I am from the USA so I am non-EU. I know I want to get an L permit rather then a B permit because I only want to stay in switzerland for less then a year and I don't want to work. The purpose of the stay is tourism and to provide a home for our children while they study at international school in switzerland. I think the L is alot easier to get then the B. All I want to know is what forms do I fill out to get the L Permit. I have checked the website every way possible and they do not tell you what to fill out to get this. I guess I either have to fill out the Visa D application form or the Schengen visa application. I called the swiss consulate in NY and they told me to fill out the Visa long term application and I would try to get a B permit. Then I called the canton in Bern and they said to fill out the Schengen visa application. I am confused, all I want to know is the correct way to apply. Also, there is no form I have found that tells me what other information to submit along with the schengen Visa application. Please advise.

Below link may help you
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/...nf/visusa.html

This site does not answer that question at all and I have checked every possible spot on that webiste and on the website of the FOM. Do you know the answer? I just want to know what applicaiton to fill out to obtain an L permit. I am non-EU and I do not want to work, I want to stay less then 12 months.

According to the Swiss Confederation website, the Cantonal authorities are responsible for this. See link, to all the canton offices, it says you need to contact the one in where you intend to live. See below. In any case you will likely need proof of support and swiss insurance during your stay.

6. Long-term residency in Switzerland (more than 3 months) / Employment in Switzerland

I would like a residence permit for Switzerland for more than 3 months

Due to a division of jurisdiction between the cantons and Confederation, cantonal migration authorities are responsible for issuing residence permits. Therefore, please address your inquiry directly to the migration authority responsible for your canton of residence. You will find a list of our cantonal migration partners in the following link (list available in German only):
Cantonal immigration and labour market authorities

Yes, I have been on the canton website as well. I am just not finding the information that I need to figure out what form to fill out to obtain the L permit. One person told me one thing and then a different person told me a different thing. I called the swiss embassy in Bern and the swiss embassy in NY and got different information from both. I was hoping to find an american that has been in the same situation as me and applied for the L permit, then they could tell me the correct form to fill out and send in.

Sorry that you are not finding what you are looking for. Keep in mind a permit beyond 90 days is the exception, not the norm, so there are probably not just automatic, fill-out form, and send in. I recommend you make contact with the Canton authorities, as they appear to be the competent authorities on this issue, have a dialog with them, and they can surely help and advise you on the process, etc. when they establish what you want.

Yes, I am aware that I can contact the cantonal authorities, thank you. What I was trying to do was find advice from other US citizens who have been in a similar situation. Thank you for the advice but I am looking for advice from other people that are in the same situation as me, for example someone else who has obtained an L permit, then they can tell me what form they filled out.