Hello, I had applied for the family re-union permit on the same day as I handed in my papers to obtain my B-permit. This is for Canton Schwyz. I was wondering from others what is the approximate period to get the papers for my family, so that they can come and join me, I really miss them. thanks

This is quite a difficult one to answer and you haven't made it easy. I see from your profile that you're from Singapore so that helps give an estimate. Do you have your permit? What is it's validity? What family do you want to bring to Switzerland? Wife, kids, third cousins?

Sorry for not having sufficient info. I am bringing along my wife and 2 kids actually. I arrived 2 weeks ago, handed my paper saying I am successful in obtaining my B-permit, so I am now waiting for the B-permit to be delivered to my flat address. On the next day of having sent my papers to obtain the B-permit from the local Municipal office (I am not sure what they are called, but my company secretary used this term as a translation of the German name) I handed in the form duly filled plus photocopies of requireed documents like marriage cert, passport of dependents, work contract, flat contract ( I had a flat before I arrived, arranged by office as I think it was cheaper than having me stay in a hotel for too long......) My B-permit is approved for 24 months and renewed yearly.

There is a nice lady at the office of Lachen where I dropped my papers that told me my permit should be sent to me in 2 weeks, its 2.5 now. Secondly she also told me the pass for my family should be approved within the month and we started chatting about Singapore and she had visited the place last year blah blah. But ultimately I think it is the Kantonal Police that makes the decisions and not her, and secondly, I read in this forum others took roughly in excess of 1-3 months for non-EU persons. I am worried, cause I am really missing my family and the progress of my 15 month old son who managed to really talk suddenly just when I left and was not around these past 3 weeks. And also I think I am a very family kind of person and I feel totally lost without them. I really want them to join me before the christmas holidays come up.

I also wish to have advice as to how my company can assist in any way to speed this process up, like writing a letter, etc etc.

Gosh this is in addition to all the other stresses of waiting 6 weeks for furniture and 2 weeks for cablecom to activate. Luckily for Swisscom Mobile, or else I wouldn't even be able to write in this forum.

Thanks

Assuming there are no extraordinary issues (like your apartment is too small or something amiss in the paperwork) then, usually, a month would be the best you could expect. As she has said it will take about a month you can enquire after a month without being seen as pushy.

No, they do not. Your local town hall sends the paperwork to the Federal immigration authorities who make the decision. It is not likely that you have any reason to worry even if it drags on a bit.

The average of 2 months would be about right for many non-EU experiences.

Well they could have made all your applications at the same time but that's a bit late now.

I would wait for the month mentioned by your local town hall and then enquire on progress.

Thanks Swissbob, I feel alot better already. But I wish to confirm that all enquiries I will direct to the Town hall right? Specifically to the office that I submitted all my papers to.

Yes, unless you get a personal communication for the Federal authorities who want clarification on a point.

Hi again, I got the permits for the family in the post yesterday with a bill of 156:- it was within the month as promised by the lady at the Town hall. Superb.

My second question is how to go about with their visas? Can my wife ( she has a passprt that requires a Swiss Visa) use this letter on arrival in Switzerland immirgration control or does she use this letter of acceptance to apply for a visa at the nearest embassy? Thanks for the help

Well, if they received the permits they do not need a visa. If they received a letter of guarantee they need to apply with this at the embassy.

Lovely, thanks.