EU stay-at-home mothers can't get residency?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Can an EU (Dutch) member live in CH as a stay-at-home mother while non-EU husband works in U.S.? I don't know for sure, but its been suggested by some that I can't.

I'm an educated stay-at-home mother of four school age children who can and have chosen to put off going back to paid work until the children are more independent. They need me and I love being with them!

Anyhow, I've been living in CH for over a year while husband worked here. Our B permit, based on his job, runs out later this fall. He will return to work in the U.S., while working with colleagues here to find/create a permanent position in Switzerland. This may take a while. He'll be living in our house in the U.S. while staying here in our apartment in CH frequently, meeting with European colleagues.

In order to stay here, do I have to look for, and then take on paid work? My husband's position in the U.S. keeps us adequately supported, so we have the economic means, which information town hall has on file. We also have our American health and accident insurance. We have renewed our Swiss lease for another year and need only from town hall the ability to live and school the children here.

Am I not considered a legitimate resident in Switzerland as a stay-at-home mother? I have to be officially employed, searching for work, or independently wealthy?

I have read all of the existing postings on EF regarding EU B permits, but I have not found anything regarding a stay at home mother with EU citizenship and a spouse earning income in another country. Apologies because this is a repost of sorts, but I didn't receive any responses, and I'm rather not go back to town hall until I know better what I can expect!

I have been offered various forms of employment through my network of friends here. However, with 4 school age children and the youngest still in preschool, I would rather not have to go back to a formal job just yet. I would do so to maintain our ability to remain in Switzerland with the children until my husband becomes Swiss-employed. But it really wouldn't be a good situation for them. I'd have to pay someone 20chf/hour, I'd maybe earn 25chf an hour and I'm more qualified.

I remain greatly indebted to all the advice I find on this site, and only hope that I can eek out an existence here long enough that I can advise others some day.

2
Why would you earn so little if you're qualified?

3
So you are wanting the Swiss authorities to renew the permits for you and your children while your husband is working in the US (and being taxed there exclusively, I assume) and you and your children are still here? Are your kids in local school? Sorry if I don't fully understand the details of your situation, but I would assume that someone has to be paying local taxes in order to be able to stay.

The way I understand it, if you are an at-home mom, your permit was only initially issued because you are married to your husband, who has (or had) the employment contract/position in CH.

4
It seems to me that if your husband loses status, and that if your status is derived from his, that yours would also be lost, unless you can somehow adjust your status, either as you mentioned by finding employment, or maybe there is some benefit you can take advantage of by being an EU citizen that would not otherwise be available to you if you weren't, allowing you to stay in CH as a stay at home mom.

Sorry for the run-on sentence.

5
ok, you need the help of professionals.

There is an option for you to do what you want under the residency regulations for people of independant means.

This used to be only for the exceedingly rich but is now much more open for EU citizens.

You will need to show an income of at least 50K CHF but realisticly more as you have 4 children. You will pay tax on this income.

Micheloud and Cie (no connection - in fact I oftenh disagree with their site content ) have very good summary of the options here .

I would contact them - they are not a free service but it would probably be worth it to get your 5 year B permit.

6
More qualified to tend to my own poopsies, I mean!

I suppose I might earn more than that...

7
Essentially. Yes, children in local schools, playing with the local children, reading books from the local library, kicking a soccer ball at the local park, eating at the local creperie...

8
Thank you kindly, swissbob, from me and my children.

I'll give them a ring toute de suite.

9
Sorry for the run-on sentence.

They're my favorite kind.

10
Could you somehow arrange to be employed by your husband? Not sure if it would work but might be worth looking into.

11
I'm not sure if he can afford me.

I like your thinking, Ella. I wonder if anyone else on EF could comment on this possibility.

12
No, for too many reasons to go into.

13
what will happen if you get a 20 or 40% job? while your kids are at school. Im sorry I cannot provide you with solutions but that idea got into my mind.

14
Would 20% employment be enough to qualify me for a B permit?

15
it was more of a question than a solution. but maybe (and i have no idea what im talking about) if you prove that you have a lease, EU, kids got school, you got a 20% job and hubby can pay for all, then they see you installed and they wont take your permit away. Im just giving thoughts that might be just 'poo'

16
So the question remains: what qualifies as employment adequate to maintaining residency in Switzerland?

And, philosophically, are we in a place and time in history where professional employment outside of the home provides a status of legitimacy denied to a hard-working stay-at-home mother of four?

17
Look, you really need to ask a lawyer.

But, you can reasonably expect to need to prove a source of income (which, of course, will be taxed), adequate to support you and your kids.

But will your husband be able to write off the support from his US taxes?

Tom

18
Yes, thanks. I do see that I need a lawyer. It's good to get some ideas from folks, too, and I get the idea that there is reason for hope.

We're not independently wealthy, but quite comfortable and secure financially nonetheless. We have a beautiful home and community of friends in the U.S. But for our future, we find that Switzerland has more to offer us for the long term, in both completely tangible ways and, in another sense, something more ethereal.

As for the taxes, I'll keep you posted.

19
Al covered here .

Not at all, we are in a place where the social system is protected by residence permit regulations like just about any country in the world including the USA. You need to prove you will not be a burden to the social system into which you do not contribute. If employed, then you do contribute and, therefore, have rights.

20
No, paying taxes does.