Who am I, I am a research doc (Indian national) and have finished my PhD from UK. I am now in Zurich, Switzerland with my husband who is currently pursuing his PhD. I have come here to Switzerland on a dependent visa. I applied from Mumbai, India in July 2011 and it too approx 3 months to get here since we were not advised or could not find the correct information regarding the same.
VFS customer service is very kind, calm (which is important at times) and helpful at times. But they don’t seem to give the correct information/ aren’t informed regarding dependent visa for Switzerland. And thus I have collated the most important information which I gathered during my application so as to help future applicants.
Please note: There could be some variation in paper work as well as VFS rules for Delhi office. I have applied through the Mumbai office and all information holds true for the same. And DONOT bother to call the Swizz consulate, Mumbai they are just rude and unhelpful.
STEPS FROM THE INDIAN SIDE
Switzerland VFS Office, Mumbai
Switzerland Visa Application Centre
2nd Floor, Aurum House,
Dadyseth Lane,
Lane next to Babulnath temple entrance
Babulnath, Mumbai – 400007
First of all you will need list of paper work done before you submit your application at VFS, Mumbai
Documents for VISA
(
http://www.vfs-ch-in.com/mumbai/images/DEPENDENT.pdf)
“Original marriage certificate (MC) issued by the Registrar of Marriages of the concerned State, duly legalised by the competent State Home Ministry (e.g. for residents of Maharashtra – Home Affairs, New Administrative Building, 9th Floor, Opp. Mantralaya, Mumbai 400 021), and further legalised by the Ministry of External Affairs. (in triplicate). Please note, that no Marriage Deed will be accepted by this office”
1. Legalization of marriage certificate is fairly easy, atleast in Mantralaya (Mumbai).
Step 1 -- Take the original certificate to any Notary (court behind Mantralaya), who will sign and stamp the _back side_ of the document. Step 2 -- Visit the Mantralaya (New Building) opposite to the old one -- sometime in the late afternoon (around 2:30 -3pm, it is less crowded) where you tell you would like to have the certificate "attested" (I think it is the 9/11th Floor). It costs you some money. You can ask them itself, regarding the Certificate Apostille which is done in Delhi by Ministry of External affairs. There are officials who do it for you.
It looks like this… And this should not take more than 4-5 days.
THIS SHOULD BE IN ENGLISH/ GERMAN!
2. DONOT attach bank statements, FD are not accepted or any form of fund documents.
3. A copy of the spouse’s residence / working permit in Switzerland
If your spouse has applied for his permit renewal then attaching a letter that he will receive from the Swiss Migration office from his/ her canton is sufficient.
Visa application form-
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/...sumd-fr-en.pdf
Visa fee-
For Dependent & Work Permit Employment, the Consulate fee will be: Rs 4200 (visa fee) & Rs 300 (postal/ referral fee) per application.
• The SMS Service is also available at Rs 80/- (inclusive of service tax 10.30%) per application. This is an Optional Service.
o This actually is not helpful because they update their system in the morning for the day and you receive an SMS in the morning itself which is actually not true
• Visa fee should be paid only by Demand draft in favor of CONSULATE GENERAL OF SWITZERLAND, payable in Mumbai.
o Not necessary, you can pay by cash
• Applicants shall be levied a service charge of Rs. 607/- (inclusive of service tax 10.30% & education cess) payable in cash only. (This is supposedly VFS’s charge)
• The optional courier facility is available at Rs.250/- (inclusive of service tax 10.30%) per application. (This is not included in the visa fee)
• All fees are non-refundable.
So a total of Rs 5107/- + 250/- (courier charge, optional)
Once all of this is ready you can visit the VFS in Mumbai and submit your application.
You will be called to collect your passport in 2 days (passport will have a small stamp saying dependent visa, Switzerland). You can choose to come and personally collect or take the courier service.
Mind you this is not the end of the application; you will have to go once again and then will be called again to collect your passport. So decide when you would want to use their courier service or not use it at all.
POLICE CLEARANCE
I would suggest that while you are waiting for the application process you get your police clearance done!
You have to go to your local Police Station in Mumbai and ask them for the same. They guide you through it and I don’t have to mention how you handle government officials. You might have to show yourself there many times. This should actually not take more than 15 days, but would depend on each police station.
THIS SHOULD BE ENGLISH/GERMAN
STEPS FROM THE SWITZERLAND SIDE
After a week from the date of application, I would suggest your spouse visit the Migration office in Switzerland and mention about your application (name and number). This would just help to speed up things!!
Your spouse should receive a list of documents he/she has to submit in less than 6 weeks.
For my application this was needed and I don’t think it would be any different.
1. Passport copy
2. Valid B-Permit
3. Copy of apartment rental contract
4. Salary slips
5. Monthly statements (this depends on each application can range from 6 to 12 months) (you should have at least CHF 10000/- on your statement last Statement; this can be borrowed from friend/ family)
6. Employer’s contract stating you salary of CHF X
7. Health insurance
8. Betreibungsauszug (an official doc stating you have no unpaid debts)
9. A personal letter stating you have no kids in Switzerland (which needs to be notarized)
10. Police clearance of your spouse (which I have spoken earlier should be ready by then from India and should be submitted in Switzerland and not in Mumbai).
Now once your spouse submits all these documents he/she should hear from the Migration office within 1-2 weeks.
STEPS FROM THE INDIAN SIDE
Once your spouse has received the letter. You have to email at
mum.visa@eda.admin.ch to confirm that the Swiss Consulate at Mumbai has received your positive application. (They are quick and you will hear a single sentence stating. Yes! We have received your application and you will have to re-submit your passport along with this letter to VFS).
Carry your passport, the letter sent by your spouse and the confirmation letter from Mumbai Consulate.
Your passport will be ready for collection in 2 days. You should now hold a valid visa (valid for a certain period of time).
STEPS FROM THE SWITZERLAND SIDE
Once you have safely landed in Switzerland. You must register with the local kreis office no later than 15 days from landing and fill out some forms, get a booking done for biometric analysis and pay CHF 160/-
After the Biometric analysis, you will receive your valid permit (credit card) by registered post.
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