Thanks for the link. Now I know for sure I'll just work in the us for now until I can get a solid b permit. Any info regarding requirements and helpful factors would be appreciated.

A few questions now about a c permit.

Obviously I could not vote or serve in the military, but from a working standpoint would I have the full employment rights of a Swiss citizen?

Also is taking it one step further and gaining citizenship hard without marriage?

Finally is there some sort of identifying card for b or c permit holders? I'd assume passports are reserved only for citizens obviously.

Thanks

Try this thread - it's probably the only way you could come to Switzerland to do what you want to do .

Thank you. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that I could at some point get a B permit, because other than marrying a Swiss girl, it looks like the easiest way to live and work for the field I'm looking at.

Could somebody tell me if going to university in Switzerland might make it easier to get a long term work permit other than through a company?

I'm also still unsure if the Steadicam industry will really play out for me, so I'm exploring alternative options. Rather than start a new thread, I guess I'll just continue on this one.

So here's an alternate situation: Let's say I was to go to a 4 year university in the USA, then wanted to come to Switzerland and go to law school (with the goal of practicing law in Switzerland). To begin with, is it even possible to do this as far as education goes? My next question would be that being specialized in a field of law in Switzerland, would it be possible to find a job offer without too much difficulty? Again this is a road where if I couldn't get a job, I'd be stuck with a degree that's only useful in a country where I couldn't live. Ironically I'm looking into immigration law.

And just confirming, if you get a B permit through an employer and hold it for 5 years under your employment with this country (5 years being from the USA), it would automatically get upgraded to a C permit? Also would I be able to hold the B or C permit even if I left the company?

I'm trying to set up a situation one way or another where I have full employment rights, either to work freelance or to move from company to company. This is important for me if I'm going to get the 12 years of continuous stay to apply for naturalization (assuming I don't get married before then).

Thanks for all the help!

Thanks for your help!

Here, you can follow my current REAL career plan on my other thread, but I have one more question here.

In Switzerland, how strict are they about what they call "working" here?

I.E. I come to Switzerland the 4 months I'm off at university. If I was to come and pick up some work operating a Steadicam here, making NO MORE than $2000 or so, would that count as working in Switzerland and be illegal?

Or to begin with could people hire me, a non-swiss, for little "hobby" work like that?

Or am I not allowed to accept any money?

Hi,

It's illegal for you to work period. Exactly the same if I was to try to work in the US.

EU17 passport holders can work for 90 days without a permit however must register within 8 days.

No hobby working, there are plenty of people in the film industry here without work getting unemployment benefits, many have played at doing some steadicam. Therefore your chances of getting a permit are slim, unless you marry a Swiss!