On another note, do you know of anyone applying for C permits and not speaking German? my German is non-existent! Thanks so much!!!!
Hi all! I just realised my B permit will expire in August while on holidays. I would like to apply now for a C permit since I have lived here 5 years, but I was told I need to wait for a letter, which will happen while I am abroad. What happens if I am not here and when I get back my B permit has expired? can I anticipate myself and ask for renewal earlier?
You won’t get one simple as that if you don’t speak the official language of your canton or one of them if it’s bi-lingual. You may find your B permit at risk as well if you don’t speak a Swiss language.
If you’re a national of one of these countries you’re exempt from the language requirement.
EU nationalities language exemption: Belgium, Germany, Denmark, France, Liechtenstein, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Spain.
Have you asked your cantonal migration office if you can apply a bit earlier?
OK I am from Spain so it seems I can waive the language issue
Thanks! I will ask the migration office!
Arriving 3 months late to this, but just to confirm the OP - I'm from Spain as well and just got my B converted automatically to a C after 5 years here (canton BL in my case).
No specific request to convert it, just the regular renewal. No language requirements either. But you have to be present when they send you a letter to make an appointment for the biometrics. This year, due to the situation with the Ukrainian refugees, there are a lot of delays in processing the applications.
I hope you were able to get yours renewed too!
Someone I know from one of the language-exempt countries is currently going through this application (asking for a C after 5 years on B) in Zurich.
He has been required to provide proof that he has never drawn any social Security support benefits in Switzerland for the past two years, he has been fully employed for the past two years, his earnings were enough to support himself.
The local municipal office (Kreisbüro) and the immigration authorities (Migrationsamt) seem to require two different but partially overlapping sets of documents. So far, he's just going along with it by obediently supplying whatever each office asks for, and the process seems to be going well.