Hi everyone,

I've been looking for cases like this, I've found a bit similar cases, but not exactly.

I'm an non-EU citizen living in Vaud under Carte de legitimation type R and working for an International Organization based in Geneva.

Since I'm an IT professional, there are some good opportunities that I'm considering, however as most of you know, for non-EU has ver limited mobility for job exchanging.

Therefore I'd like to ask whether someone has already moved from CDL to B Permit and how was this process? Is it required to go through the regular labour market test (quotas)? Or in case of being already living and working in Switzerland makes the process a bit easier?

Thanks a lot,
rvb

Unfortunately for you, being on a CDL does not give you any special access to the Swiss job market. An employer still must go through the non-EU hiring process in order to employ you. Still, if you have the education and qualifications it doesn't hurt to try.

Thanks a lot for your response.

Yes indeed in my case I'd have to go through the approval process, I went to Service de la population in Lausanne THIS MORNING and the told me that my future employer would have to request the authorization... The only difference here in my case is that I won't need a visa obviously because I'm already living here...

I understand the purpose of this rule for people that work for organizations like UN, most of them are diplomats and in fact they are really working for govt bodies with a "public" duty, but that's not my case, I'm just an IT guy working for a non-governmental organization and i have a broad market out there in the 'privite sector'...

That's right, the employer requests the permit for the non-EU employee. As long as you're living here with the valid CDL, you can search for jobs and don't need a visa if you land one.

I recommend not to quit your current job before the next one is lined up. Without the CDL you would have no residence permit, so you'd need to leave Switzerland and then go through the visa process in order to come back for a "regular" job.

Hi 3Wishes. I'm in a similar situation - non-EU CDL-holder with a job offer that would require the employer to apply for a B permit. In your experience/ knowledge, do you know what the law is regarding keeping your current job while a B permit request is being processed? And at what stage in the process would you consider the next one being "lined up"? (I just started a new thread on this - perhaps you'd prefer / wouldn't mind responding there.) Thanks!

When the approval for the new permit is given. Until that happens nothing is guaranteed so don't give your job up until approval comes through.

Yes thank you. I'm just trying to ensure that there's no absurd Swiss rule that I cannot be employed while waiting for the decision for a permit request.

You have a valid permit, which is a CdL. You can keep any valid (unexpired) permit while another is processing. Flip it around if it helps: if you're on a B permit and your agency applies for CdL, you're still on the B permit until the CdL is issued. The B doesn't get cancelled just because there's another permit in process.