A bit of background: as a non-EU citizen I've spent a considerable amount of time, money and effort trying to integrate to the Swiss society during the last 5 years I've lived here.

About a week ago I received notification to renew our B-Permits. I had previously gathered all the documents that need to be provided to request a C-Permit after 5 years for successful integration: extract from the criminal records, certificates of language, etc. Then it goes as follows:

• We go to the Migration Office with our renewal form including a note that we request an early C-Permit for good integration.
• The lady at the counter receives our forms but refuses to take any other documents, i.e. certificates. She only writes a note: C-Prüfen.
• After some days we get our brand new B-Permits valid for only one year.

It's extremely disappointing for us, as we see ourselves living long term here, and wanted to know if this country sees us also living here for long time.

At the moment I have the feeling of being a third class citizen as I got no chance to explain or demonstrate our level of integration and our reasons to stay. We get to renew our permits every single year, and it's getting more expensive each year. Back in 2007 we paid 180 CHF for 3 permits, while now it's 408.85, which feels kind of an additional tax for living here.

sorry... i don't understand.. are you from a country that allows a 5 year b to convert to a c or do you have to wait longer? I got that you have been here for 5 years, but my understanding is that not all countries will convert at that time. for instance, i think SA is 8 and India is 10.

So, did you get a 1 year b because you have to wait to the full period before getting a c?

I'd have to wait 10 years to get a C-Permit. However, there's the chance for us to requests C after 5 years based on good integration without having to wait so long. I don't know if we have to wait the full time, I received no additional information about my application, no explanations, only my B-Permit and the bill for 408 CHF.

Is there any concrete criteria for integration which qualifies for a fast-track c-permit for non-EU, though? Maybe you just didn't meet the conditions?

Perhaps a visit to the Gemeinde with a request to meet with someone higher up the food chain might yield some answers for you?

According to the official sources we meet the criteria, however we didn't even get a chance to demonstrate we do. I'll definitively go ask for details.

Sometimes I just don't get it, some people get 5 years B-Permit, which wouldn't be bad, but it's always yearly for us. It bothers me also that the bill to get the permit is more expensive each year.

Feeling bad for you. I have seen hardwork you have put in ( B1, getting docs ready etc)

I can suggest you can send documents via post to Migrationsamt and request for a termine, send a registered letter.

One of the rule says you need to be on long term B permit for 5 years.
(atleast in Zurich Kanton)

Also, have you confirmed with them if you are eligible for VINTA?

Sometimes you have a B on the physical permit but it is still like a short term permit (L) Refer these posts

Early C Permit for a Non-EU National through VINTA

Early C Permit for a Non-EU National through VINTA


Hope it works for you.

Thanks!

I'd make an appointment and ask to discuss this with one of their advisors. Really best coming from them - not much we can do here. Wish you the best of luck, I understand your frustration. Do you have some Swiss friends of 'good status' who could write you reference letters of your involvement in the community, etc.?

@Odile,
What might count as this "community involvement"? Paeticipation in "coup de balai"?
I've phoned the clerk at our commune "controle de la population" and the lady was very dismissive about applying for the advance C permit (EU8). We had no contact with the authorities whatsoever so it looks it is the attitude of this particular person.
Can I put forward such an application through a layer to somehow bypass the local bureaucrats?

I have no idea Yacek. I know that personal references from friends of 'good standing' + evidence of local club memberships (ski club, etc) were very useful for my husband- but it was much easier for him as EU and married to a Swiss for a looooooooong time. Wish you all the best.

Bravo to both families for making effort to 'integrate', learn the language, etc, and yes, it does seem unfair, that have made all that effort, you see other groups who sometimes haven't - get there quicker than you.

I saw an article just the other day that due to the immigration rise they are making it MUCH harder to get the C permit/ passport.

Perhaps that has something to do with it.

Anthony1406,
I would be thankful if you could recall the link to this article.

I am from Asia and worked here for five years. The same things happened to me one month ago. I wrote just "C-Bewilligung" in Bemerkung part of form. After two weeks, I got only B-permit. Then I went to the Migration office in Zürich and I explained everything. The nice lady told me that I should have wrote "Vorzeitige Niederlassung aufgrund guter Integration" otherwise the officer may think that you will demand a permit based on normal durations. Then she told me that either I can wait until next year or I can write a letter to Migration-office and ask for frühzeitige Niederlassung. The next day I wrote a letter and asked for "Vorzeitige Niederlassung". Three days after that I got a letter from Migration-office telling me to collect the documents and bring it to them; which i did. Believe me, only after ten days of submitting the documents at Kreitbüro I got the shiny C-Permit. I payed twice this year for my permits : for B-Permit 102 and for C 122. If they refuse to give you C-Permit, your money will be reimbursed.

Long story short : It is extremely important to write "Vorzeitige Niederlassung aufgrund guter Integration" I wish I could write a sticky thread just for this advice.

If you want, I can post here the letter that I wrote to migration office.

And here is the letter LetterFromMigration.pdf that I got from Migration-Office. You can see exactly what documents are need.

I noticed you anonymized your particulars but not those of the Migrationsamt Sacharbeiter. He is entitled to his privacy too,though.

Thanks for the tip. I corrected the document.

Your reply is very helpful. I wrote "Vorzeitige Niederlassung aufgrund guter Integration" as you say, but it seems I'll have to be more pushy by going there and sending the letter.

Would you please be so kind to post the letter? Thanks.

You are welcome. As I told you, I wrote a really small formal letter (and I have it checked by a Swiss friend ) and after that everything was really easy and fast. Even I couldn't believe that I got C-Permit so easily.

As soon as I find the letter, I will post it for you.

This is the letter Gesuch Um Niederlassung.doc that I sent to migration office.

As a newcomer to the forum (and Switzerland as I'm moving over to live with my partner who is also new to this bit) I take it that it's different for people in the EU? I'm coming over at the end of October so we're not entirely sure what I'll need or what will happen....

A C-Permit is automatic for people from the EU after 5 years living here. All others are subject to different conditions.