Hello,
I have recently moved from Atlanta to Baden with my wife (both US citizens). She obtained a job at an international school in Baden. At the time we left, my US employer was planning on filling my position once I was gone. We have now been here a few months and they let me know they're interested in keeping me on payroll and working fulltime while I am here. They are not a huge company and have no offices here.

My wife has a VISA and B-Permit. I have been approved and gone through the process of obtaining a Residency B-Permit (Family Reunion) and should receive that in the next few weeks.

Does anyone know what process I need to go through in order to be able to work for a US company while living here?

On top of that, I also have a freelance graphic design / web design business that I would like to keep going while here. All of the clients would be based in the US, and the company is setup in the US. I'm not sure if this would be possible to continue without some paperwork as well.

If anyone has advice on either of these issues, I'd be grateful. I imagine taxes would be really complicated if I'm able to keep working so a good accountant with US / Swiss knowledge might be necessary should this all work out.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Tim

The "search" function is your friend. Many threads on this subject already. Search and you will find.

Actually I did search but the threads that came up weren't quite my situation. Either not married, one spouse was Swiss, etc.

Can you point me to the thread that answers this particular issue?

The ones I found didn't.

I don't think you're going to find this exact issue...you may have to interpolate.

If I were you I'd wonder if...
Given my permit, can I work while I live here, albeit for US clients. There's a whole section on permits here.

If all my income is derived from US sources, is this income taxed in Switzerland? The taxation section might be a start.

Just brainstorming...

your wife is here on B visa, you are married, thus I would suspect you get B visa with wife (as mentioned) and that you don't have to worry about employment status for residency permits.

US company paying you in USD, no Swiss income. No Swiss taxes on your income (I think). No US expat exemption on your income either. Might want to set up residency in a state like Florida though so you're not paying Georgia income taxes. Will your US company increase your salary to compensate for your increased costs of living? Will they pay for your mandatory Swiss health insurance?

But if you really want answers... don't ask the English forum. Contact the US Embassy in Bern and the Stadts Bevölkerungsdienste und Migration office in your town.

Thanks KeinFranzösisch,
I will do just that, The advice I've found in other posts has been conflicting often with posters disagreeing so it's a bit hard to sort out. I was hoping I might find someone that was in the same situation, one US spouse working for a company in Switzerland, one US spouse telecommuting for a US company but I'm guessing that might be hoping for too much. I will attempt the US Embassy route. If I get a concrete answer, I'll be sure to follow up with a post for anyone else searching.

Call the Migrationsamt in Aarau. They are really the only ones who know answers to the complicated permit questions like this. I was told the wrong thing by a number of people prior to getting my permit. Tell them upfront that Company X would like to employ you and they may help you in a more timely fashion. My advice is to also be very friendly and accomodating, but you knew that already.

These threads should help.

Working Remotely in Switzerland for US employer

Living in Switzerland, working for a company in US?

Telecommuting Question: Working for a US Based Company, Living in Switzerland

If your living in CH your liable to tax on your world wide income, if your wife earns over 120,000 she will get a tax return that would need to be filled in by both of you. If you don't get a tax return & leave before your wife gets a C permit you might get away with it.

Will your salary be paid into a US account?

This is where you need to direct your questions.
AG - Kanton Aargau
Amt für Migration und Integration
Bahnhofstrasse 86/88
Postfach
5001 Aarau
Tel.: 062 835 18 60
Fax: 062 835 18 38

You may have to get someone who speaks German to call for you and explain the situation. Perhaps your wife's employer could do so on your behalf.

The country where the money is paid to is of no consequence with regard to tax liability, as many Americans have found out recently........if they did not already know.