Dark Blue with two white stripes ) ?

If he has another such as XXA, XXC or XXX, it will be very unlikely the UK will accept him ( difficult to establish real identity ).

Switzerland also has treaties ( Nos. 7632 and 7633 ), still valid and has not been repealed, with the Benelux areas, as an alternative:

http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/15/23/00029138.pdf

http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/15/23/00029139.pdf

Some choose this route as Belgium offers citizenship within 3 years cf. CH in 12-14 years.

what a suprise.......

ill welcome with open arms the groans

Thanks a lot for your answers. Yes, he has the first pass, so I guess he can apply for a temporary visa the way you mentioned.

I am writing on his behalf because he doesn't speak very well English..

I see.. He's surely grateful and he doesn't take his refugee status as a tourist vacation. I can only add that he's experiencing at the moment some very serious personal problems, that's why he's considering the possibility of moving to another country.

that's very useful, thanks so much! I will read it through and let him know! thanks!

A refugee is a legal immigrant. There is a legal means by which refugees may move from the country which granted them asylum to the United Kingdom.

Where is the problem?

This alone might be a problem for the transfer to the UK

I think you are. Just because one has been granted a refugee status in one country doesn't mean one has to stay only in that country if circumstances prevail that makes it hard/impossible to stay; hence, the reason many countries have bilateral agreements to this effect.

Where else can one go as a refugee that can't return to the country of citizenship and can't stay in the boarding country?

Thanks a lot for that, and also that is exactly what I am trying to find out.
In internet I only find info for asylum seekers, whilst what I need to know is how he can move/transfer to another country as a refugee (that has already been granted asylum).

true!

If he has completed 5 years of residence here in CH, he will automatically get a C permit, which is like an EU LTR ( Long Term Resident ) card, and thus can visit and work within the EU so long as current treaties remain valid.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleases...1/99&type=HTML

but note:

To visit the UK, here is another thread on applying through World Bridge:

Visiting the UK, with a Non-EU passport, with a swiss "carte de legitimation"

His personal problem I guess

Well, that's ok then. Thank you for bringing me up to speed. Is hardship considered a financial ( i.e they no longer get state support so move to somewhere where they can) parameter?

Presumably being dumped by a girlfriend /boyfriend doesn't cut it, whereas religious persecution would do?

For the OP - if he has considerable personal problems, would he not be better in a country where he can communicate ?
Obviously it will depend on what the issues are but most people wouldn't have the chance to up sticks and move to another country - can the issues not be sorted here where they are amongst some friends ??

Personally I would suggest the UK, because a) it is awash with Poles - who are doing a great job at occupying a lot of the jobs ( and offering hard work and great service) and unemployment at 2.7 mio will make life tough

my friend,
may i ask what was the problem of your friend in switzerland as an refugee?switzerland sounds great for refugees.doesn`t it?