Hello! This is a great site, and I've found a lot of useful info here. However, I've looked around the site, and haven't come across anything specifically related to my situation:

I'm an American, and my girlfriend (also American) is being moved by her company to a new office in Basel. I'll be going with her. I work as a freelancer for American companies, and plan to continue my work remotely (ie, from Basel).

My question is whether, practically speaking, I need a visa. I understand that Americans do not need visas to visit Switzerland short-term. Long-term, I've been advised that the only visa option really open to me would be a student visa.

Are student visas difficult to acquire? Since I won't be doing any work for Swiss companies, is obtaining a visa necessary?

Thanks for any insight you can give me!!

where will you be studying?

To be determined. It's been suggested to me that I could even take an online course from a Swiss university, and that would allow me to secure a Swiss visa for the duration of the course. I have been researching classes at the University of Basel as well.

If you are planning on staying here longer than just a few months, opening a bank account, obtaining a phone, etc. etc. etc. then yes, you'll need a visa.

To study, you'll need to speak German. I think there might be one course track or so in English at the University here, but it is masters or phd level (and not cheap!), so student visa probably won't work for you.

Easiest way to go is to get married, if you really want to be together.

I came here with a student visa for a German course "with the intention of doing further studies afterwards". My student visa was initially denied because of the school (Benedict). They told me that if I really intend to go to the university after learning the language, I should instead enroll at VKHS (English translation = University Preparatory Courses for Studies at Swiss Universities).
Just a warning though: This school has a direct contact with the Foreign Police, so that they'd report you, when you start missing classes.
I had to pay the school fees in full first, before I got my hands on the L Permit. I acquired the B Permit the moment I enrolled at the university.

> My question is whether, practically speaking, I need a visa.
Yup. Actually it's a dual 'working and living permit', which is why you need it even if you don't work.

> I understand that Americans do not need visas to visit Switzerland short-term.
That's just for tourism.

> Long-term, I've been advised that the only visa option really open to me would be a student visa....Since I won't be doing any work for Swiss companies, is obtaining a visa necessary?
Yes, you definitely need a it. Since your partner is taking the lead, she probably already has contact with lawyers or other experts who are helping her application. Therefore, I'd suggest you get her to piggy back requests for your work permit onto hers.

Please permit me some straight talking: Your message might have hinted that you're thinking of applying for a student visa as a 'workaround'. Frankly, if you want advice about how to enter and live here illegally, that kind of request isn't welcome here. If that wasn't what you meant, then it was my misunderstanding. No offense intended, just being direct (unlike Lob )

Hmmm.... I'm American and want to work in Switzerland for a bit and see how it goes... I actually wanted to go to Switzerland for college. I don't know if anyone here knows about Franklin College in Switzerland, an American college there. Does anyone? Anyways, what I know right now is that if you can find an international company here to sponser you to work in Switzerland then they take care of the work permits. That seems not as quickly attainable though, as they explained to me you must have worked at least 2 years first and trained in America, before such a rotation could occur. At least, that's how it is in the finance/accounting industry.

I think you could apply for a residence permit through your girlfriend. Unlike the US many countries in Europe do recognize "cohabitant or living partners". One of my colleagues recently got one for his girlfriend. So I am not making this up.

Your GF has to be able to prove that she earns enough to support you, though (and more importantly convince the canton). As one of the above posts suggests, talking to her company lawyer or whoever is handling her visa would be the best.

Just to warn you that this may not be easy..... he had to go through several months of agony to convince the authorities that she was not a passing fling. And the company officials must be respected in that canton. And they must be willing to sympathize with your girlfriend.

You could do this when you come to Switzerland. It takes time so so this immediately.

All the best.

Lets all be blunt. You want to live in Basel "semi-legally" - no Problem.

You have three options. Firstly, fly into Frankfurt airport and catch the train south to Basel - its direct and take 2h 47 minutes... And then:

1. Trust the naughty neighbours will not say you are here.
2. Check out a flat in St. Louis in France which is around 5 minutes with the Bus/tram from Basel.
3.
Check out a flat in Weil am Rhein which is about 5 minutes with the train from Basel.

I think the German and French authorities will be more sympathetic to your circumstances than the Swiss ones...

Let's be clear here. There is legal and there is illegal.

Chaucer above has not to the best of my understanding hinted he wants to do something illegal.

It is perfectly acceptable for partners to make changes to their lifestyle to live closer/ with their significant others. This guy says he is willing to take a course if that would help him stay legal. That tells me that he has no intention of being illegal.

Also, he is trying to figure (within the law) if he can stay here long-term

So where are we going with this "semi-legal" stuff here?

Moral policing?

Judging by the couched language being used in the original post and the intention to consider a course simply to get a visa and work the system, I'd say Richard's point was justified.

There may be legal and illegal, but there is a lot of evaluation involved in deciding that. Take a look at the subjective background required to assess marriages of convenience, and you will see what I mean. Lines have to be drawn somewhere.


Also having re-read the post, I have to raise the question about whether the OP will be declaring his overseas income as earnings ? This would likely prompt an assessment of whether he is actually here as a student or worker...

I'm making no judgement at all , moral or otherwise, other than to illustrate that sailing close to the wind (is that better?) and being completely open is not as simple as it first appears.

dave

There is legal, illegal and grey area. The legal way is going to require jumping through hurdles and HOPING the Swiss say yes which is not a given and requires a large portion of luck - strictly speaking it is possible but in the current climate I would doubt lady luck will smile on you. So what's to do? Best bet is to look at those areas that are legal but against the spirit of the law ie where there is a loophole. You can actually stay as long as you want as long as you do not enter via an airport and get registered or get snitched upon by the neighbours. There is no true visa required by American citizens (unless they have changed the law again) so it is up to the Swiss authorities to prove you have stayed too long which they are not really motivated to do unless provoked - by neighbours or a criminal act.

Thanks to everyone who posted. This information is very useful. And apologies for my delayed response--I've been busy with work and holidays.

To clarify the legal/illegal question, I don't want to do anything to defraud the Swiss government. I am trying to get a sense of what is typical and practical in situations like mine, and if a visa i required, I'll take steps to get one. On the other hand, if a visa isn't necesssary, I would rather avoid jumping through the hoops of obtaining one. That was basically what the OP was trying to get at.

To update--it seems that Novartis is willing to give me some freelance work while I'm in Basel, so I'll try to leverage that into a visa.

I searched and found this thread, and I'm actually in a similar situation and I was wondering if someone could offer some advice based on their experience.

I am an American citizen, and my entire direct family currently lives in Switzerland. My sister holds the C-Permit and is close to attaining her passport (she married a Swiss citizen). My parents also hold the C-Permit.

I lived here for almost 4 years on the B-Permit while studying at a private Swiss hospitality college, but moved back to the US for the job I got afterwards.

I'm attempting to make a life decision to move back long term.

What do you think of my chances to apply for the C-Permit under my parents? I turn 26 late this year, and rumour informs me that that may be the limit to which I can apply for one under my parents.

Otherwise, what other practical options do I have?

Actually, this is the important part. You can't do much with out papers. I think it is hard to even rent long term accommodation without papers.

Argh, just realised that this thread is ancient. :rolleys:

If your family lives there then call the Swiss embassy and ask them what your options are. They are very nice and helpful.

http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/...nf/visbel.html

You might want to read this page carefully. And yes, it is in English.