- 4.5 yrs student B + normal B permit (with permanent work contract)
Recently I wanted to check if my B permit for my current job is open or close. I wrote the email to Zug migration office (my work permit was authorized there) but never got replies. Then I directly called the Zug migration office.
In the beginning, the responsible woman said my B permit is restricted because my contract is limited. I told her that it is wrong since I have an permanent contract with my company. She further checked again and she corrected herself and told me that my B permit is unrestricted since I have a permanent work contract. I confirmed with her again and she said: "yes, you can change your employer with this permit whenever you want"
As far as I know (from this forum), permanent contract doesn't necessarily guarantee an open B permit. So I am a bit worried that she doesn't actually know how it works and might give me a wrong answer (especially she said it's close in the beginning).
So I have few questions:
(1) Any suggestion to get a more solid/confident answer from them? Does Federal migration office in Bern also know the my permit type?
(2) Normally, when the company wants to hire an non-EU who claims to hold an open B, how does the company check if their candidate hold an open or close B permit? Do they always call the migration office as well?
(3) During job application, many companies would ask people to upload the images of the permit. In the case of non-EU with B permit, do the companies also call the migration office to check the permit type before starting an interview?
(4) What is the best approach to avoid the situation that one quits the current job for a new offer but realize later that it's actually a close B?
This is the correct answer. So it is neither "Usually in the letter you got with the permit" nor "What does it say on your permit?", at least not anymore.
For Zurich - we call AWA - or use the link that someone provided above.
That is the 'work permit' administration, not the migration authorities.
If you employ anyone who does not have a Swiss passport or C permit, it's always worth doing 'due diligence' to double check their work permissions....
The back means you cannot be self-employed and is tied to your company. So if you change your job and the new company doesn't support VISA, you might have problem with the migration office.
I would recommend just stay another year with your current job, get German B1, and apply for a fast-track C.
No it can't. The "letter" comes from the SEM. The card is issued by SEM. Well it can differ if we are talking about some letter from AWA of the canton.
My permit says the same - and I have an open B permit. Verified by my company's immigration lawyers. The response email came from here
Volkswirtschaftsdirektion des Kantons Zürich
Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit
Abteilung Arbeitsbewilligungen
So - I'm not sure you can always tell based on what's on the permit....
Maybe the department above can be of help. As others have stated use the link above if in Zurich - it's exactly what my immigration lawyer did, and probably charged the company a pretty penny for it! But you can do it yourself.
Since it's still been discussed, few more details from my experience in the process in the Kt. Zürich:
The "open" status for non-EU B is independent from what's printed on the permit card, details were available on the "Stellenantritt" document, issued upon annual permit renewal by authorities (AWA / Migrationsamt). Even though I had permanent contract from the start, not tied to the company, etc., my renewed B permits didn't become automatically open, until my employer issued an official letter to authorities to make it open for the next annual renewal. Once the request was satisfied, the new "Stellenantritt" form contained the note that AWA limitations are removed and that meant the job could be changed without extra authorization. "Stellenwechsel" request above also was positive.
Again, in Zug the process and work authorization rules for non-EU could be different from Zürich, so call and/or official written request to Zug Arbeitsamt should help.