Hallow everyone! I live in Switzerland nearly 20 years and I think this is the best forum you can get as an English speaker - on my issue concerning living in Switzerland.
I have a question troubling me! I am from Non-EU South Africa, but living and working in Switzerland nearly 20years. I have C permit and a good job, earning considerable good salary! My wife is from Russia and we have been married almost a year now! She lives in Russia and we have been processing the Family reunification Visa since May this year! We went to Moscow Swiss embassy and gave all our papers!
3 weeks later I received a letter from migration Zurich with all kind of questions: such as – How did you meet? Salary slips, my apartment contract…even pictures of our wedding, ooh and our romance story!
Last week my wife received an invitation from Swiss embassy in Moscow for an interview – she is due for the interview in 2 weeks from now. Simultaneously I received a letter from Kanton polizei for an interview as well concerning visa of my wife – due in a week time!!
My question is - is this really normal! What does a kanton polizei in my area got to do with visa of my wife – and questions? Does he want to see if my apartment is big enough for a family or what? One thing is that we are law abiding family – No criminal records! I was just wondering if this is a normal procedure! We have been in this Visa process since May and I wonder if there is any one out there who has gone through such an experience – I will really appreciate a feedback! And also if there is anyone out there who can help my wife with questions to expect at her visa interview! I will really appreciate! Thx guys in Advance.

Sounds to me like a pretty normal procedure if they suspect you do not have a legitimate marriage. Most people marry someone who they met in their local area, had a long relationship with and then marry them and move in together.

Meeting and marrying outside your home country or area of residence always raises alarm bells. And there has been some pretty bad press lately about marriages 'of convenience' and western europeans being paid large sums of money to marry easterners...there's a long history of this...

But that goes without saying. I'm guessing the swiss embassy will ask your wife similar questions to what they ask you - how did you meet, what is your relationship like, why did you get married, why don't you live together, and is there any money involved...

However, it sounds like this is the last stage of the process - they have already done the background check (2-3 months since May) and now they are double checking that the faces match the names, if you know what I mean ?

If it helps reassure you, after our permissions were given, our whole family had to turn up to the swiss embassy in Sydney and they definitely asked us the basics like why were we going, what our plans were, and they checked that our kids matched all their papers as well...and they do this every year when we renew our permits...

There is no normal, it's all done case by case. I have a friend at work from Kosovo, C permit and living now 30 years in Switzerland. He married a woman from Albania who was much younger than him. The police felt it must have been a scam marriage because of the age difference. He said the whole process took nearly 2 years before she was granted permission to live with him in Switzerland. Today he's a happy husband/father with 2 young children (twins now 1 year old).

Just for encouragement, a C-permit holder friend of mine, just imported his Russian fiancée and married her. Hope it goes as well for you.

Thanks Swisspea! You have made me relax today! I have been in tension regarding the latest development as regard this reunification visa process. I thought the same too – a South African married to a Russian, would always blowout some sort of red lights! And extra checks! I remember on the initial stages of the process – I phoned to the migration ZH to enquire the reasons of the delay, and they answered me – ooh, its fine! We have all your documents but it’s a normal procedure and also people from countries such as yours and your wife (South Africa and Russia) – we always do a double check! (For a minute I thought, this isn’t fare – racism or what?),
But yes! You are correct! I guess it a double finally check! And I hope it goes well and soon my wife can come home! It’s been a long depressing procedure I won’t wish it on anyone! So far our papers were well documented and more than perfect! Big flat! Good salary! No criminal records! A legitimate true love and marriage! Everything they wanted – we have provided! Now comes the interview, and I think, what a heck! Again more questions after answering so much and providing so much a wonderful documentation and evidence of my life with my wife! I was mad when I got this mail from Gemeinde polizei requesting an appointment with me on questions regarding entry Visa of my wife! But then I thought! Wait a minute! Perhaps they want to have a face contact with me and probably even prove my apartment to be big enough for a family as I mentioned on my documentation! Because I read somewhere in this forum, where someone said that the came to prove if the flat was big enough for a family! I just wonder if this is the cases!
But Swisspea – thanks for your response and all those who are reading my message! I will keep you guys informed till the end! Perhaps it will help someone else in the future! Thanks guys and any feedbacks are really appreciated!

First of all dont panic. The fact you are going through a process is reassuring that you are on yourway. Remain calm and move through it in an orderly fashion, everything will be fine.

Thanks NotAllThere, the difference on my case is that we already married – almost a year now! We got married in Russia – we thought it wise do have her family and friends at the wedding!
This is now just a family reunification visa we are working on – and as far as I have read and heard – it’s my right my wife to be here! They can not say No to a legitimate marriage! However, the process is too long - a bridge to far! And lots of documentations and questions!

