Hello everyone,

I got in a really unfortunate situation: my file was supposed to go yesterday to Conseil des Etats in Geneva to be redirected to the ceremony, but naturalisation department called me and told me that since the permit is expired and OCP is still in the process of renewing it (it has been 8 months!), my naturalisation procedure is suspended. I have 3 decisions, cantonal, communal and federal - and I am actually not sure if they will renew my permit this time, since 8 years of studying is the maximum, and I have passed those 8 years a year ago.

Anyone has been in the same situation and how did you get out of it (obviously, I will go to court if needed).

Many thanks!!!

First up, have you asked the naturalisation department? Suspension is not cancellation. This may be just a bump in the road. Thumbs pressed!

Thanks for your reply. yes, naturalisation department in Geneva called me yesterday and informed me by phone that it is suspended until my permit is renewed. It has been 8 months since I applied for permit renewal, I called OCP thousand times, but always the same answer: we have a large number of permit renewals this year, you have to be patient. I have even e-mail my "examinatrice" directly - no reply.

What I am scared of now is that my MBA finishes this june, therefore, if I do not get the permit by june, supposely they will not have to give it anymore - my MBA is done! but until I have a valid permit, I cannot go to the ceremony, therefore, I cannot get the Swiss passport even though I have 3 decisions! and this sounds crazy, I am third country national, so it is very difficult for me to get a permit, and I have passed the limit of 8 years studying, so I cannot get a student permit anymore…

If anyone has been in the similar situation, please let me know, i will appreciate each and every answer! Thanks!

Implementation regulation of the Geneva nationality law

Article 13.5: "The procedure may be suspended upon expiration of the residence permit until its renewal."

Note also that the procedure will be closed if it has been suspended for over 3 years (art. 14.1).

Thanks, but this law is crazily unfair. I was raised in a Swiss family, and since I am a third-country national it is very difficult for me to get these permits, so my studying time is over now and it is really impossible to get a working permit. I have 3 decisions for naturalization, I was supposed to go to the ceremony if OCP would have renewed my permit on time. I am fully integrated, speaking French and 24 years old (living in Switzerland since I am 15). I will go to court if needed, I will not let this go just like that

Try calling the permit people and explaining your situation, maybe they will push your permit through, maybe not too but worth a try!

Thanks! Called them, they told me to wait, but now the lawyer will pressure them a little bit, and hopefully they will arrive to some conclusion

So, Jacky, from reading this thread it seems that everything worked out in the end, didn't it? Hopefully you didn't need to go to court.