Facilitated Naturalization - from outside Switzerland

Amazem · 24 January 2007 20:53

I am afriad the process apart from what the official sources (as you quoted) clearly state is left to the discretion of the respective authority and then to the respective appointee.

Cohmsa · 24 January 2007 21:37

Yeah, I was getting that impression...

Thanks, though!

Gaelnnnnix · 19 July 2007 00:42

1) Makes regular trips & stay in the country. A minimum of 3 trips within the last 10 years is requested.

2) Knowing several person living in Swissland and ready to attest that the trips have been made to the country

3) Have some knowledge of the country (politic, culture etc...)

4) Being part of some Swiss social activities abroad

These are the four conditions required by the Swiss law of naturalizations which define the term "close ties" with the country as were sent to me by the Swiss embassy in Cairo. Some conditions should supersede others, but this is left for lawyers' interpretation. I strongly recommend having a lawyer when applying for citizenship. I applied for mother's, and though her mother is a Suissess, the embassy people are very evasive, I am sure they would not have been so if a lawyer was present. I can't find a lawyer familiar with the Swiss law in my country, But a Swiss lawyer!! Wow! They cost 500 Swiss Francs an hour. I e-mailed a few offices. By the way I can't understand how can u be a vet and drive two cute cats like these to scream out of the top of their lungs like this.

Gaelnnnnix · 19 July 2007 00:44

my mistake, confused vet with veteran, but still just the same.

tsyng · 16 February 2008 00:52

I have been married to a Swiss National for five years. One of those years I lived in Switzerland. I have visited one other time for 6 weeks. We currently live in Australia. We have family (my wifes parents) living in Switzerland. I speak basic German, learned German in Switzerland for a time. I am also relatively highly qualified in the IT field (project management)

In six years of marriage, would it be prudent for me to apply for the Swiss Naturalization? Would I have enough 'close ties.'

My wife and I are keen to move back to Switzerland to live at some point. Obviously this would make things easier.

f_waldo · 16 February 2008 14:06

If a wife or husband is Swiss there is nothing to stop you moving to Switzerland.You can move into any gemeinde however the person who has the swiss nationality will be registered in the Heimat ort from where they were originally "descended" This could be parents or grand parents etc etc. The individual who is not swiss will be granted a B pass that would allow then to work anywhere in Switzerland. This is usually given by the geminde where you reside. I know this to be the case as I have many friends who are married to Swiss and have moved to Switzerland. I myself went through the same procedure. As a Canadian or American you will be given the C pass after 5 years.

tsyng · 17 February 2008 02:39

Hi Coolio

I have had a B Permit before so am aware of that. Having the passport would make things easier in particular with employment opportunities.

The reason I ask this is to see if it is worth applying for once our 6 years of marriage is reached, and if the bureacracy of applying is worth it or not.

We are linked to Canton Zurich.

f_waldo · 17 February 2008 11:51

I think its probably worth it as it simplifies certains things. If you plan on staying here you should go ahead and do it. Its not a problem. I applied and was granted citizenship in I think about 4 to 6 months. I am not sure. I never had an interview or spoke to anyone. I paid if I recall correctly about 600 sfr, and this included the passport. I guess it also depends on your neighbours and the Geminde. I know of someone who had a very difficult time in getting citizenship as the neighbours were a regular bunch of Auslander haters. I dont know what the cost would be now as I believe it varies from Geminde to Geminde.

Having the Swiss Pass would definitely make it a lot simpler in finding a job.

tsyng · 17 February 2008 12:01

Thanks Coolio.

Did you live in Switzerland the full five years or was this having lived the majority of your time outside Switzerland?

f_waldo · 17 February 2008 12:17

Regarding the permits and passport, I only did this once I was here in Switzerland.

tsyng · 17 February 2008 13:44

Thanks again Coolio

I am after advice from someone who may have applied for passport after 6 years external to Switzerland specifically, or with experience in relation to what 'close ties' means in relation to the 6 year rule and if my situation qualifies as close ties.

webise · 17 February 2008 22:02

Hi,

I have applied (from outside Switzerland) for Swiss citizenship based on being married to a Swiss citizen. We live in the US now.

I went for an interview at a Swiss Consulate last fall where the interviewer talked to me for a few minutes about my ties to Switzerland. We visit about every other year, I know my husband's family and friends there, and we're members of our local Swiss Club. We talked about some recent news events in Switzerland and about how I keep up with the Swiss news via websites and news online.

The interview was in English with a very tiny amount in French when she asked if I could make myself understood in one of the local languages. It did not seem to be a problem that my French language skills were very elementary.

She said to allow 8 to 10 months for processing, so we'll see what happens!

Good luck to you!

tsyng · 18 February 2008 04:36

Hi Sophie,

This is the information I am seeking, thanks very much for sharing.

webise · 18 February 2008 05:15

You're welcome! Feel free to ask me details if you want. I got the feeling it might vary somewhat from consulate to consulate though.

If I were in your situation, I'd definitely apply.

Zylyn · 23 July 2008 01:50

Hi Sophie,

Just curious about the status of your application. Did it go through? Were you successful? Have you had the chance to celebrate? Maybe this August 1st?

