LOL yes, but they were told first and foremost by the relevant authority that I need to submit the documents when I register myself as a resident in my commune. Bah...

Anyways, that's a bit off-topic. I've asked my employer to contact the office during their opening hours tomorrow morning and will hopefully get some useful info from them tomorrow. I'm just praying that I won't be forced to leave and start everything over again...

That is correct. Once the residence permit is approved you would come to Switzerland and register at the commune. Appears you are trying to do it the other way round.

Unless you actually do have an approved permit and are just waiting for the processing of the paperwork in which case your tourist visa is no longer relevant and you can stay until the end of the permit validity.

The residence permit would essentially be attached to the work permit, correct? This is what I found a bit strange too, that they ask me to register as a tourist before I submit my papers to work. I can see how they're interlinked but the order seems awkward...

Unfortunately that's not the case. At this stage, I haven't received a word from anyone about anything concerning residency or a work permit, leading me to believe that only my tourist visa (expiring in less than a month) is valid.

Hello!

I've been going through the threads but still have some questions. Could someone help me to clarify them?

1) Who decides (employer before submitting a file, or authorities in Bern) if permit B is gonna be linked to the employer or not?

2) Is it possible to change later from B permit linked to the employer to a free permit B?

3) If my spouse got permit B linked to the employer, how quickly I could change from dependant permit B to the permit B not linked to anyone?

Thank you in advance!

This depends on many things, like:
What country are you from?
Are you self-employed or do you have a company? (If so, how much do you make?)
How many years have you been in CH?

It's just not so simple, in my experience. You probably need an expert to assist...

Mostly irrelevant.

1) Bern
2) Yes
3) Assuming your spouse is the main or first permit holder then you will always be on a dependant permit.

Hi SwissBob, Are you an attorney or work w/Migrationsamt? If so, I have some questions because I, too, am going from dependent to independent permit (as have the folks I work with). My answers were based on their recent experience.
Thanks!

The "answers" you gave are mostly irrelevant to the op who asked 3 specific questions - in your particular situation they may have more meaning, of course.

To summarise, where the op comes from is not relevant as, by talking about tied B permits, the op obviously originates from a non-EU country and not an EU state. That would be the only possible difference but clearly does not apply in this case.

Being self employed / company owner is also irrelevant as the op would have these intrinsic rights under their dependant permit but would still need permission to carry out such activities whether dependant or or not.

The numbers of years in CH would possibly be considered in circumstances where, for example, the op's spouse becomes unemployed yet the op has continuing employment and requests that their permit becomes the leading permit.

Like I said, mostly irrelevant.

Thanks, SwissBob. Snarky, but clearly informed.

Is there any way to predict how long it will take for a Permit to be approved?

I'm non-EU/American with a job offer in Ticino. The permit was applied for at the end of August and I've heard nothing. The Visa applied for Sept. 1 and I have a target start date of October 3 but can't even buy a plane ticket until everything is approved.

What is a normal waiting period?

Your employer should be able to get the status for you.

"Snarky"? Really?

Very useful thread, thanks.

Few quick questions that I have not been able to obtain answers for. I'm non-EU, been here for 3+ years working for the same company on a B permit. I'm considering moving into contracting.

• I'm quite sure I fall into the first category but how can I know for sure? My permit says Aufenthaltsbewilligung B mit Erwerbstatigkeit; Is that good enough? I've been told by HR and others that I can freely switch jobs. I renew my B permit every year, and my HR department rubber stamps it.
• If I switch jobs, does the new company have to do anything special, such as justify me having a permit? Do I have to do anything special?
• My permit says Selbst. Erwerbstatigkeit is bewilligungspflichtig (self employment subject to approval) on the back of the card. What exactly is self-employment? Is IT contracting considered self employment? According to the agency, I work for them just as I work for my current employer.
• Risks of becoming a contractor under my situation? What happens if I find myself between contracts during the month that my B permit comes up for renewal?
• Would I be eligible for RAV should I find myself unemployed for any length of time?

Thanks for the help.

Hello

Is it possible to directly apply for B permit rather than going through the process like first having L Permit and then after two years only extension can be applied for B permit?

Thanks

Hi Folks,

I am a non-EU citizen working for a multinational in an EU nation (schengen state) for the last 4.5 years and a holder of a work and residence permit which needs to be renewed on a yearly basis for the first 5 years after which I will get a permanent residence permit for that EU nation.

Questions:

1) If I find myself a job in Swiss for another multinational will I have to go through 10 years of continuous residence and yearly renewal with a type B work permit to get a permanent residence or will I be given a type C permit after 5.5 years ( 10 - 4.5) of continuous residence?

In other words will my 4.5 years of residence in a EU state help in any way towards getting my type C permit sooner than 10 years.

2) If I would have a permanent residence permit for the present EU state that I live and work in presently, will my case of relocation to swiss with respect to work and residence permit rules be treated the same as for a EU citizen?

In other words, does it make sense for me to wait until I get a permanent residence for the present EU nation that I work in and then relocate to Swiss or will it just not matter, in which case I will have to get a type B permit anyway and wait 10 years for a permanent swiss residence permit

3) Suppose I am given a type B work permit for swiss, and in the case of me getting married to a non-EU citizen after the type B permit in swiss is granted to me, can my spouse get a residence permit and also a work permit of type B assuming that she can find an employer who would want to hire her and sponsor her permit?

Thanks in advance,
Mowgly

Swiss as in the airline company? You want to live on a plane?

No
Swiss as in Switzerland to be more precise.
Thanks,
M

Always a good idea to be clear when asking a question. Especially considering nobody calls the actual country "Swiss" so it's not really a matter of being "precise".

To your questions

1) No.
2) No.
3) Yes.

Thank you for the info.
M