Hello everyone!

I am originally from Bulgaria (what they call an EU2 here) moved in September 2010 to start working with a limited contract for 18 months in the canton of Bern. I was given an L permit for one year although the company applied for a B.. (I also have studied in Switzerland 7years ago and I had 4years of B permit at that time) .. therefore a big shock when I only got an L permit.
I tried to talk to the local office as well as the cantonal.. everytime I received a different answer. First I was told that I received the L because the quota for Bulgarians was exhausted. When HR called - the answer was that my contract is limmited and thats the main reason (although on the www.bfm.admin.ch states that you need more than 12months contract and you should get a B)..
Until this date I dnt really know the reason and HR is telling me nothing can be done unless I renegotiate my contract to unlimited after the 18months period. They also suggested that I might get a B when we renew the permit next Sep. However at that time I will have only 6months remaining from my contract..and sure will get an L for 6mths

I saw some posts in the forum that people where able to change their permits to a B after polite complaints/ talks with the local cantons.. Can you share some stories and more details? Is it at all possible to change the permit before it expires - or I have to wait until September to try to renegotiate again.

The main reason I care for a B permit is that my bf is non-EU and it was such a pain to get him a Swiss tourist visa I cnt even imagine what it would be if we marry and try to reunite here (which is the plan).. I know he should get the same permit/rights as me but I am afraid no one will hire him if he has a 6 month L permit..

Any suggestions and advice will be appreciated.

It is a huge mess, I've sen many people getting an L after having a B. The official answer is indeed quota. We had our HR and our lawyers talking to officials in Zurich about that but the answer was nothing can be done.

We were not even able to understand how the quota works.

From the horse's mouth:


Bulgaria and Romania

Protocol II on extending the free movement agreement to Romania
and Bulgaria (EU-2) took force on June 1, 2009. Employees and service
providers from these countries will initially be subject to interim provisions,
however.

Switzerland has decided to continue restrictions on citizens from Romania
or Bulgaria until 2016 at the latest. Thus, citizens from these countries are
facing restricted access to the Swiss labor market and are subject to special
quotas. Domestic workforce can be given precedence over Romanian and
Bulgarian citizens, and salary and work conditions may be checked by the
authorities.