Hi Everyone

Ive just come back from the Swiss embassy in Australia and Im worried I could have a problem.

I start a 6 month language course in Switzerland on 1 Feb, only problem is that my student visa may not be ready in time.

Does anyone know if I can enter on my tourist visa (Im an Aust citizen so can stay for 3 mths no problem) and get my student visa after arriving (i understand I may have to travel to germany or italy etc to pick it up).

One thing that may be in my favour is that Im actually leaving Switzerland in May (3 months after arriving) to come back to Australia breifly for a wedding. So some would argue that I dont need a student visa in the first place.

Anyone expreienced something like this?

Cheers

You can argue what you want, if the authorities decide you broke the rules, you'll certainly suffer the consequences rightly or wrongly. Why not just as the Swiss Consul in Sydney, he'll be quite happy to advise you as to what is acceptable or not.

I did ask the Swiss consulate in Sydney and they said that I have to ask the canton immigration office who is processing the visa (Im going to be doing this shortly). Just wanted to ask if anyone has experienced similar

Hi... did you ever got any answer from the Canton?... by the way, which Canton?... I ask as I know different Canton's follow different rules)...

I would love to know what they told you as I am in a very similar situation as you...

Many thanks!

I'd be interested in hearing how that turned out as well

I'll be starting a masters program in Geneva in September, but based on what I've heard about processing times I won't have my student visa yet...

Technically this is not allowed but many have got away with it. However, your language school may ask to see your permit prior to starting the course.

Hi

I recently was living in Switzerland on a student exchange and my friend (from
New Zealand) came over on a tourist visa and she did a language course there. As long as you're gone before the three months is up you'll be fine. A language course is not considered 'study' so the study visa won't be approved anyway. Just go on a tourist visa if you only want to be there for 3 moths!

I have got a similar issue. I submitted my student visa application late. My course will start on 20/2/2012 at Bern University. I am really worried that they may reject my student visa application as the process officially takes around 6-8 weeks and I applied on 22/1/2012. I emailed the Migration office in Bern but they did not reply. I would recommend you to email the Migration Office and explain to them your situation and see what they come back with.

Good Luck

From my experience, my initial application was done in late September and finally after a few delays due to me not having an apartment yet, I received my visa on the first week of December. I could have possibly had received it earlier in Mid November but no sooner than that. Don't use email, call them if possible. They take their time with email heh and they all speak English from my experience.