Hi all,

I have always stalked EF a lot for permit advice. I have been looking for info similar to my situation right now, but haven’t seen anything quite the same yet. (Or the info is out of date already) and I wanted to ask the valued EF community advice. Don’t worry! I will be asking all the officials about everything. I just wanted a head start or some similar experiences.

Anyhoo, I have been in Switzerland on and off for a few years on tourist visa, an au pair L permit, and now a traineeship L permit, which allows me to work.

I love my company and the job I have, but to be honest, HR was lazy about making my permit. They couldn’t find any Swiss to fill the position and they did a global search in the EU as well as interview several candidates in London and they still couldn’t find anyone, so they hired me. But because HR did not want to do the painstaking B permit process of “proving” that they searched first in Switzerland and also the whole EU, and because they thought the process would be too long and risky, they had me apply on my own in the US for the specialized traineeship L permit, which lets recent US university graduates gain short term permits.

HR was under the impression they could get a B permit for me later, but they were eventually told from Bern that my L permit would not be renewed or turned into a B permit because I am “not specialised enough”. Even though they couldn’t find anyone before, maybe there is someone available for my job in the Swiss or EU now. Who knows.

My boyfriend and I have decided to get married sooner in front of the law here so that I can still have a valid permit and remain working. Neither of us really wants to relocate to the US yet and we definitely don’t want to be separated again.

So we are planning on getting married this summer and getting me a new permit, as my L permit will expire at the end of January, in 2011. We would like to do it soon enough so there is more overlap. Then later on in 2011, we can have a big church wedding in the States. (Only fair to have one in each country)

Has anyone else already been located in Switzerland with a job and a permit when they married their Swiss? What were your experiences in changing your permit? I’m a little worried that I could still lose my job if the government doesn’t accept that I should keep working and transfer my permit. Are they more lenient if you are getting married? It would be a pain for my company to have to find someone else too, especially if they had to fill out more forms for a new foreigner. I have read a lot about applying for first time permits from the US, but not about changing already existing permits.

I have read on some threads that I might need an FBI background check to apply for the post-married work permit. I never needed one for my current permit, so I’m already wondering all the things I will need to have my future husband apply for my permit.

Right now we are taking one step at a time and trying to get all the necessary documents like birth certificate, affidavit, etc for the marriage part.

And in closing, I just have to say I am so happy about the thought of spending my life with my wonderful man! Job or not... of course it would be easier to keep this job I already like, but I suppose I could always find something else to do here eventually. I mean, there is nothing wrong with me working once I’m married, right?

If you marry a Swiss citizen, you more or less are automatically granted the right to work in Switzerland. HR will have to file the right papers with the government, but at least in my case it was very straightforward and not an issue.

I didn't have to get an FBI check, a letter from the local police department in the town where I last lived in the US was enough - but I was married in early 2003, so things may have changed since then.

I just though of another question. I've heard that if/when you have to apply for a new passport, your permit becomes invalid because your new married name wouldn't match.

Would it be recommended to also apply for a new passport before applying for the new work permit??

My permit was issued in my married name, and I then had my passport amended a few months later with my married name. I'm not sure if they still amend passports (I'm a US citizen), though.