Actually they can say no if they have any suspicion your marriage is not authentic. If you were a Swiss National the ride would be a lot smoother. Anyway, if everything is legitimate, you have nothing to worry about. But do not expect you have 100 % rights as a non national.

Thanks! I am sure it will workout! Just need to be calm! Thx

This is the main thing. Just go through the process, be confident, have all your evidence that they request together and meet their requirements. The Australian process is similar, went though it myself and its pretty nerve racking but have confidence.

You are right! but again if they should suspect so - not authentic! they have to prove its not authentic! and I understand, surely no country would allow anyone messing with the law! But in my case my marriage is true from the end to the beginning! All documented - photos...everything!

Thanks dear - its always nice to hear from someone who have gone thru it All!

You will have no problems then, it just takes time a little pain and effort.

Thats true! Its like a brigde too far! Seems No end on paper works! But I know the night is almost gone! and a day is coming On! Thx

Hi,

I have been living in Switzerland for less than one year and I have a B-permit. I started the family reunification 1 month before I have been married. I gave them all the required documents and when I got married I sent them my wedding contract. It took them less than one week to prepare the VISA for my wife (in total iin took 1 month to have my wife here with me.)
I think the big mistake that you did is to deal directly with the embassy. I did all the procedure through the migration office (even if they are not too kind sometimes). Just one advice before going there try to have a look on their website to know which are your rights and never trust them when they say it is impossible to do it.
A had a funny story with them, first of all I sent them an E-mail saying that I would like to start the reunification process as "fiancés", they told me that it is impossible to do it. I had a look on their website and I found that it is possible . So, I printed out the form and I went to their office showing them the "law" and their mail, they felt embarassed , so they told me bring all these documents and when will get married send us the marriage contract and we will issue the VISA. I prepared all the documents and I went again to the migration office, I found an "african guy" (I am not a racist because I am also from Africa) who told me it is impossible to start the process and that he does not know any thing about this "fiancé" application and was laughing at me and taking me like as an idiot . I took the queue to talk with his colleague who wanted to cover the mistake of her colleague and told me that what the first guy said is right and it is useless to talk with her and I have to stick on the rules. I started to complain till the third colleague accepted to talk with me , I explained him the situation and showed him all the papers I brought. He accepted the application and my wife is now with me
Summary of the story: Never trust a SWISS employee.

Another thing, try to certify your marriage contract at the embassy, it will save a lot of delay in the process.

Thanks MKHISG for the info. I have been living in Zurich nearly 20yrs and I have been at that office several times for varies reasons. I must say I have invited several quests here with No difficulties at All! And I know the black guy you taking about! He is always at the counter! Personally I haven’t had any problems with him! And I would say he has been nice and friendly to me!
However the issue of my Wife’s Visa, is driving me NUTS with all these waiting’s and documents! From what I have read in this forum – it seems its all new procedures after the shengen thing! Previously things were faster!
As far as my documents are concerned! Everything is pikobelo! Perfect documented with all preparations as explained in their webpage! What makes me made is this issue of a Gemeinde polizei writing me a letter – questions regarding my wife! This, I thought, is way too far! None of us is a criminal – we are both law abiding people and never been in involved in any trouble with the law! Our marriage is true – so what the hake with this waiting’s and delays?
And MKHISG did you have to go through any interview - or your wife? I am searching for any one who has gone thru the interviews! Feedback will be greatly appreciated!

No, neither I nor my wife had to go through any interview and actually it is the first time that I hear about it.

Lucky guy! Interviews is usually a part of this process! How they do it, is my question! You must have had a free ride on that one!

As I promised to come back with a feedback on this issue! I am now backing with a positive goodness! My wife got her Visa issued and stamped on her passport last week. The whole process took roughly 4months after submitting all documents required. It wasn’t that complicated – the only trouble was the waiting period! Being in Limbo kind of a situation where you don’t know the result and you simply have to wait! I must say it was very frustrating – it’s actually kind if a torture! The uncomfortable part of it – was the interview – we both had to go for interview and to be asked all kinds of private questions it wasn’t comfortable! The questions were actually fine since they were geared in a way to clarify if the marriage is true or a scam! Which I find to be ok!
We living in a world where people do all kinds of weird stuff and I think the Swiss authority are just correct getting hard on these kinds of controls! I totally agree!
So my fellow friends this is the update and the outcome of my wife visa process! A South African married to Russian! Wooooh Feel like a big Load layed off my back!!!! Thx all guys on this forum for your supports!