My husband and I are US Citizens. My husband currently has a B permit and is a PhD student at the University of Zurich. I will be moving to Zurich and am not certain of what I need to do to be able to live and work in Zurich. Can anyone give me direction...please

You need to apply for a Family Regroupment Visa. Use the search function (top right corner) and you should find lots of threads about this. Good luck with the adventure.

thank you

Start as much as the process as you can in the US, versus starting it in Switzerland. I don't know where your nearest consulate is, but I mixed experiences with the consulate in NY, so just make sure you are asking all the right questions.
I made the mistake of starting the process here (my spouse is a Swiss citizen so it was a bit different for me, but still a B permit nonetheless). Plan ahead as you will need to have all of your documents ready to go such as a marriage cert, possible FBI background check, etc. I've heard so many stories about the B permit process from so many people, so it is difficult to give a one size fits all checklist

Hallo,

You should go to Oerlikon Zurick immigration and apply for it. The counter will give you a piece of paper to fill-up. After that, you can submit to him. He will contact you for necessary documents later on.

The process will not take so long. I had experience on it. It took about 1 month time.

But before you apply, you must have the following criterias:

- No criminal record (you have to proof it)
- Proof that you are marriaged to your husband.
- You have to proof that you and your husband have sufficient fund to living in Switzerland.
- Your husbannd had paid all the social security fees, no any outstanding balance from the state (have to provide last two years record.) You can get this confirmation from the area that your husband currently living.
- Your husband had informed the landlord about you will live together with him when you arrive. The landlord must approve it. Also, the house must big enough and by contract can live two people inside.
- Your husband health insurance policy. Also a quotation for your health insurance.

I hope this will give you some general idea. Good luck!

Eric

Thank you! this information is very helpful

This is exactly right. And since 2009 the FBI background check is mandatory, so apply for this ASAP! When I applied for mine in 2009, the website stated it could take up to 12 weeks to receive. I got mine 15 weeks later. The website has since updated to say at least 13 weeks to receive it now.

I ordered my background check from one of the websites the FBI recommends called a channeler. They are a bit pricier, but I received mine in the mail about 5 days later (granted I was still in the US at this time). But if not, 12-13 weeks is right!

Below is the FBI.gov website that explains where you can use a channeler.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/bac...ved-channelers