Hi everyone,
I’m in a bit of a tricky situation and could really use some advice. I’m a non-EU citizen who has been living in Geneva, Switzerland for about 2.5 years. My B permit, which was linked to my previous job, expired on December 31, 2024 when my job terminated. I’ve already applied for a permit extension, but it’s still being processed. The OCPM (Office Cantonal de la Population et des Migrations) told me it usually takes at least 2-3 months to process.
Here’s where it gets complicated: I’ve found a potential new employer, but since I don’t currently have a valid permit, I’m not sure how to proceed. The company is hesitant because they say if they have to start the application process from scratch, it will take too long to hire me, and they might prefer to hire another candidate.
My questions are:
- Is there any way to avoid starting the entire application process from scratch?
- Can my current under-process permit extension application be used somehow by the new employer to give me a job offer?
- Has anyone been in a similar situation or knows how this works when a permit extension is underway and a potential new job is on the line?
I’m trying to do my own research since I know HR departments aren’t always keen on the complexities of hiring non-EU workers. Any insights on how to use my pending permit extension to help with this potential hiring would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer!