Hi,

I'm a non-EU citizen. I have been living in Switzerland with my family since 2001. I used to be a PhD student at EPFL with a temporal B permit (I've paid taxes and AVS all this period). After my graduation, I found a job in a hospital this year. The hospital supported my application for a work B permit that I received a few months ago. My original contract with this hospital finished at the end of Sept. Now, due to problems with budget, my employer will not renew my contract for another full year and will only extend it till end of the year: I have received a time-limited, 3 months contract. So here is the summary:

- I've been living in Switzerland more than 6 years.
- I have a B permit which is less than 1 years old.
- My permit is valid till middle of next year.
- I have a time-limited contract that will finish within a few months (much earlier than the end of my permit).

My question is: given the situation above, can I stay and look for a new job in Switzerland? Should my future employer apply for a B permit again and do I have to pass through the whole procedure again?

I have already some job offers in other countries; however I prefer to stay in Switzerland. That would mean to say no to these offers. Do you think this is big gamble?

Thanks a lot,
AlefSin

p.s. If it can help, here is a copy of my permit (click on the image to see a larger version).

From the moment when your contract ends you are considered unemployed and are legally allowed to stay in CH (up until the permit expires, anyway). During this period you can also apply for unemployment aid.

If you find a new employer, then you need to apply for a work permit again. As it says on the back of the paper that you've scanned, any change of employer requires a new application for a new authorization. The employer must apply for your permit, and the authorities shall process again your request (and therefore grant/deny it).

If you reach your permit expires' date as unemployed, in good faith (meaning that you actively tried to get jobs but no opportunity appeared), you have a lot of potential for getting the permit renewed since you paid for unemployment assurance and it's in your right to continue to receive it until you manage to get a new job (in CH or abroad by leaving the country).

Thanks a lot vladd.

I hope this is going to be a simpler procedure than my current permit. I mean, if it is the same thing then for the employers having a B permit or not won't make difference!?

I didn't know that! This is very useful to know.

What if during the period that my permit is yet valid, I find a job and apply for a permit and it get refused?! What will happen then? Should I leave the country or I can stay and continue to look for other jobs?

Unless of course it's a short-term B rather than a long-term in which case it won't be renewed.

Hi Shorrick. I think mine is a long-term permit. Can you confirm it by looking at the scanned image of my permit? (picture in the first post).

Considering that my permit has been issued less than one year ago, changing my employer and renewing my permit (given the situation above) is going to be more difficult than normal situations?

Thanks a lot,
Alefsin

Do you have facts or evidence to back up your claim?

Unlike you, I do. Show me yours, I show you mine.

I can't see it from work. However, if the original application was made under a time-limited contract it is very likely that the permit is not long-term.

Usually with short-term Bs it is difficult to change employers as they are given out for a specific job and duration - unless you are being made redundant through no fault of your own.

Also, I do not know whether the years spent on a student B qualify towards the minimum contribution period for unemployment benefits.

That's a logical assumption however I believe for some reasons they issued me a long-term one: my previous permit included the pharse "SEJOUR TEMPORAIRE", this new one does not. Moreover this new one has a date in 2017 to be eligible to get a C permit (LCF = 27.06.2017). So, I hope, it means this is a long-term one

I know for sure that it counts: my wife was also a PhD student like me in EPFL (in the permit they call it assistant-doctorant) and after finishing her studies could use unemployment benefits. During this period her permit depends on mine.

You are not allowed to get a new job.

Anywhere, ever.

I forbid you.

H

You beat me to this one, although it would have included "the power of Kreis compels you!" in there somewhere.


dave

Okey..... now that you answered the question in the title of my post, could you please answer any of the questions in the body of the post too? please

To be honest other people are better qualified to do that, I take care of the annoying answers that serve no particular purpose.

...and a sterling job you are making of it too, if I might add. Good to have you on board.

dave

hugh_abu and DaveA,
Thanks for at least sending some "annoying answers" to my post. I think a post with some few "annoying answers" is much better than a post with no answers at all

cheers,
AlefSin

AlefSin,

You NEED to get into politics. I would vote for you.

Hope your problem gets sorted.

H