I am going to finish my PhD at ETH Zurich in about a year (expect. graduation Feb 2012). After briefly reviewing the job market in Switzerland - I realized that many jobs require either an EU citizenship or a Swiss working permit (I hold a non-EU passport). Few days ago, I encountered coincidently the following encouraging thread:

http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/...abgaenger.html

After contacting them - I got the message that once I am done with my last exams (or thesis) - I can apply for an extension of my permit for 6 months - during this 6 months I should hunt for a job. Once, I find a job, my potential employer should apply for a working permit for me. Well, sounds like this still makes the life of the employer quite cumbersome - and in fact I don't see what is the point of this initiative? Maybe the procedure of getting a working visa for me is not that difficult since my degree is form Swiss University? Otherwise - what is the difference between applying for a job within Switzerland or outside of Switzerland?


Maybe the Swiss are trying to imitate the HSMP program in the UK? The HSMP (Highly Skilled Migrant Program) program - allows one to apply for jobs and live in the UK - and once a job is found, getting a working permit is not a big deal - thus having an HSMP permit in the UK is a big plus in the eyes of potential employers in the UK.


If you have been through this procedure - please provide some hints...

You are here and you can attend interviews etc. Otherwise, no difference.

Perhaps that's the only point which makes life easier. However the email I got form them quite contradicts the contents of the initiative which particularly stating that -

"The amendment provides for foreign nationals graduating from a Swiss university-level institution to be on an equal footing with Swiss nationals when it comes to entering the Swiss labour market"

Could you put up the entire original text of the email from the BFM. This would be very interesting to a lot of non-EU people studying here, myself included.

As requested, this is the contents of the email:





Dear Mr. vlad_island,


Thank you for your request.


After graduation, i. e as soon as you pass your last examination or your thesis is accepted you have to apply for an extension of your resident permit (as a student), in order to hunt for a job (as a worker).


Having found a job that is of scientific or economic importance for Switzerland, it is your employer who has to apply for permission to hire you (work permit). The employer needs to send the application to the cantonal labour market authority. For contact details, please refer to http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/de/home/die_oe/kontakt/kantonale_behoerden/adressen_kantone_und.html).


We hope to have been of some help.


Yours sincerely,
FEDERAL OFFICE FOR MIGRATION FOM
Section Labour German Switzerland

Yes, this is a valid point - sort of ignored it because it depends who is assessing the position. If you find a job covered by this description - assume it only applies to educational, research, or gov't jobs then the permit still needs to be applied for but is guaranteed. For all other jobs teh normal rules apply.

off topic but hsmp does not exist anymore.

Yeap it is Tier 1 or smth like this

No it is more like the US system actually.

Well, I know nothing about the 'points' system in the US - any reference? Tnx.

HSMP/Tier 1 is the total opposite of the H1B in US - which is more like Work Permit/Tier 2

I was referring to the CH system which is more like the US actually.

Recently my university circulated a FAQ for non-EU graduates (Masters and PhD) from Swiss universities

Some excerpts from that:
- students dont have to commit to leaving the country after their studies
- the six month permit to look for work after studies is not extendable
- it allows 15 hours of work per week, but is not a "work permit"
- to get the permit one needs to have passed the final exam, proof of housing, 2100 CHF per month (the 2100 can vary from canton to canton)
- the six months starts from the day the student is informed by the registrar that they have passed their final exams
- as of now, Phd students are not entitled to unemployment benefits during this 6 month period, even though they have paid unemployment insurance as university employees during their studies

- an employer applying for a permit for a non EU Swiss university graduate can now ignore the priority for Swiss and EU citizens
- it will be sufficient for the employer to show the job to be filled has significant scientific or economic interest. This vague wording is supposed to have been clarified by an ordinance somewhere in http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/142_201/index.html
But ultimately depends on the interpretation of the authorities who decide on the permit
- these permits will be subject to the yearly quotas
- For all EU and non EU, if they hold a B permit for two years after finishing their studies, then the years spent studying will be counted towards a C permit

What about NonEU Masters graduates? Are there any advantages in place?

Are you sure that ex-PhD students are not eligible to get unemployment benefits? We are paying for this. I have contacted one the RAV, they said we I am supposed to get unemployment benefits, if I can't find a job.

This FAQ was handed out at a Q&A session with senior officials from the canton of Vaud in charge of permits, and one of them was quite categorical that under the present rules, phd students will not be eligible for unemployment benefits while under this 6 month job search permit, since they did not have a "proper" work permit.

I suppose one can always try with the RAV authorities to see if they will allow an exception, since that is a separate office.

I believe it might be considered then illegal to charge us with the unemployment benefits fee on a monthly basis.