TL;DR : Does anyone know if companies offer jobs to people who do not hold a residence permit at that moment but can get it with a high probability (because they are married to a B permit holder) or are the companies looking for the presence of the permit even before offering a job? I am in the IT industry (software engineering).
Background :
My boyfriend is a third-country national and holds a B permit. I am also a third-country national, and we are considering getting married for me to be able to move to Switzerland. His salary would be sufficient to finance both of us. The immigration office has informed me that one straightforward way for me to move to Switzerland would be 1. getting married in our home country, 2. applying for a family reunification visa, 3. coming to Switzerland and obtaining a residence permit, and 4. getting a job. So, I can work only after obtaining the permit, obviously.
However, I already work in another country (the UK, not my home country), and rather than quitting my job and moving to Switzerland, I'd rather move to Switzerland after I find a job there. Since I cannot hold residency in two countries at the same time, I have to hold a Swiss residence permit and keep working in the UK.
So, I wonder if companies in CH are willing to offer a job when I do not have the permit at that moment, but I tell them that I am married to a B permit holder or if I should already have that permit in my hands before the offer stage. I asked this question to the immigration office, but they said that the decision of the company at this stage it is up to the company itself. So, I am looking for any insights or experience in this manner before making an important decision
The Swiss Authorities website, ch.ch, provides relevant information on working in Switzerland and family reunification. Please see this link (English) for more information:
Thank you so much for the link! However, I have already checked that link, and as I stated in the post, the authorities have already told me that the decision to offer a job is up to the company itself, not them. So, I was hoping to see how the experience of other people who are married to a B permit holder but do not hold a Swiss permit themselves has been.
Did you check the kind of B permit and if working is a possibility ?
Also what kind of job are you looking for? if its a common role for say a project manager (non specialised projects) then companies might not be willing to go the extra mile and take a risk
Obviously its up to the company and there could be some who might be ok to do that but for all regular cases, that needs a patient search I guess
I think the experience is different for everyone. Are you fluent in the language of the Canton you will be moving? What industry and what you do in that industry?
My understanding is that it is not a given that you will be given a work permit on a reunification permit. I was given one, but I know other spouses that were not given a work permit with their reunification permit.
After two years of trying I finally gave up the thought of working.
it is difficult to obtain permits for 3rd country nationals as an employer ( Trust me, i have been through this experience when I was hiring my former team member from Argentina).
However, if you are coming with a very valuable skillset ( Medical, I.T etc.) then it will be easier.
Sadly, for a lower skilled job, it is highly unlikely that a company would favor you over local people ( or even EU applicants).
My suggestion is to go the family unification visa route, and apply for jobs once you are established in Switzerland.