Chances for B permit (non-EU)

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi

My company (~700 employees globally, ~200 Zurich) has just applied for my work permit in Zurich and I was hoping to know my chances of being approved.

- company is headquartered in Zurich though it is now global

- senior position in company (1 step below manager).

- PhD in climate science and scenario analysis (very relevant to Swiss government I would think but not sure if that is useful)

- 2 years of research experience at the top, global university

- teaching experience at the university level

- salary > 100,000 CHF

- have won inter/national academic rewards for work

- from the US

2
They wouldn't have even bothered applying if they didn't think there as a good chance. But these things are never certain.

3
Very likely to get it. I wouldn't worry.

If you want to have something to worry about, take a look at all the threads here about finding accommodation.

4
Ironically I have accommodation already lined up with a friend, just need to be able to legally live and work there first.

5

May not be a B though, could be an L. Lots of non-EU nationals start off with L’s simply because there are more of them available than B’s.

6
There are actually fewer Ls than Bs, but they're somewhat less in demand. It's very canton-dependent. Some cantons never use L instead of B for permanent contracts, and really follow what their purpose is supposed to be according to the law. Some (including mine) literally have it codified in their rules that you cannot get B until after you've had L for two years, even with a permanent contract (at least it's clear). Some fall in-between and might give L or B depending on the state of their quota allowance...

7
You answered that, but didn't warn the OP about the banking issues faced by an American??

8

Oh yeah, there’s that too.

Should you get your permit to live/work here your banking choices will be severally restricted due to the US’s FATCA law. Still since you are currently in the UK I assume you’ve come up against this already. UBS, Credit Suisse and PostFinance are likely the only banking options you’ll have here; none of the other banks are likely to want to take you on.