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| Hi, I am not versed on this matters... but it just occurred to me that it might be a lot simpler that you apply to have a passport of your husband's country, so that when/if you decide to come back to Switzerland you would both have the same type of permit.
Also, another thing to consider is: how confident are you that you will get the US green card this year? I had applied for a tourist visa shortly after I got married (to a EU citizen, like in your case) and they were not happy that I applied from a country different from my own, for which I did not hold an indefinite permit to stay either. So they refused (and it was just going to be a month's holiday). It might just be that they were stricter with me because "my president" did not get along with Bush... it might not be your case 
Good luck in any case. | |
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I'd strongly suggest consulting an American immigration lawyer as soon as possible to confirm what I am about to tell you (which I have found via friends who work in immigration as well as reading on US immigration websites).
There is no way that you'd get a green card issued in a year. It is usually a multi-year process - something that my EU husband and I (US citizen) have decided to forgo at present, as we are moving to Zurich. We will eventually apply for his green card while still abroad, as I am a US citizen and they make exceptions to the 'residency' rule.
If you have jobs lined up, you should be able to get L1 visas or similar, which are renewable up to 5 years. These are employer-based visas. Your employer will put together all of the paperwork and you will have to visit the US Embassy for a formal interview. You will not be able to move to the US on a tourist or student visa and look for a job that way unless you work (illegally) for cash. It is quite difficult to find residences and open bank accounts without social security numbers (issued for visa-holders).
Under current US law, the green card is now paving the way towards citizenship instead of just allowing permanent alien residence. Once a green card is issued, leaving the US (i.e. by moving back to Switzerland) would make it increasingly unlikely you'd be able to return the States, and if you wanted to move back, it would be another 10-15 years until you'd be able to re-apply for another green card.
Current immigration to the US is based on a 'lottery' unless you have employer-based visas.
I wish you the best of luck.