Hi, very useful forum and I am very glad I've found it... i have some questions about work permit... i m going to attend language course in switzerland. then i ll do master about my profession when i finish my language education..
also i have student visa and i want to work when i m stu. (i m not EU member).... is working possible in switzerland for students? ( part time etc. ) or what should i do? because i want to earn my own...
and also what will it cost to me? ( accomodation and daily expends ) thanks for now

how much is it going to cost to live in switzerland? depends on your lifestyle. but in general if you apply for a visa, they tell you you need at least 100 Sfr per day to live comfortably in switzerland. Working with a student visa is as far as i know not permitted.

thank you very much...

i had a student visa 3 years ago and it had a long list of restrictions. working was not allowed & i'm only permitted to live in a particular canton (in this case fribourg).

According to David Hampshire's "Living and Working in Switzerland", it is possible to work up to 15 hours per week on a student B permit. You have to be studying full time in order to get the permit though.

Be careful though because this is not true for all cantons (somehow, it is regulated per canton)..
In Fribourg the chances are really slim to none (I tried getting one..)

I thought that might be the case. I know someone from Cuba here on a student permit and he found a job in Bern. Since Fribourg is really small, I imagine the quotas for permits are small.

Sorry this is not a statement of fact. The rules applying to permits are set federally and not by any other body. So if you receive a student permit in Lausanne you have exactly the same style permit as if you are studying in Zurich. For ALL student permits you may apply to work to a maximum of 15 hours per week included in your student permit ie you must not have a separate work permit.

Well spoke to the Canton Zurich authorities and they told me that if you ae studying a full-time university degree (NOT language studies which you can NOT work) then you are allowed to work 15 hours per week during term time and 100% during holidays.

Hello, I will be attending the University of Zurich in Fall 2011. I will be a visiting student for 1 year. I have planned on working for Starbucks for 15 hours during this time, but I am concerned now that I will not be allowed to work. Please help!
Jesse

I'm not sure what has changed exactly and whether being EU or not makes a difference now but I came here to do a language course and was given an L permit.

I found a job, brought the contract to the authorities and they changed my L (short term student permit due a short term language course) to a B.

I am from the EU though so things may be different if your from the US. As far as I know, if you are a full time student you can work 15hrs a week (I even did more at one point when my employer was very short and nothing was said. I did about 75% on top of my studies for a month or two, was tough but I wanted to please the new boss )

Your best bet as always is to contact your embassy to find out what your rights would be exactly.

I am planning to take a Master degree in Lugano, and I have several connection there to get a job. I wonder, if it is a possible to change the visa type after you have started studying with the necessary papers and guarantees of the company willing to employ you? or you have to apply for working visa type when first time applying to go there to study and work?

Also, if anyone is familiar with the ordinary costs of living for a student (lets say you rent a room for cca 400 chf, what is the rest necessary to have normal student life without luxury goods)?

Regards,

400 would be a relatively cheap room, but can be found (check wgzimmer.ch). you can live a pretty minimalist life for 1000chf/month

can i legally work with my student permit?

I remember a friend of mine who was a master student at ETHZ had to wait 6 months in order to be able to work in Kanton Zurich. He is a non-eu student.

you can just work 15 hours per week

Do I have to wait for 6 months

Yes, if you are non EU you have to wait 6 months before working.