Here is the relevant info from the Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA) / Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). This is a little hard to find by searching so I am including the link below.
For the case of a work visa it will likely fall under the "
Authorized Visa" category, meaning that your employer in Switzerland has applied to the consulate on your behalf, and an authorization for entry permit has been granted. As @klausenhauser points out, you will then need a copy of that authorization to send (or bring in person) to the consulate yourself.
| Quote: |  | |
| Authorized Visa
Visa for which an authorization has been given directly in Switzerland
If your employer/school/family member has applied for your permit in Switzerland and it has been granted, you must still apply for an entry visa with the competent Swiss representation abroad.
If the authorized stay is for more than 90 days, you may submit your application by mail to the Embassy or Consulate. | |
| | |
https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/u...ized-visa.html
The information at this link matches an email response I got from the consulate (except in the email they say 2 passport photos, and the link to photo requirements was broken...).
The wording of the first paragraph there is confusing and led me to fill out a visa application form unnecessarily (this one:
https://www.sem.admin.ch/dam/data/se...sumd-en-de.pdf). I don't know why your employer/school/family member would apply on your behalf to the authorities in Switzerland, if you are just going to need to turn around and apply again at your local consulate. And indeed in my case, my employer did not do such a thing; they asked me which regional consulate in the US they should go to. So as far as I understand I just need to send the listed materials-- there is no additional paperwork to fill out.
Look to the above link for the things to include in the mail. The email I received from them said 2 passport photos as opposed to just one in the above link, so I will send two.
I'm going to include a cover letter to make it clear which scenario I am in, which lists the included documents so they know nothing is missing. Also I think it makes sense to put "ATTN: Visa Desk" in the address, but they don't ask for that anywhere on the website that I can see, and they didn't mention it in their email reply.