Hi Tony,

I don't remember your specific case; I reviewed the whole thread and I think you have not provided details; perhaps they are in another thread? Otherwise, please tell us more details on exactly what type of naturalization your are going for.

Hi,

Yes you are correct I don't believe I wrote anything directly concerning the issue in the thread - but I did in this one:::::

Facilitated Naturalization [including obligations for males]

Eeep, Tony, that would have been my worst nightmare! That would be the moment one of our cats would decide that barfing in a guest's shoe was appropriate Fortunately for us, my interview was held at the office, although the official formal one was by telephone.

They're basically looking to see if you're a real couple, so just relax and be yourselves (well, as best you can be in those circumstances!). Treat it like the first time you meet your inlaws or a job interview and you'll be fine.

Ah, Ok. You are married to a Swiss. Basically, it should go exactly as shown in the movie Die Schweizermacher; have you seen it?

Just kidding... From what I have heard, nowadays it should be a very simple interview to check whether you really are who you claim to be.

Good luck.

thanks guys!

Well I'm quite looking forwards to it really, already bought in extra packs of rösti just for effect...

My only concern, before I rang him this morning, was that on the letter I received they were asking for a letter from my employer - unfortunately I'm currently unemployed. I asked him if this was an issue and he told me that it wasn't based on the fact that I worked for the same company for nearly 7 years - I think that made a difference.

MY BIGGEST concern though and a little more difficult to resolve is the fact that me and the wifey are never up to date with the taxes, although we do have a proper arrangement with the tax offices and the Federal taxes are all paid.

Could this sway their decision???

I was in the same situation as you - job wise and tax wise. With the job stuff, does your wife work? If so, and as long as you don't rely on welfare (unemployment is OK, especially with your last employment being 7 years at the same company), you should be fine. If your final reference letter from your company (assuming they also do that in the french speaking part?) was good, definitely have a copy of that.

As for the taxes, as long as you're not overdue on filing a return and have a payment arrangement with them, you should be fine.

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Thanks for that info!

I now feel at ease

Yes, actually my wife does work still and I'm not on social-aid yet - still got another 12 months of unemployment benefits and I am also currently on a 'back-to-work' scheme in an non-profit association (which is Swiss bien sûr!)
for the next 6 months.

All the tax issues were resolved yesterday with the tax office here in Geneva and I do indeed have my final letter of recommendation from my previous employer...

How long did it take until you got your final decision?

Concerning the forms used for facilitated naturalization for children or grandchildren of Swiss, has anyone who has undergone this (besides me) found them to have inadequate room for your answers?

For example, the very first question asks why you want Swiss citizenship and what your connections to Switzerland are, and I'm having trouble shortening my two answers to fit the one little space provided.

Did anybody find a work-around...?

Tim, what I did (as per the advice at the embassy) was to answer "please see the attached response" and provide an expanded answer on a separate piece of paper. I did that for the questions "What reasons do you have to ask for facilitated naturalization? What are your connections to Switzerland?" and "Do you have any contacts with Swiss nationals living abroad, who could confirm that you have these links to Switzerland?" (where one attaches the respective letters of recommendation).

Hope that helps and best regards.

Great! That's pretty much what I was hoping to hear, as I couldn't see reducing my answers to fit without cutting out important details. Thanks for that quick response!

Well, you know, "schnell" is the S in SCHWEIZER.

I'm finalizing my forms for my interview (scheduled for tomorrow), and I have a question...

On the signature pages at the end of the form, there are three lines for one's minor children over 15 years -- I assume they are asking for their signatures, as their names are already given elsewhere on the form...

Is that right?

Sorry, my kids are seven and four, didn't fill that part in.

If it is not too late, I send you my best wishes for tomorrow's interview. Be calm and you'll do great!

My interview was yesterday in Atlanta. Here's how it went:

The Paperwork:
I thought I had everything, but I was wrong. I figured I was only working on whether I would qualify or not, but I was told to also complete the official notification affidavits for recording my marriage and the births of each of my children.

I had figured that stuff could come later, and only if necessary (i.e., if and when I were actually Swiss), so I was only supplying the marriage and birth certificates. But I was told the affidavits might as well accompany the certificates, so this stuff will be officially registered either way.

...So I have that additional paperwork to send in before it gets submitted to Bern.

The Interview:
Frankly, I was surprised at how short it was. I expected to discuss many facets of Switzerland's history, culture, government, politics, current events, etc., but after I described my connections with Switzerland and why I was interested in Swiss citizenship, and then gave a synopsis of Swiss history, it was all but over(!). Our conversation was peppered with bits of the other subjects, but I really expected to discuss them each in more depth.

Language:
We spoke just a handful of sentences of German between us, and a very small bit of Swiss-German. I fully expected a more extended conversation in German, but it never came.

At the end, I even asked whether my knowledge of German (or anything else) shouldn't be examined further, and I was told it wasn't necessary. I suppose that could be taken as positive or negative, and I guess I'll find out one way or another.

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"Live every day as if it were going to be your last; for one day you're sure to be right." — Harry Morant

That sounds good and very much like my experience in Atlanta. I doubt very much they would have had you fill out the other information if they weren't viewing it all in a positive light. It is my impression that once you "pass" the interview in Atlanta it's just a matter of waiting on someone to do paperwork in Bern after that. They seemed very straightforward with me at the interview. I really think they would have told you if something was lacking in your qualification. It sounds like congratulations will be in order sooner or later!

It seems that it went well. Judging from your posting history, I wouldn't be surprised that you know Swiss history much better than your interviewer.

Thank you both for those encouraging comments. I hope you're right (of course!), and time will tell.

Hello everybody
I hope you are well.
Well! yesterday we went to the Swiss embassy here in London to ask few questions before I make the application.
the guy was really helpful and he made me feel that it was a really easy process.
they gave me the forms and asked me to fill them in, they also asked me to get a copy of my criminal record in the UK.
from what he was saying, i felt all the process is just formalities.
I requested a criminal record and hopefully as soon as i receive, I will arrange for my interview.
regarding the translation of papers, they will translate them from English to the language they want as it is included in the fee

Texaner! I think we should say congratulations to you. they told me yesterday that if the case is accepted in the embassy and forwarded to Bern. it is almost certain that you will become naturalized. let's hope so.

Well I had my interview at home today, it was all very friendly and not at all complicated in the slightest - mostly a series of yes or no questions which he then ticked the relevant box on the form that he had with him.

HOWEVER maybe a BIG set-back for me is my tax situation. I'm not up to date at all, but me and the wife do have an agreement with the cantonal tax authorities to pay what we owe them. The problem is that we still owe from 2008 (which we will finish paying in September 2010 - this the agreement) and haven't made any progress with 2009 yet!

Evilshell - were you in the same situation? What was said regarding this?

I was basically told as soon as he arrived that within 6 months I would have my passport in my hands (at last - I thought! Joy of joy!) - but of course when we got on to the tax subject I was told it could slow-down the process completely. He's going to get back to me on this issue as he has to do some research regarding this type of situation.

I feel very low about it all now

P.S: THe tax that is owed for 2008 is 'only' on a cantonal level, the federal tax was paid in full - positive effect perhaps????!!