I know what you mean about the cost of things, we struggled to raise two kids on one salary and things like language classes were well out of my reach as well.
600CHF may not seem like much to some, but.......
In Geneva there is a college run by the trade unions called the Université Ouvrières (Workers University), they do language courses which are much cheaper than the Migros and it's sometimes possible to do a "skill swap" to pay for them, which is what I did, teaching English for a few hours each week in exchange for French lessons. My only expense was the course books and sometimes you can buy them secondhand from other pupils.
I think you're in Basle? Does anyone out there know if there's a similar college in the city, I think they exist in most of the big cities.
Anjela
To toss another oar in, my husband called up Bern today. He was told something that's a cross between facilitated and regular naturalization.
I give up! I'm not eligible for another year and a couple of months. When the time comes that I can file, I will. And we'll see from there - no sense in worrying about it now. After all, I may worry about it and have it be smooth - so that's over a year of worrying for nothing! Let's just hope the speeding ticket I got on Christmas day for going 2km over the limit doesn't bite me in the butt when I apply And maybe, just maybe, I can get over my fear and phobia of speaking German in a stressful situation!
BTW, I don't think traveling on a holiday during that last year would stop them from issuing you citizenship (or, as in our case here in Basel, taking a short walk and wandering over the borders!)
Yeah, that 600 is steep, considering what we pay for health insurance, taxes, etc. and only on one income and with a business that's struggling to get on its feet (read: financial drain)
That's a good idea, though, about the school. I've been meaning to check out at the University here, often students will offer a tandem session of an hour of German speaking combined with an hour of English speaking. That's the way I learn best, anyway, so thank you for the reminder!
I agree that a quick trip across the border won't be a problem. Since the movements of people with white skin are seldom checked at the border I doubt that you would get disqualified for a weekend trip
Don't worry about the speeding fine - with the small fines (250 and less) they aren't recorded if you pay them within 30 days. It's a case of "we just want the money - pay up quickly and we'll forget it ever happened". The things that would bite you would be bad debts, so I hope your business is still running fine when you apply
By the way - there are a few people here that also run their own businesses, if you want advice / support on some issues related to business why not start a new thread on this topic?
Sadly, yes, we have noticed that when we cross the border, they rarely stop us, but they always seem to have a Turkish or Sri Lankan family sitting there with their car being torn apart. One of us crosses the Swiss/German border most days, since our business is in Germany, so we see lots and lots of border checks. That being said, before my husband finally broke down and got a regional bus pass, he was getting questioned every day by the German border guards (they even went out of their way to stop him, such as running across the street!) - all because he looks a little "different". Now that he rides the bus when he goes to the office, they never pester him (since they rarely if ever board the bus!).
Not a bad idea with the post - although with us having residency in Switzerland but the business in Germany, our situation is a bit different from most. But some things are universal!
I'm 23 years old and am the daughter of a naturalised Swiss citizen, I hold a philippine passport. My mother was given citizenship in 1997 and I followed my mom in 2000. When she tried applying for a visa for me under Familiennachzug (I have no idea how to translate this into english =S), the authorities (Fremdenpolizei Bern) informed her that I had been separated for too long and could no longer be considered as part of her family. They did agree to give me a B-permit though as a student. That was 6.5 years ago.
Now I've gone through German School, private secondary school, Gymnasium and now university and all with a B-permit. This year I saw that they had added in a law for naturalization for children of naturalized parents that hadn't been included in the naturalization of said parents. I was informed that since I wasn't yet 23 that I qualified for simplified naturalisation but 6 months after sending in my application, an official from the Department of migration called me and told me they made a mistake and sent back my application with barely more than an "oops, my bad"
Also apparently I don't qualify for a C-permit since my B-permit is one for a student.
Is there anyone out there who could shed some light on this situation. Frankly I'm annoyed since I would like to work, but I'm only supposed to work 15-hours a week but no one wants to give me any sort of job because of my permit etc etc.
Whilst the thread did begin asking about Military/Zivilschutz aspects, it does cover much of what you might need to know.
I fear you have missed your boat on this one.
Under the new Army Doctrine "Armee XXI" the maximum age is 34 years. After that your out and done with it and don't have to pay anything.
Edit: Sorry...only just realized that the thread has 3 pages!
And congratulations on a post without a mention of a Porsche Cayenne
I became Swiss when comfortably past 40 and there was never a question of having to join anything military or pay any more tax. The cost the 'lighter nationalisation' (my spouse is Swiss) in 1994 was CHF300 plus postage. there was no exam or test. It took 14 months. The only forms needed were a rather grubby photocopy of the 'nationalisation' for form the community office (free) and CHF25 for a piece of paper saying I had lived here for 5 years. The local police station, on the behest of 'Bern', asked me to produce a contract of employment (just before I became self employed), which I did and they posted a photocopy to Bern (no charge).
There was no voting me in at a community meeting or anything like that.
Oddly the requirements for civil duties seem to vary from community to community. I became Swiss while in Kilchberg, but when we moved to Thalwil, I was asked for my 'military service book' by letter. I said I didn't have one and they said I would become a member of the 'Welfare Corps' to be called up in case of earthquake, invasion and so on. Two years later I received a further letter on behalf of the good people of Thalwil thanking me for my service on their behalf and advising that in case of incoming meteors etc. they would no longer require me.
I took Swiss nationality for a number of reasons. I made a commitment to the country I like very much and would be happy to spend the rest of my days in. I can leave the country for as long as I want and come back to live without problem. I can buy property anywhere here without question. I can vote - and yes I do think it makes a difference, especially on a community level. There could even be the situation where my Swiss spouse died and I would not have to worry about staying (or going). Also, I did not lose my British passport - that would have made a difference...
I, like litespeed, will be taking the steps to become something I detest ( ) soon. Married to a Swissie is suffering enough, it seems
If we submit our applications at about the same time, it is going to be interesting to see the variation in processing times and "requirements".
FWIW Facilitated is purely Federal IIRC - so it should take the same amount of (long) time
After a post from AbFab in another thread I decided to dig through my tidy office (snort!) and read up on my naturalization documents!
All of my forms are signed 12 September 2006 - that must be the same day I took them down to the Service de l'état civil et des naturalisations in person .
They handed me an unsigned and undated letter - probably a letter which they would have sent to me by post had they received my naturalisation file by post.
This letter states that:
-they have received my junk
-I now have a specific file reference number to use for all future communication with them
-I must be able to express myself in one of the national languages. Holding a discussion with the cantonal and communal authorities will be the best sign of successful integration.
-attached is: "civic instruction" documentation for me to study. It is possible for me to be questionned by cantonal and communal authorities on my knowledge. (DOH!)
-The naturalisation process is not free. I can write to them asking for an estimation of the costs, so that I can start putting aside money in advance.
I guess I had better haul my cookies down to the office very soon and ask for my "civic instruction" documentation - which was not given to me "en annexe." I'm telling you, the lady at the counter just handed me this unsigned, undated paper - telling me that the most important part of it was that I take note of my new file reference number.
I feel like a dingus for trusting her and not having read more in-depth sooner!