Hi you all and happy wonderful 2012. I have been here just short of 5 years (time flies by when you're having fun:-)) and am about to renew my annual permit. I was advised that I can now request a permit C and intend to do so. I had always thought that this was an automatic process rather than one asking specifically for the conversion.

Is there anything I should be wary of or pay attention to as I get ready for the next step?

Many thanks for your input.

Cheers
A.

[QUOTE=aa_248;1458755]Hi you all and happy wonderful 2012. I have been here just short of 5 years (time flies by when you're having fun:-)) and am about to renew my annual permit. I was advised that I can now request a permit C and intend to do so. I had always thought that this was an automatic process rather than one asking specifically for the conversion.

Is there anything I should be wary of or pay attention to as I get ready for the next step?

Many thanks for your input.

If your from the EU, it's standard assuming you have behaved yourself.

Far as I know it's automatic, but it might depend on where you come from. Are you EU or non-EU? If EU, it's probably automatic, but non-EU might have to request them at the 5 year point.

Nothing to watch for in particular that I can think of. We just sent ours in as normal for B processing and it came back as a C after 5 years, but we are EU people based in Fribourg. Might be a bit different in your area.

We are EU. It was automatic although there was quite a large fee to pay and we needed to provide new photos for us all (because they didn't recycle the photocard part of our old permit).

I am non-EU in Zurich- I guess I'll just ask them anyway not to miss the opportunity. Thanks for the feedbacks.

Are you a US or Canadian citizen? Special rules apply here if so.

If you are other non-EU such as an Indian citizen, you might be able to fastrack the C via VINTA. Search the forum for details.

http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/142_205/index.html

Verordnung über die Integration von Ausländerinnen und Ausländern

Could you please point me to a URL on official Swiss website that explains special rules for USA citizens ? Thank you!

So I went to kreisburo and requested the C and they said you can apply for it and there is a need for a certificate that I know basic German (after I asked him to speak to me in English). But he said I can try, no issue. Had to pay an extra 20CHF for C but the guy said if I did not get the C, they'll return the extra.

So now I have an actual reason to finally take my German lessons seriously!! Will see what happens.