Hello,

I will be permanently relocating to Lausanne in 10 days, with my Swiss wife and children (married 7 years), and I have not started to apply for a permit yet - I will be entering on a D (family regroupment) visa.

As I have a Swiss spouse, I assume I am eligible for a C-permit. Can anyone with experience with the permit process confirm that assumption? I imagine I will be dealing with the migration office in Vaud - any pointers? Can I get the paperwork started in the US? The consulates here don't deal with this process.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

As a non EU you are most likely entitled to a B permit unless USA has some special privileges that other countries (Like AUS) does not have.

Prior to entering the country the B / C Permit needs to be applied for. I am assuming this is what you mean by the entering D permit that has been issued for transit purposes only?

Best to consult with the Swiss emabassy / consultate from your particular area for direct, accurate answers.

Yes, after having a B for the first 5 years (unless they've changed that rule recently).

He is also entitled to apply for naturalisation having been married to a Swiss person longer than 6 years.

Hi there
That is not exactly the case. I am a Swiss citizen, married with my US-hubby for 11 years.... When we move back to Switzerland in 2005 my husband got a B-permit, which you had to be renewed every year (please do not get divorced or separated.....lots of trouble there). After 5 years you will obtain a C-permit. hope this helps.

The D visa is a Schengen visa and has nothing to do with family regroupment. You should apply for your residence permit before arrival. The Swiss embassy in the US certainly does deal with this process.

Schengen Treaty impacts both EU and Non-EU Visas into Switzerland. It's new and we are all still getting used to the changes.

The Swiss Embassy in the US website links all entry visas to Shengen.
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/nameri/vusa/ref_visinf/visusa.html

The way I read it:
1. You have filled out your forms for the D visa, submitted all the required documents, paid your fees, and waited your 8-10 weeks.
2. The approval arrived and you submitted your passports as requested
3. All passports should have come back with the visa/reentry stamp one of the pages. Mine was a big yellow sticker but that was before the Shengen Treaty so I'm not sure what the new one looks like or if it is processed the same way.

I'm not an expert but these steps are complete, you're probably good to go and officially ready to come to Switzerland.

Register at your local Gemeinde office within 10 days of arrival.

As previously mentioned B-Visa first 5 years with annual application. Mine automatically changed to a C-Visa after that. Unless you get your passport sooner. Use the search function if you want to learn more about citizenship.


WELCOME!

Yes after 3 years of uninterrupted marriage & stay in Switzerland, you are eligible for a C. Before that, I really doubt.

Thanks for all of the information.

Btw: My visa arrived: It is a D visa and has "Raisons familiales" printed under the 'Remarks' heading. Also, stapled into my passport is a reminder to report to the Department of Migration within two weeks of my arrival in Switzerland, just in case anyone else reading this is wondering what to expect in a circumstance similar to mine.

The consulate in New York actually told me that they don't deal with residence permits and that I would have to apply once I was in Switzerland. I'll report back to this thread and let you all know what hoops I had to jump through on my way.

Compared to entering the US it is extremely easy once you get here. Most of the work is already done with getting the visa.

FYI, a lot of cities/villages in Switzerland have their own websites. Just type in the city name and .ch like: www.lausanne.ch

There you'll find a lot of useful information there to get settled in.

Understandable confusion here - you wouldn't get the Schengen visa without your application for a work and residence permit being approved. Your employer will have done this for you. The visa gets you into the country. Within 8 days of arrival you register at your local town hall and they issue the actual permit.

As far I can see lot of people confuse permits and family reunion visas.
When want to enter in Switzerland as spouse of Swiss citizen procedure is (as far as I know):

1. Apply for D visa (Visa with purpose of Family reunion) in Swiss embassy in your country- This application can include documents for marriage registration in Switzerland before approval of visa
2. In Switzerland apply for permit

The entry visa (usually good for one single entry) is good to enter Switzerland. Upon arrival you will need to register with your local community. They will give you a B permit.

With a Swiss spouse, and having been married for 7 years you may be able to apply for Swiss citizenship after 3 years. Ask the community about this when you get your B permit. There are a number of threads in the forum about 'Facilitated Naturalization'.

After five years with a Swiss spouse, you can qualify for a C permit.

As a US citizen, make sure you understand your tax obligations if you ever plan to visit the USA again. Also remember to file your FBAR form.

Make sure to get your Swiss Drivers license during your first year here. You are entitled to keep your US license.

Enjoy Switzerland! :-)

After being married for longer than 6 years and living outside Switzerland for this time, the OP is permitted to apply for naturalisation under Act 28 ( I think this is the correct act, best to search for it).

HOWEVER, once in the country there might be more difficult requirements for the OP to have a good grasp of the local language and be able to show good ties with the country. This can vary from Canton to Canton, regarding expecations. Once in the country it might be worth integrating for a while first prior to applying (i.e. working, learning and understanding the local language, family ties etc). Best to speak to Migration in the local canton about this.

Married 3 years, in Switzerland 5 years. Last 12 months non-interupted. Source.

The second sentence suggests the OP is currently eligible to apply for Swiss citizenship. Six years marriage and living abroad, as long as the OP has close Swiss ties (whatever that means )

Facilitated Naturalization is a Federal issue and does not hinge on Cantonal approval. As long as the OP doesn't present a danger, then he's likely to be approved (as long as the OP meets the other requirements).

Just a comment as I'm a newbie here, and can't edit posts...

All of the information on Facilitated Naturalization can change at any time, so be sure to clarify things with either your local community, or if you're doing this abroad, with the Swiss embassy/consulate in your country.

hey i had a question perhaps u can help me..
im kinda confused

im am an iranian and im married to a swiss for almost 3 years.. januari will be our third year.. however.. i have lived in swiss for about 8/9 years. i came here as a refugee.
i now have a B permit... but they told me in the past that i could get my C permit after 3 years.. but now i hear that i can apply for a c after 5 years..


which one is correct ? when will i get my c finally..