I'm currently in the light (for spouses of Swiss nationals) naturalisation process, and recently received a letter from the BFM asking for a:
- Familienausweis
- Wohnsitzzeugnisse (covering the last 5 years)
I was surprised that they contact me so soon, considering that I know the process takes around 18 months, and it's only been around 3 months since I submitted the forms.
However from the people who've been through this experience;
exactly how far along is this?
I guess this is the first step of many, but i'd be interested to know.
Also as I've just moved out of ZH to SZ, I've got to try and track down a Wohnsitzzeugnisse for my time in ZH
Ok getting it isn't a big deal - call the Gemeindehaus and tell them what you need it for.
It must have been pretty trauma-less for me because I can't remember if they sent it to BFM directly or they sent it me and I then sent it in and I should remember it because it wasn't that long ago.
Based on my experience I would say that once you send that in, you are about 6 mos away from receiving a letter that tells you that you have been approved. After that they send your name to the home Kanton/s to see if anybody raises an objection to your citizenship and after about 2 mos you should be receiving your passport.
It sounds like you're in the home stretch - good luck with it!
It's very easy to get it; you just need to call and explain for which period you need it (ie. last 5 years) and then you can go fetch it. Details for Zürich (in german):
- Detailierter Betreibungsregisterauszug for the last 5 years (pretty sure I sent this once already)
- Bescheinigung des Steuramtes ZH.
Both of these are now in process and will be sent off in the next couple of days.
But during the week something surprising happened. There was a ring at the door, and the Kaonton SZ Police were standing there. Obviously some find of spot check to see if I really did live there and we didn't have a marriage of convenience .
I was out during the week, and so I met up with the Police man yesterday, he had a form with him, and he asked me questions on my background, where I'd lived before and where I was working, followed by my motivation to become Swiss. Upon leaving (after maybe 10 minutes) he told me that he'll submit his report and i'll be hearing from the BFM.
All was done in German, and so I'm not sure if this was the famous interview or not (no questions on CH or such so i'm not sure). Maybe that's still to come.
Thanks for keeping us updated, philh. It has been extremely helpful in giving us hope for our situation! We're at the 6 month or so mark though and still no request for
-Familienausweis
- Wohnsitzzeugnisse (covering the last 5 years)
though. This is in canton LU though and I know every canton is different. Fingers crossed for some action sooner rather than later!
Thanks. I made a slight error in my earlier post though; I'm unfortunately still waiting for my tax declaration (there was a mixup at the ZH tax office) but when that's here, then it will all be sent off (which hopefully will be this week).
In the meantime, the friendly policeman has rang my house again, and spoke to my wife. He had a couple of other questions for his report, so it sounds like that could interview wise (hope so)
I'll keep you all informed as to what happens next.
10 months and still nothing...we are starting to get discouraged as it seems like everyone going through this process who is on this forum has had at least some kind of action by this point, whether it be an interview, visit from police, request for documents...
I have several friends who are going through the immigration process for Canada and at least they are given a file number so they can login to a website and see where in the process they are at...even if it just says "in process" for months on end it's more comforting than sitting around not being allowed to check on anything!
Say out loud and repeat: Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue...
I submitted all the paperword (tax returns statement etc.) sometime in September, and till now had heard nothing else.
The last week I received a letter with two forms included. Basically they wanted a signed statement that:
- I'd not done anything illegal during the last 10 years in Switzerland
- That my marriage isn't a sham with the end result being a passport
Anyway we've now signed these (the marriage one needed my wife's signature too, obviously), and will send these off today.
Don't really know what this means, but it seems to be another hurdle passed.
@Em - I looked through my info, and have a refence number but couldn't for the life of me find anywhere on-line to check the status of my application.....
But stick with it though - as you've rightly said; your need to be REALLY patient!
For my Oh the whole process took 8 months. The interview came after 5 months- and I was also 'interviewed' when I picked him up. She was impressed by his French, his knowledge of the area and Switzerland in general- and could see that after nearly 40 years, we were very much 'together'. None of our referees were contacted, and we certainly did not have any contact with local police. Confirmation of 'success' arrived yesterday- now the Commune and C/Kanton d'origine have 2 months to object if they so wish. Perhaps they will ask him to go for local interview (we live in another Canton)? Then if no objection, he will have Swiss nationality confirmed, and will be able to apply for identity card, passport and vote.
8 months for the entire process is very fast from what I've heard - congratulations!
I also got to the interview (when the friendly policeman came around) after 5 months, but the process after that has taken some time. My references were also not contacted.
Considering our 1 month old baby son was also in the apartment when the police called (he's almost 7 months now), I don't believe there was the belief that this was some sort of sham marriage, and there was certainly no indication of this during the interview or process in general.
Therefore I'm assuming that the last two doc's as I've described are simply part of the normal process.
I posted the last docs off today, so i'm interested now in seeing what will happen next.
philh, yes, those last two forms are the last step before your initial approval letter is sent. Have your cash ready for a very expensive registered letter in the coming weeks/months.
Maybe the process is being reworked / sped up at the moment. I applied back in July, had a single 15 minute chat with the local geminde around the end of November and recieved my letter and CHF 795 bill on Saturday.
So far I've had no police visits, requests for additional information / forms (apart from what was submitted with the original application) or any other tests / interviews.
For those interested the geminde interview was in german and consisted of a few questions on where I lived before my current village, why I moved there, what I do, if I am in local vereins and why I would like to have a Swiss passport.
That to me is the strangest bit. They have spent months investigating you, references, proof of no judgements against you, possible police interview etc. but then don't even trust you to pay an invoice with the letter. But you have to trust that what you want is inside a sealed letter that arrives for which the postman wants 700+ chuffs before he hands it over.
Why can't they just send a letter subject to payment of the invoice. Or take the payment up front... You still have to apply for the passport / id card etc afterwards anyway.
True, perhaps not issuing the final letter until you've paid up or something similar.
Although I still giggle to myself at the look on the substitute postman's face when he told me how much I had to pay and I said just a moment, I'll go get the cash....
Out of interest has anyone moved countries half way through the application process ?
We have lived in London/Hong Kong/Singapore and now the US in the last 5 years. I have not idea where we will be after June next year.... I have just started a german language course and was going to apply at the end of this year when I have at least conversational german and can show I am committed to learn further.... (am signed up for a German / English BA online)
My husband thinks I should start the process asap but I am thinking about waiting until after our next move... any thoughts?