The rules are definitely getting more strict all the time. But I'm genuinely wondering is they're designed with a biased against immigrants from certain countries/regions. I only say this because I myself was able to easily sidestep many of the integration requirements, I believe simply due to the color of my skin. The weak element in the process is of course human prejudice, as the Kantonpolizei are the final say in cases of naturalization by marriage. They grilled me on my living situation, self-employment and lack of membership in local Vereine. I literally laughed it off and said I have few hobbies outside of work, and I'm in a band that has one Swiss member. That was it. I was confident in my answers because I understood the subjective nature of the requirements. But I have to admit feeling like I took advantage of the privilege of being a white male American. Others may not have fared so well. They even asked my wife if she was a prostitute, not me. YMMV

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How on earth did they formulate THAT question?

Apparently it's actually a question on a form in some places...


https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/citizen...pill-/41295932

Carlos was shocked at the first question put to him by the policewoman: ‘Is your wife a prostitute?’

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The police officer was typing everything into her computer. She said sorry, it’s just the questions on the form, but I haven’t heard of anyone else being asked this. Also I thought they must have had all the information about us from the documents I sent in. They knew where my wife works.”

I’ve heard of other people getting asked the same question, always the woman, whether she’s the immigrant or the native. Since my kids were there, the police asked if she “hangs out in the red light district”. I had to seriously restrain myself.

That's hilarious!

Feeling a bit left out - I just got asked to name 3 Swiss newspapers and a couple of bods on the Bundesrat when they visited our place.

I'd have laughed my tits off if they'd asked me if I was a prozzie. Maybe they took one look at my trackie bottoms and t-shirt with a smear of butter down the front and thought, "Nah..."

If I'd known they were coming I'd have put on my vinyl mini-skirt, fishnets and feather boa.

Thank you all for the thoughts. Very helpful.


To clarify a few points - I should have been more clear above. I have no problem meeting people. I can sit and talk to anyone. It's transitioning from casual to a longer term relationship. I'm only there a few times a year, and always miss the people I HAVE connected with in the past, and/or then asking them for a reference. I've had at least one outright offer, however, I want more time with them there so it's real...but that's proving tough. It would be a LOT easier if I still had relatives there.



For language, I've been talking to my local consulate and it sounds like as long as I can do the interview in a language (and the forms of course), that's the main requirement. I plan to get to B1 to be safe, I'm only at A2-ish right now though.

People in Switzerland tend to plan their non-work appointments with almost the same discipline and forethought as they would their business lives. That's why I wrote that you should contact them in advance, and by advance, I mean as soon as you know you'll be travelling here - even if that is two or three months ahead. If they're busy and you are, they might even agree to a coffee before work or a drink afterwards, just to see each other for half-an-hour. The longer warning they have, the more likely they are to be able to make time to see you. I hope they do!

Hi Gonzalo, I'm in the same situation that you found your self many years ago. I was born in Chile and currently have been living in the US for the past 30 years. BTW, I'm also a software developer. My great grand parents went to the south of Chile ( Traiguen) from Switzerland. I was wondering through your experience if in my situation I would be able to get the Swiss citizenship, just like you did. Not sure where to start.