Just confirming that the Bestaetigung from the Gemeindamt arrives pretty much exactly after 1.5mo now in Zurich (received it a couple of days back after submitting it in the beginning of September). Though, this might depend on the clerk handling it, as they're assigned to the first letter of one's surname.

I didn’t include the time for assembling documents on my own timeline . In my case this probably took longer than necessary due to the lack of urgency on my part . My main motivation in finishing that part was the realization that some of the documents were approaching the end of their validity while others were still missing . By and large I must say that I have no reason to complain and all authorities I had to get documents from were cooperative . Which is not to say the tax office didn’t manage to get the date wrong . I we went there in person to get that fixed and all they did as scribble on the original document . I was worried the naturalization office would quibble over that, but they didn’t .

I did find inconsistencies in what I got charged for certain documents from the two different gemeindes I required them from. Whilst most were the standard 30chf, the tax certificate was 80chf from the larger town and 0chf from the other. Strangely the social security certificate was free from the larger town but 30chf from the smaller!



Additionally in the smaller town I had to use 3 different payments: card for the residency certificate,, bill for the social security certifcate and cash for the debt certificate!

I have the answer to my delay, at least. I got a yellow form with one of the letters which told me that I have to send the SEM certificate plus confirmation of payment of fees to Gemeinde and to Kanton. As it did not come with the certificate and I read that the Kanton got a copy of the certificate, I missed this point.

The theory would be that it's all completed by month-end now as I've sent in the stuff. I thought it was delayed due to COVID....

Sorry I don't quite follow. My understanding is that the certificates are added to your dossier and never sent to you direct. Same for payment: I understood that the dossier isn't forwarded from the Gemeinde to the Kanton until you pay the Gemeide fee.

So is it correct that SEM send you the certificate instead of direct to the Kanton?

SEM sends you a certificate (you'll know when this is because you get a random invitation to the post to pay 100 or so) with a copy to the Kantonal Migrationsamt. And if you just look at the cert and not the yellow page you get some weeks earlier, you see a copy is sent to them and could assume you do nothing.

It's a test, surely

I'm sure it is!

I can confirm that under the "new rules" of normal naturalisation - at least in the Kanton of Zürich - the only document you will receive from the SEM is the bill which must be paid in advance. Their decision, presumably, is shared directly with the Gemeindeamt.

This is better. In the old version that ended earlier this year, there is the pointless step that I missed.

The social security certificate was the only document I didn't have to pay anything for (Zürich City here). It was also the least hassle to get. I just turned up in person and asked for it over the counter. The gentelman typed something into his computer, and then stamped and signed the document then and there, and that was it.

So much for the folks who say the social security department in ZH is a quagmire of burocracy.

That makes sense, as I was suprised nobody had mentioned it in recent posts until now.

So how does one find out, in Zürich, when the SEM stage is conplete?

Like most bureaucratic processes in CH, only once you pay the bill

From the inputs here you can assume the SEM certificate is processed on average within 6 weeks of payment. After that it's more open how long the Kanton takes to make you Swiss.

The process is like a marathon...the last miles seem to take FOREVER...

I paid the bill within hours of getting it, and that was 2 months or more ago...

Is there any point enquiring?

We are in the middle of this process in Canton ZH... our timeline so far:
Feb 20 2020 - Submit application to Canton
Apr 09 2020 - Application sent by Canton to Gemeinde
Apr 21 2020 - Invoice from Gemeinde
Jun 09 2020 - Interview with Gemeinderat
Jun 19 2020 - Approval from Gemeinde
Jun 24 2020 - Our names got posted in the local paper (public has 30 days to file a complain)
Aug 06 2020 - Application received by Canton back from Gemeinde
Sep 22 2020 - Invoice from Canton
Oct 29 2020 - Invoice from Bund

I wouldn't just yet. If you look at posts 300 and 358 in this thread, it took 5 months between the SEM bill and the next notification (which is informing you that you are Swiss).

Only after 4-5 months would I check, and then it would be direct with the Kanton.

I waited 5 months.

The FAQ page on their website says it can take up to 8 months.

So at 2 months you're still early days.

chill.

wow that's quick.

Congratulations.

Straightforward! Impressive

Thanks. I’d thought the bulk of the 8 after interview was Kantom & SEM...