Stan, I'm from Ireland. So if I work in Switzerland and live in France, I have to go back to Ireland to get my unemployment benefits. Is that it?

If you WORK in CH, you don't need it!

what are you referring to?

That, and being able to give up your original citizenship.

Tom

Right, avoiding the payment of back taxes.

They do check that you do not have outstanding debts or criminal records, etc, 'back home'.

No, it won't do anything for back taxes, but it makes life easier, i.e. don't have to fill out tons of paperwork to show that you don't owe any taxes, and no need to obtain a second passport, thus saving time and expense.

Tom

Obvious, no? If you work you don't need unemployment benefit.

if you lose you job, then you do need unemployment benefit. That's what I'm asking. If you work, not only do you not need unemployment benefit, you are not entitled to it either.

You do get something for the higher rents: higher quality flats. In my experience living in France, the walls were thinner (hence noise problems), rooms were draftier, heating was more inefficient, inconsistent water quality, etc. You will also have to deal with the occasional traffic problems crossing the border (example, the autoroute toward the Bardonnex crossing).

I think very little. However, there is a big impact if you are a young male. I know at least two persons (one Dutch and one Italian). Both were born in Geneva, but they never took Swiss nationality and remained C permit holders because they didn't want to participate in military service. Maybe something to think about for your children.

I appreciate what you are saying, but I have come across poorly built flats with thin walls in Switzerland too.

Military service seems like a good gig to me. Time off each year to go and drink beer with the boys, zero chance of actually seeing combat, good networking opportunities etc.

I guess it depends on what kind of job you have. Most upwardly mobile males that I know here in my company do not think it is great to go off to the army when they are working on important projects and they are competing for the bosses attention. As for networking, it depends on the circle that you are bivouac-ing with (may not necessarily be the right folk for your career in the future, although you might make some good lifetime friends).

any other benefits of Swiss nationality that anyone can think of?

Indeed.

Had my daughters been born male rather than female, I never would have obtained US citizenship for them.

Tom

what about benefits of Swiss nationality? What positive advantages does it give you?

You can move out of Switzerland and work abroad for awhile and not worry about losing the right to return.

You can start your own company (although you can do that as a non-Swiss but I believe the paperwork is a bit of a hassle).

In your case DB/MN,Switzerland would be the big benefactor

what does that mean?

I believe he meant if DB (Dougal's Breakfast) were to become Swiss, Switzerland would benefit.

In fact, the country would benefit if most of those foreigners that make up 20% of the country were to become Swiss! This is something that the federal government has been trying to solve with new legislation (notwithstanding the obstacles placed by the UDC/SVP).

Maybe I'm being thick, but why do you think the country would benefit if the foreigners became Swiss? They would have a lot more rights, but the country would not get that much more out of them than it already does (that is, they are already working, contributing members of society who can be kicked out if they commit a crime).

The proposed legislation definitely looks better for foreigners and I personally hope to profit under it, but who knows what the future will bring...