You have been extremely helpful, its appreciated!!!!!

Do the you and the children speak Afrikaans- in which case it would really help with Swiss German.

To me, a move to one of the most expensive countries in the world without a guaranteed income, furthermore with dependants, makes no sense at all.

I guess it's a question of comparison, and depends on the pros and cons of the situation that one is trying to leave behind, vs the likely future prospects (also for those dependents) there or in a new country. OP is in South Africa.

EDIT: and also, I'd think, upon the possibilities of reversing the decision, should the attempt not work out. OP is a dual national: Swiss and South African.

In principle the comment is correct and agreed... however some mitigating factors which again was the reason for the OP...

1. Security in being a national - that was the first post in terms of what could this provide
2. Consideration is there re an alternative: the UK (Brexit window of opportunity is only until the end of the year)

I am now...

1. Looking for work... any work for those who may ask so not precious
2. Trying to see what I can salvage from my current business in terms of income for the next few months, if anything
3. Selling stuff
4. Waiting... doing alot of waiting due to lockdowns in various countries specifically SA, Switzerland and the UK... and more waiting...

I am not naieve... Switzerland is extremely expensive, and yes may not make sense on paper, however there are some intangibles at play here...

I have lived there before and was extremely happy with the issues and everything else aside... and for me this counts... if someone wants to make it work they can...

I am optimistic that I will find something work wise... even if its enough to pay the rent only, and will work on the rest for myself...done it before and will do it again... the ONLY question for me is the time in between... it will take longer I know, and that is the risk. The gap between getting back and now.

If/when a gap opens up on flights to Europe it may be that we need to fly from SA to Switzerland (repatriation flight of sorts) and then make the call to go to the UK or stay where we are... I would like to be prepared for both options because I guess no one knows right now, so there we are!

Thanks again for the advice and comments....

This is true. In France they call this group the terminal ones, which doesn't sound as funny these times as it did when I first heard it.

If your son/daughter is born in 2004 or before then they would be in a class/year called 11P. It is the final year of compulsory schooling. If they don't get the grades they cannot go onto gymnase. The stream here in 8P in fact, so they would have found out they were terminal when they were 11yo. You can move streams, but it is very difficult to do so. Difficult cause they teach more at a faster rate in the high streams, so you start to lose out as soon as streamed into the lower grade.

Gymnase I hear is quite challenging too. With Universities in Switzerland very high standards indeed.

The older your kids get the more difficult it gets to move the family for many reasons.

There's an interesting current thread of a family with two not-so-very-young children, inlcuding about schooling, over here: https://www.englishforum.ch/introduc...itzerland.html.


See also this thread, about moving with teenagers, in particular Post 7, written by a teenager, then 16, about her own experience in settling in at shool, and with learning German, in Zurich.
https://www.englishforum.ch/educatio...l-schools.html

This thread could interest you. It is about subsidies to reduce the burden of the health insurance premiums. This is called "Prämienverbilligung" in German. https://www.englishforum.ch/insuranc...e-subsidy.html

This is, like all such things, means tested, both income and assets. Here, for example, are the limits in Zurich: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/gud/de/...billigung.html

Personen in bescheidenen wirtschaftlichen Verhältnissen haben Anspruch auf Beiträge an ihre Krankenversicherungsprämien.

2020 haben Sie Anspruch auf Prämienverbilligung, wenn Ihr massgebendes steuerbares Einkommen 36 300 Franken (Einzelpersonen), 41 600 (Alleinerziehende) bzw. 49 200 Franken (Verheiratete) nicht überschreitet. Kinder erhalten bis zu einem Einkommen von 62 900 Franken einen Beitrag.

Das Vermögen darf 150 000 Franken (Einzelpersonen) bzw. 300 000 Franken (Verheiratete, Alleinerziehende) nicht überschreiten.

deepl translation:

People in modest economic circumstances are entitled to contributions (subsidies) to their health insurance premiums.

In 2020, you are entitled to a premium reduction if your relevant taxable income does not exceed CHF 36,300 (single persons), CHF 41,600 (single parents) or CHF 49,200 (married persons). Children receive a contribution up to an income of CHF 62 900.

The assets may not exceed 150,000 francs (single persons) or 300,000 francs (married, single parents).

Hi Falafel,
How're you doing, with your thoughts on a possible move to Switzerland?