Hello all,

Me and my husband are living in Zurich since the past 5 years with B permit( renewed every year). Could you please tell me the paper work to be done and where to get the application forms for applying for a C permit in Zurich.

Thanks in advance.

Alice

Alice, I'm not 100% certain but I think non EU C permits come only after 10 years, with U.S. and Canada at 5 years. Have you been told you are eligible?

Didn't they change the rule recently?

Maybe? But the horse's mouth says it ain't so Federal Office for Migration

I'm sure there's more to it than the tiny paragraph on the site...

Once you have held your B Permit for 5 years, you can apply for C. I did.

http://www.parlament.ch/D/Suche/Seiten/geschaefte.aspx?gesch_id=20081046

Hi Marie,
How did you apply?
My bf has been living in Zurich for 5 years, but when when he went to renew his permit, they told him he can't apply for C-permit. It's automatic! Which means, if anyone is entitle for C-permit, they will receive a letter.

Thanks.

Americans seem to get their C Automatically after continuous years, and non-EU (excl US) should automatically get their C after 10 years BUT they can apply early if they meet certain integration rules eg job with unlimited contract, no criminal record, basic local language proficiency (with certificate) ect.

Its indeed correct that the Non EU passport holders can also apply for C if they can establish that they are well integrated. We applied in Oct. 09 and were informed by the Canton that they had recommended our case favorably to Bern and that the matter was now in the hands of the Central office in Bern.

Its more than 3 months now and we are still waiting to hear from Bern.

Has anybody been in similar situation. Does Bern consider the Canton's recommendation or as a mind of its own?

Has anybody been in similar situation? :

As non-EU nationals, when our B permit came up for renewal, we requested for C permit since it is possible to request for one after 5 years (we have completed 8). We had to demonstrate that we were "ïntegrated".

We received a letter from the OCP of the canton saying they had recommended it favorably to Bern. Then we received another letter from the OCP asking for Casier Judiciare etc. which was given to them immediately.

The whole thing has taken 4 months so far. However, no C permit so far. Checked with the cantonal OCP today and they say they cant say anything at all. It needs to come from Bern.

What are our chances and how much time does it take. How long do we need to wait. I have already had to apply for to returning resident's visae so far.
Can anyone throw some light?

Hi All A non eu c permit in 5 years is diff. where you live.....For me iam going with other B permit an i ben here 6 years so. Hay mariezug for basic language hello . I ben naver told that you are the frist for this And i married to swiss an that the diff. when not to. so set back an wait..

it should come soon. But I don't understand why you had to apply for returning visa ??

Thanks Danny. Along with our application for renewing the B permit, we requsted for C. It has taken 4 months and in the mean time we have neither B nor C in hand. I had to travel out of CH for business and hence needed a visa for my return.

The first return visa was valid for 1 month and 20 days (the OCP assumed that our permit issue would be settled by then). After that when I had to travel again, I had to take another return visa. That time I took it for 90 days. I have to travel again in two weeks now, however luckily, the 2nd return visa is still valid, till the end of March.

So, you think the C permit would be coming soon, eh?

I am sure it is coming soon. I know a few people who cancelled their C permit application in 2009 as it was taking too long and they actually requested a B then. It goes to Berne and they were told on the phone that it will take a while. These returning visas are getting shorter on time and more expensive and I actually hate them.

The main thing is to get the approval from the canton and you have done very well there so well done mate !

Hey Guys,

The B permit for 5 or 10 year rule is not as black and white as EU or NON-EU.

Its 5 years if you are from:

Belgien
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Dänemark
Frankreich
Fürstentum Liechtenstein
Griechenland
Italien
Finnland
Grossbritannien
Irland
Island
Luxemburg
Norwegen
Schweden
Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika (USA)
Kanada
Andorra
Monaco
San Marino
Vatikan-Stadt

Then its 10 years for everyone else.

For more details check out Section 3.4.3.3 here

Then there are exceptions to this and you can apply earlier, read Section 3.4.3.5 for more on that.

Google Translate can help you out if have problems with the German.

Cheers

Many thanks once again Danny. I hope it comes soon. Fingers crossed! 4 months is a long time, I dont how long we can hold on with out any permit. The return visa costs CFH93/- each time.

It was exactly the same in my case. Once the canton told me they had sent the papers to Bern, it took approximately 6 months.

I am non-EU and I applied after 8 years of continuous stay in Switzerland, gave all the necessary documents and waited. Got my C permit 2 weeks ago.

Yikes, that's scary Nileblitz. In our case, the Canton took almost 2 months to tell us that they had approved it. Now if I have to add six more months to that, it becomes a total of almost 8 months!!

Looking at your location, I presume you were dealing with the OCP Vaud? In any case, I have a few questions. Would it it be ok if I contact you via a PM.

By the way, congrats, at least now you have your C permit in hand.

Indeed that is way too long. It is probably the same time for all cantons as it is Bern which is taking the time.

Just when I was about to believe that "it would be coming soon" I get this news about this long delay. Some delay was expected. I thought with the 4 months we had "paid" our dues in terms of time. However if the process needs as long as 8 months, God help people like us.

I am from USA after 5 years in August I renewed my B then when it came in the mail made a copy of it and traded it in for a C permit which took only a few weeks. I included in the application my proof of German Language skills which was not required as per the application form but I thought it would help and I had not trouble.

This was in Zurich.