Whenever I had my interview, the consul conducting it told me having to sign the criminal history paper again is a normal step and usually a very good sign. She didn’t say anything about having to submit a new FBI background check, but that may be part of it as well. She said the new signature may be required because once your other papers filter back to Bern from the commune and canton, your certification of no criminal history and background check are sometimes over 6 months old, so they just want a reaffirmation that you’re still not a criminal.

I think I got lucky and my application was just processed so quickly by my canton and commune (Aarau AG) that mine was less than 6 months old by the time it got back to Bern. So I didn’t need to do it. But I think that’s somewhat unusual.

Also, the FBI says 8-12 weeks, but I got my background check in about 6. My dad’s was also quicker than the quote he was given when he needed a background check for a weapons permit. Generally as long as your record is clean and they don’t have to pull things like county or state records, it’ll generally go quicker than the quote time.

Congratulations, chtoc! A lovely report!

Island Monkey, so glad your application worked out, too, after such a long wait.

I wanted to let everyone know that my sister, who submitted her application with my mother and me in July 2015, just received notice to go to the embassy and sign the letter stating she had not broken the law since applying.

My mother received hers mid-September, which was 3 months after I received mine, and now my sister received hers 4.5 months after I did.

I received notice of my citizenship 3 months after signing that letter in mid-September, so I'm expecting my mother will receive hers mid-December, and my sister mid-January.

However, if this sequence of events goes to show anything, it is that the process takes varying lengths of time for different people, even those who applied at exactly the same time, without any particularly obvious reason.

I was asked to sign a letter stating I had not committed any crimes since applying, but I was not asked to submit any additional government-issued documents. Best of luck!

LOL. No, that would never happen. You are Swiss, so you could even get "uppity" and complain about not getting good service... Not that I recommend that, though

Congratulations!

Thanks for this list, I think it might be useful for others.

I believe this happens when the original check has somehow expired. When this happens, seems to depend on the country you are doing this from (US in your case).

Good luck!

I am doing the normal process, and I have just had a letter asking for a new tax declaration as the old one is more than 6 months old. It is only more than six months old because they have taken more than six months processing my dossier since they first received it. Hmmm.....

Could it be that your new FBI-check request falls into a similar category? If so, nothing to worry about, it's just administration.

I just had my facilitated interview with the police in Zurich. My husband is Swiss, I am English - we have a 5 week old daughter & I have lived in CH 12 years. The interview was in German.

They asked about:
- My job, my husbands job, how much I work, the language at work
- The Swiss political system - how it works, the different swiss parties (just the main ones)
- Swiss History (I did not really know this too well)
- Swiss geography - general knowledge, where I have visited
- Interactions with Swiss people
- Hobbies
- Swiss festivals I have visited

The police seemed happy with my answers but time will tell!! Hope it helps someone!

Hi All,
I Applied for FN from Stadt Zurich in April 2016. the confirmation of receipt stated it takes on the average 18 months (longer in some cases). Mine has taken longer than 18 months. Would it be wise to contact them now and cheekily ask if they need more information or documents and where I am with process, or Am I the Longer than 18 months case.

Cheers

My bad, the Duration stated up to 18 months and longer in some cases. All procedure stated in forum are completed but I am still waiting for the final decision. Interview was last year Oct, Last forms confirming the marriage and criminal records were in June this year.

Hm, you are applying for FN through marriage and living in Switzerland?

That seems quite long... the whole process took about 12 months for me. I sent my application in December '13, some more documents in March '14, Interviews in May, then I received the decision letter you are waiting for in October 2014. After that, my status changed to citizen some time in December '14.

I would maybe call them up and ask if anything is wrong.

hiii! did you ever receive your citizenship in the end?

Sent of the docs 4 months ago. I plus husband had the interview today. I enjoyed it! Where I was born, where did I grow up, profession, what I do at UZH, plans for the future. How we met. Capital of Switzerland. Languages. Where I have been in CH. Contact to Swiss people, clubs, etc. Zurich holidays / celebrations. We ended up having a pleasant 1 hour conversation. I called AI "eine Frauenfeindliche Festung". Turned out he was from AI. Apart from the last part, I think I did okay.

Hi guys,
I’d just like to see what you think of my wife’s chances. Little background. I’m Swiss through ancestry but was born and am still living in Hong Kong.
My wife would be having her interview in 2 days time and I’m quite confident she can answer the interview questions. She passed her B1 German exam recently.

We’ve been to Switzerland for 10 times in the last 10 years, with 3 trips in the last 4 years. The trips ranged from 10 days to 30 days. Also, I have 3 relatives and 1 family friend who can provide references, and she’s got 4 letters from Swiss citizens living abroad.

What do you guys think of her chances? It’s just that I’m very nervous for her.
Thanks!

I would think her chances are good. Please keep us posted.

Hi All,
Has anybody else's FN Application from within Switzerland gone Beyond 2 years? Mine is approaching 2 years in April this Year.
Here is my Time line:
Apr 2016: Application
+10 Days: Application Confirmation
Sep 2016: Zurich Kanton Asking for usual Tax, Betreibung, CV
Oct 2016: Police Visit and an informal interview
Jun 2017: Letter Declaring if we are not criminals and and still married
Nov 2017: I sent SEM letter asking what is going on. Received answer stating that not all corresponding Kantons have submitted their reports (I m living in Kanton other than heimat kanton).
Year 2018: The wait goes on....
The Bureaucracy is getting in to me

Oh man, I'm sorry. That does sound long. It sounds like it's possible that you didn't get the paperwork through from the canton you are living in. I was also living outside my Heimat canton, in canton Zurich, and everything was seamless.

Have you tried calling your Gemeindehaus first and asking the person in charge of naturalisation there where you should ask? I'm not sure how you go about finding who is in charge for that for the canton.

I agree this sounds exceptionally long. How many cantons are involved??