Hi, everyone. This may have been addressed already. I did a keyword search and browsed the topics to try to find answers before posting here. I did not find anything although I imagine it must have been covered already. Forgive me for missing it.

I'm considering a position in Zurich. I hold US and Irish passports (and am eligible for a UK one as well). My wife and kids only hold US passports. We currently live in Ireland and have for several years. As I understand it, they will be able to move with me to Switzerland without much hassle. Is this correct? If so, can someone please describe the procedure to get them legally settled?

Thank you for your time.

Yes, you need to follow the procedure urging your Irish passport and everything else will be straightforward. Make sure your wife knows to start every conversation with 'my husband is an Irish citizen'....

The best place to start is with the Swiss consulate general for ireland. They will be the clearest about the current procedure for Irish citizens and their family...

I don't know what the rules and regs for Ireland are, but are your children eligible for Irish passports - or is there no option for dual citizenship between these two? Although it might not make any difference as regards the possible move to CH as they would get permits as your family, as they get older it could be beneficial when considering later university studies, etc. if they could potentially be classified as EU, as opposed to US.

Mine have Swedish and US passports (one has British as well) but we have only needed the US ones when traveling to there, which isn't often. They are due for renewal next year, a thought we mutually dread. Both have asked me on separate occasions "Mama, why are US embassies so scary looking?"

If you have a permit, then you can bring your family as dependants no problem.

If your family are eligible for Irish citizenship, I'd sort this as it makes life easier in europe!

As US passport holders search on here for FATCA and American bank accounts, people have problems.

If your wife works or wants to work, you need to have her look very carefully at what her future may be like in Zurich. If she's not keen on staying home, it may be a deal breaker.

Another big aspect is the knowledge of the local language. Often the employee will work mainly in English, while the spouse has to use the local language almost all the time, and from day one. It can be very stressful when you need help but nobody around speaks English.

Children can take up a new language, up to about 14 years old, fairly quickly. But adults have pre-conceived ideas and the fluency doesn't come easily.

Providing your salary is big enough and the place you rent has enough space for everyone, moving the family in isn't a problem. How many kids and what ages? As Sbrinz says, when they're younger they pick up languages quite quickly, but when you reach the teens it becomes much harder when they're trying to cope with a new school too. International schools are expensive - CHF30,000 roughly per child per year so unless your company is prepared to stump up some/all of the cash it's going to be local schools for them. That said, the local schools seem to be very well set up for helping with language tuition for those whose native language isn't a Swiss one.

You'll need to be prepared to sign a W-9 form to allow your Swiss bank to pass your account into on to the IRS and I would bring copies of your recent US tax filings with you as proof that you're tax compliant - otherwise you might not get an account. And remember you still have to file US tax returns every year - and FBAR reports too of your "foreign" accounts. Is this going to be a long term move? If so, then note that mortgages aren't really available to Americans anymore, nor investment accounts, unless you're very wealthy to start with.

As he is currently living outside the US, he certainly has already experience with this.

Tom

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