Hi all I may go into unemployment soon as I could not find a job after my masters degree. I have worked in CH before so I am qualified for unemployment benefit. I am considering whether I should ask for unemployment benefit, fearing that it might affect my chance of getting my B-permit renewal in the future (or even upgrade to C permit). Having said that, having some financial support is always helpful as I am not sure when I could find a new job (but I remain positive).

Any thoughts?

I think this depends on the canton. In Neuchatel I was upgraded to a C permit while on RAV and was quite surprised.

Are you sure you'll get anything? RAV payments are based on what you earned in the last 6-12 months so if you've been a student then it's likely to be very little or even nothing if you didn't work part time.

I thought as long as you worked for minimum 12 months within the last 2 years? Then I think I fulfiled this criteria...

Yes, but if you haven't worked for 6 months and they base your payments on your last 6 months' salary figure then 6 months of zero is zero!

In Canton Fribourg, claiming ANY Social Benefits, even though you are
entitled to them will result in your expulsion after the expiry of your B.
Or If Applying for a C a denial.. They are getting tough in some places.
Best Luck

In that case, you can use the last 12 months.

Tom

It might indeed.

If you have a job at the time the decision on your permit is made, you should be fine. I had been on RAV benefits for a couple of months, then successfully applied for an early C permit once I got a permanent job.

It is actually the last six (of twelve) months of employment (within the 2 years prior to application) that count. Not the six (or twelve) months preceding the application itself.

I had a gap of 12 months (of voluntary unemployment) between my last job and a successful application for RAV benefits.