Hello,

I would please like to ask where can I find online the application form for permit B (in the canton of Geneva) for non EU residents?

Many thanks,
Ofer

You will unlikely find a form online for the B permit ( B permit is a work and residence permit ) unless this is it ( PDF ).

Once you arrive, you register with the nearest OCP office ( Cantonal Population Office ) within 8 days and wait for the permit to be issued. To register, you would need proof of address ( rental agreement for a flat, apartment, hotel etc. ) and a permit application fee.

Welcome to the forum.

Non-EU Permits - a few bullet points.

Many thanks for you answer.

Actually, the main reason I wanted to look in the application form for a B permit was that I do not know what is the policy concerning the proof of address: do they only want an address for sending snail-mail? Or am I required to live in Geneva, or, practically, to rent an apartment?

I am asking this because I have no reason to rent. I will only stay in Geneva for short periods during my studies. During these visits I will stay in hotels. I do have to obtain a B permit, though, because the University requires it.

Thanks again,
Ofer

=

Best if you consulted your Uni about this.

Thank you.

http://www.swissuniversity.ch/immigration-and-visa.htm

http://www.crus.ch/information-progr...Required_Steps

If you stay only temporarily in hotels in Geneva, then you should not be applying for the B permit in Geneva. You should be applying in the canton where you will be living. Even if you are in Geneva for a few days after arriving here, and register with a temporary address to start with, you will anyway need to repeat the residence permit application process once you move to your apartment in another canton.

Hello,

First, thank you Kosti, for you informative answer.

Another Q pls:

As I understand, if I finally decide to live in Geneva, it might take a (long) while before I will find an apartment. So there are good (100%?) chances that I will not have a proof of address when I apply for the permit (within 8 days of my first arrival). What is the procedure in this case? Do I state that I live in a hotel until I find an apartment, and accordingly receive a temporary permit? If so, for how long is that permit valid? And can this temporary permit be extended in case I still do not find an apartment when it expires?

Many thanks!
Ofer

I think you are jumping ahead of yourself. For non-EU's the permit must be approved before you arrive. When you arrive then you go register and then, yes, you can use a hotel address until you find another option. You can not wait in the country for your permit to be approved.

I apologize, but your answer made me a bit confused ...

Specifically, I did not understand what do you mean by "the permit must be approved before you arrive". I have indeed applied for a visa in the Swiss embassy in my country (Israel), and received it. It will be valid from the day of my first arrival and for the next two months. Are you saying that this means that I already have a permit and will receive it after I register? If so, for how long is this permit, given that I will use a hotel address? And should I need a proof of a permanent address in case I want to renew it after it expires?

I would be grateful if you can clarify this.

Thank you!

okay. you have the visa, you can enter the country, hooray. when you arrive, within 8 days, go register with the kreisburo. taking proof of payment at the hotel would probably be smart. they will provide you a temporary form that shows that your permit is in process and you can use this to open a bank account and whatever else. when you find another address, you go again and re-register. if you move out of the same area as where your hotel was, you will probably need to de-register at the first kreisburo (or whatever it's called in french) and register at the new one.

If you are planning to be at the hotel for some period of time, make sure you can receive mail there.

Edit: oh, I see you are not necessarily planning to live in Geneva - yes, you need some sort of in-Switzerland address to get your permit and the proof of address probably needs to show your name (e.g., a lease, a guest agreement)

Huge thanks!

One final question, please: for how long is the temporary permit valid?

Thanks again

There's no date on it - at least for me, it was just a sheet of paper. i could use it with my passport to open a bank account but couldn't get a library card, get a credit card, or get health insurance with it. After we registered, we had to go to the migration office a few days later and get fingerprinted and photographed and then we were issued a permit a few days after that. i don't know if it works like that for all permits and all cantons.

Ok. I think the fact that you are using the term "temporary permit" is what is confusing. It's not really "temporary permit".

But I think Ano has answered your questions thoroughly so I'll step out.

Good luck!

Thank you!

Just curious, I am still in the US and have a sponsored visa application through UZH that has been approved in Zurich and I have received a temp. permit from Swiss Consolate in US. I understand that I need to go to the Canton office in Zurich to get another temp visa then they send the actual B permit in one month. Anyone know if they require other US documentation? I have heard several times that people have been required to submit FBI (if US citizen) criminal history record, anyone know if this is true? I am still in US so would like to find out before getting all the way there that this will be required

Thanks

Hello,

Just to update that when forwarding the following question:

"In case I will not need to have a long-term accommodation in Geneva during the year I study in the University of Geneva, am I nevertheless required, in order to be entitled for the permit, to have a proof of accommodation (presumably, in my case, a rent contract) in Geneva for the entire period or am I allowed to live in hotels during the shorts periods in which I do stay in Geneva?"

to the Office cantonal de la population in Geneva, I receive this five words answer: "we require a valid address".

I guess I'll have to wait and see ...

Hello
You only need to provide them any proof like confirmation by the hotel as an example, that you actually stay in that canton not in different canton, and once you get the B permit you just send them an email and attach a contract or lease or whatever that you have moved to different address but the same canton, the address that you give them will not appear on the B permit and the B permit is valid for one year and they send you letter by post for renewal it is simple

A hotel address is a valid address. There are people who live full time in hotels.

In process of applying to my B permit now, I went to my kreisboro and only had to provide my US passport, marriage license (in my case I am married to a Swiss citizen, hence the basis of my B permit), and I needed to provide my rental contract that I share with my husband.
I did not need to show any proof I had no criminal record, however I would order your records just in case. All I had to do was check a box at the kreisboro that I am not a criminal.
Take my advice, and the other advice in this thread with a grain of salt as I have my appointment next week at the migration office for just "photos and fingerprints", but anything can happen.
I ordered my FBI background check from one of the private companies they recommend on the FBI gov website and I got my results within a few days. My state background check, which I also ordered just to cover my corners, did take a few weeks, so make sure you plan ahead.