I am an American citizen, my girlfriend is a Swiss National. I am attempting to go through my employer (an American company with offices in Geneva and Zurich) to get a transfer and subsequently a valid work permit through the company. This is proving to be difficult and very time consuming. My question is: does anyone know of a government visa or permit for "domestic partners" of Swiss Nationals?
Your thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

Hawkeye,

unless you two marry (or intend to do so in Switzerland), it's going to be difficult for you to get a visa other than a tourist visa.

You will get a work visa only if you have a contract by an employer. For non-EU citizens, this is fairly difficult to get unless you are a highly specialized professional, artist, scientist, or journalist (I assume you're not a US government employee, that is a different story again).

There are quotas for the number of admissions per year of persons from non-EU countries.

If your employer wants to transfer you to Switzerland, then that's definitely the way to go. Your employer will know how to do this, and you will also have to apply via the appropriate Swiss consulate.

Some information can be found on the site of the Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry:

www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/nameri/vusa/ref_visinf/visusa.html#ContentPar_0010

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Some Kantons have more liberal views on this than others. You would need to prove a stable and long lasting relationship. One of the key elements here appears to be children but if you've been together for a good few years then there may be a slim chance.

If you get engaged then it is possible to get a so calledfiance permit which allows you to come to Switzerland but you would need to marry within a defined period of time.

Anyhoo - if your partner is Swiss why not get her to do the legwork and find out the possibilities ?

btw - if you think a company transfer is difficult, just wait until you try this route .

Thank you both for you comments/insight. I figured it couldn't be that easy but thought I would at least throw it out there.