My story so far:

- end of September / early October 2019 sent in all paperwork
- about 6 weeks later I received a confirmation that my application had been received.
- mid December 2019, received notification that Gemeinde has approved and that the dossier is being handed over to the Canton.
- early March 2020, received thumbs up from canton, dossier now going to Bern.
- mid April 2020, got bill from SEM.
- early October 2020 got letter from canton that I am now officially Swiss.

I am totally elated.

I am now Swiss.

Just one year.

There was no interview or test. I guess because I am just two weeks short of being in CH for 29 years and did the ETH.

The letter tells me I need to wait about three weeks until my name has been entered into various registers. Only after that can I apply for an ID and passport at the relevant offices.

In the past I have heard there was some sort of a ceremony in the Stadthaus or some place like that where they officially welcome you. There was no word about that. Have they stopped doing that because of COVID maybe?