Yeah, that ^ When the post lady showed up at my door this year with my paperwork she laughed when she saw the amount and said she will leave it for me to pick up after I go to the bank (she knows I barely carry CHF 20 at any given time. small community, they know everything ).
Congratulations! It didn't hurt as much as you thought, huh?
Congratulations Richard - you are indeed lucky to have received your Swiss passport in such a short period of time!
If there are no last minute hitches, my daughter will become Swiss in eight days' time! She was born here twenty six years ago, has lived here all her life, thinks and acts like a Swiss, and regards French as her mother-tongue, all her education having been undertaken in that language. The procedure for her request for naturalisation has taken 7 years, despite the fact that no objections were ever raised by the appropriate authorities - I sincerely hope that next week there will be no further delays!
I was lucky i was not in when the post came, and they left me a paper saying i had to pick something up from the post, and would have to pay CHF750 i was like what the hell, rang my husband, and then he told me it is probably for your swiss passport.
Hmm, apparently Hutter from SVP has been politically active against double citizenship at least since 2004. Interesting. Like Starbug I think that this idea will not find a majority, should there be a vote.
Speaking of double citizenship, the report mentioned by 20 Minuten is interesting, too. ( Bericht des Bundesamtes für Migration über hängige Fragen des Bürgerrechts , 2005, p. 35/46)
There are 495'000 Swiss double citizens residing in the country 70,9% are EU citizens 30% have citizenship in Italy 30% have citizenship in France or Germany 10% have citizenship in the UK, USA or Spain 4% have citizenship in a nation of ex Yugoslavia 3.2% have citizenship in an African country 71% of Swiss expats have double citizenship
Wow! Congratulations!
'Cos I wanna vote on my local issues and secondly, since I intend to remain here I can now never be asked to leave, as is the case with even a "C" permit under some circumstances.
R
Well past army age,(and civil, and Feuerwher, and... )
No, but I still pine for Shropshire Blue cheese, PG Tips, Branston and Marmite, so it obviously takes more than a little red book.
R
Interestingly I was summoned to the local police station. The friendly cop explained (in fairly thick dialect) that in these cases they simply collect all the paperwork and do a few simple checks. Yes, he wanted to see how good my German was and I get the feeling that was significant, but actually if you fulfil all the requirements it's in Swiss national law and they cannot deny you.
No tests at all, but heavy emphasis on a "real marriage", i.e. living together, secure couple, etc. They checked that with all 4 of the witnesses I had to furnish too. Obviously trying to spot marriages of convenience.
RS
No, initially a B, then a C. But nothing in the rules says anything about which permit you must have. The sole qualifications are the ones I mentioned (ah, I forgot, you must not be a threat to the security of Switzerland, so spies are probably excluded). And they did check my tax payments, the Betreibungsamt and my criminal record.
R
Actually in Switzerland, but the rules allow say, 4 years during the last 10 in CH, then the last 12 months in Switzerland.
R
Thank you, kind lady. I'd like you to have one as well...
R
One thing that I knew before, but that actually made me quite choked up when it actually happened, was the knowledge that my wife's Heimatort had taken me under their wing, albeit involuntarily. Many may not know that every Swiss has a Heimatort - literally "home place", usually where you were born. If all else fails, you've no money at all, sick or old and no known relatives, your Heimatort is ultimately resposible for looking after you.
As a naturalised foreigner, I "inherit" the Heimatort of my wife. As part of this process both they and the Kanton have powers of objection, but as far as I can see they rarely use those. So now this place where I've never been gets to look fater me if all else fails. Contrast that with the UK?
That spirit of community is one of the many things I admire about Swiss society. Sure, it ain't perfect, but I could now live pretty much anywhere in Europe and my choice is to be here. I'm now working on giving something back to my local community.
R
Oh, dang! There goes my next career move!
Congratulations!!!
In "accelerated procedure", the canton and commune only have the right to give a recommendation to the federal authorities. I like that I have two home towns and both mentioned on my ID card – But I think they only print one on it now, or was that the new passport?
Out of interest what are the ages for these things?
Jim
Congratulations!!
Were any of your years in CH spent as a student? My hubby has spent 8 years here, but only 1 as a non-student and married to a swiss, so we don't know if we'll get his Swiss passeport after 2 more years or 4! Mystery, mystery...
How long have you been married? He can apply after three years of marriage & 5 years in country. Student years count too.
We've been married a year now. So still 2 more years to go! Hurray, not too long!
This is not true, sorry to tell you this....but if you brake the law (big really big ) they can still deport you and take your swiss pass away....so long you have dual citizinship.....
Don't quiet get this, could you explain it better....As from what i know you have to have lived in switzerland for 12 years (if you are not married) before you can apply for a swiss pass... thanks