Also, a related question. I already went through the interview for facilitated naturalization (my ancestors were Swiss) this past March and am waiting for the final answer from the Swiss government (hence my curiosity about your application). But let's say I do get the citizenship. I will have been married twelve years at the end of 2008. Would my wife be immediately eligible to apply for citizenship, because she will have been married more than six years to someone who is now a Swiss citizen? Or would she have to wait until I have been a Swiss citizen for six years?

Best regards.

webise · 23 July 2008 03:26

Thanks for asking! I have just now entered that 8 to 10 month window that was mentioned by the person who interviewed me. So, everyday I check my mail with anticipation, but nothing yet. I will definitely post and update my info when I hear from them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be before August 1--that would be so cool!

I'm sorry, but I have no idea about the question regarding when your wife would be eligible. Hopefully someone else reading the forum will have an idea. If not, perhaps an email to your local consulate could answer that question.

Good luck to you!

azaler · 23 July 2008 08:10

She isn't eligible for facilitated naturalisation, because you had no Swiss citizenship at the time of marriage (the rules are here ), and "un-facilitated" naturalisation requires some years of residency in the country, depending on canton and commune. She should have no problem to get a residence permit, though.

Best wishes for your own application, and thank you for keeping us informed!

reker · 23 July 2008 08:30

In your case, as Nathu said, she is not eligible since you were not Swiss as you got married. The standard naturalisation applies. see www.bfm.admin.ch

Le conjoint étranger d'un ressortissant suisse peut former une demande de naturalisation facilitée s'il a résidé en Suisse pendant cinq ans en tout , s'il y réside depuis une année et s'il vit depuis trois ans en communauté conjugale avec un ressortissant suisse . Même celui qui réside à l'étranger peut former une demande de naturalisation facilitée auprès de la représentation suisse compétente. Dans un tel cas, il faut toutefois qu'il ait des liens étroits avec la Suisse et qu'il vive depuis six ans au moins avec son conjoint suisse.

Requérants en particulier les épouses et les époux de conjoints suisse ainsi que les enfants étrangers d'un père ou d'une mère suisse Dépôt de la demande auprès de la Confédération:

Office fédéral des migrations, Section Naturalisation,

3003 Berne-Wabern Compétence pour la décision Confédération Droit de recours oui Conditions fédérales intégration respect de l'ordre juridique absence de menace pour la sûreté intérieure ou extérieure conditions supplémentaires selon l'article de loi Conditions cantonales

aucune, seulement droit d'être entendu et droit de recours Conditions communales aucune, seulement droit d'être entendu et droit de recours

Conditions de naturalisation facilitée selon la législation en vigueur

1. Article 27 LN

Le conjoint étranger d'un ressortissant suisse qui a résidé en Suisse pendant cinq ans en tout, y réside depuis une année et vit depuis trois ans en communauté conjugale avec un ressortissant suisse. Attention: le conjoint doit avoir été suisse au moment du mariage.

2. Article 28 LN

Le conjoint étranger d'un ressortissant suisse qui a des liens étroits avec la Suisse et vit depuis six ans au moins en communauté conjugale avec le ressortissant suisse. La personne qui réside à l'étranger peut aussi déposer une demande.

3. Article 29 LN

L'étranger qui, pendant cinq ans au moins, a vécu dans la conviction qu'il était suisse et a été traité effectivement comme tel par une autorité cantonale ou communale. Situation rencontrée très rarement dans la pratique.

Zylyn · 23 July 2008 12:50

Oh, that makes it pretty clear, specially this sentence: Attention: le conjoint doit avoir été suisse au moment du mariage.

Thanks for the information. Regards.

Zylyn · 23 July 2008 13:02

This is funny, I just realized the specific sentence I quoted in my previous reply appears on the French and German versions of the web site but not on the English or Italian versions.

French : http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/fr/home/...uergerung.html 1. Article 27 LN

Le conjoint étranger d'un ressortissant suisse qui a résidé en Suisse pendant cinq ans en tout, y réside depuis une année et vit depuis trois ans en communauté conjugale avec un ressortissant suisse. Attention: le conjoint doit avoir été suisse au moment du mariage.

German : http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/de/home/...uergerung.html 1. Artikel 27 BüG

Ausländischer Ehegatte einer Schweizerin oder eines Schweizers, der insgesamt fünf Jahre in der Schweiz gewohnt hat, seit einem Jahr hier wohnt und seit drei Jahren in ehelicher Gemeinschaft mit dem schweizerischen Ehepartner lebt. Achtung: der/die Ehepartner/in muss im Zeitpunkt der Heirat die Schweizer Staatsangehörigkeit besessen haben.

English : http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/...uergerung.html 1. Article 27 Naturalization Act

The foreign spouse of a Swiss national who has lived in Switzerland for at least five years, has lived here for one year, and has lived in conjugal community with the Swiss spouse for three years.

Italian : http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/it/home/...uergerung.html 1. Articolo 27 LCit

Coniuge straniero di un cittadino svizzero che ha risieduto complessivamente cinque anni in Svizzera, vi risiede da un anno e vive da tre anni in unione coniugale con il cittadino svizzero.

I am not saying this means anything, it just is weird... Regards.

Facilitated Naturalization - from *outside* Switzerland

Facilitated Naturalization - from outside Switzerland