I'm a recent graduate, non-EU/US/Canada.
I found a job and the company applies me a working permit. How long does it take to have an answer from the government?

3ish months, depending.

and because other people will say this: write an introduction! search the forum for similar questions! etc.

thanks for your prompt answer.
if it's 3 months, then my student permit B expires.

So many problems

I've been waiting for a decision since 19 June (also US/CAN), making today my four-month anniversary!

Once a positive decision is made and reaches my postbox, I will then have to arrange an appointment to get my biometrics taken and then travel to either Stuttgart or Paris to pick up my permit.

Then again, it would have been much quicker if I had applied from home and not whilst already in Switzerland.

You are allowed to stay in the country while your work permit is processing. If you want the added security, you can go to the immigration authority and pay 20CHF for a document that verifies this.

Thank you for the information.

I come up with my initial question because my roomate got his L working permit after two weeks. I apply much earlier than him. This makes me nervous.

You can always call and try to find out what's happening. No guarantees that they'll give you any useful information, but it can't hurt.

2 weeks is not impossible... because according to the website, ¨Die Prüfung der Gesuche kann rund zwei Wochen betragen, sofern die Unterlagen vollständig eingereicht werden.¨
http://www.awa.zh.ch/internet/volksw...lligungen.html

But I also know someone who has waited 16 weeks and got a B permit after studying in CH...