Means of Support - Family Reunification

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi,

We just got married in Mairie yesterday. Today we went to the OCPM to start the process of getting my residence B permit. In the fill-up form there's a section where we have to prove my wife can support me financially. We forgot to ask about this part.

Anyone of you have an idea how much or what we need to show them? Do we need to show our bank balance or my wife's salary slip?

2

Both probably. I think the figure is around 2,100 a month for a single person so you’d need more for two. Each canton sets its own figures though so you should contact them and ask.

3
Usually that means they require the supporting person to supply their last 3 pay slips, possibly also rental contract stating how much rent is paid. A healthy looking bank statement could also help. Any additional income should also be included.

4
You do not yet have a job in Switzerland, right?

In VS, they ask the latest 2 salary payments, and the recent yearly attestation de salaires (the year of 2013 for now).

5
In Neuchatel my husband had to provide previous three month's salary slips and copy of rental contract.

6
Nope I do not have a job yet here as I came 2 weeks ago.

Thanks for the info. I'll let OH call tomorrow morning. Hopefully they will pick up the phone!

7
Thanks for this. Let me further explain our situation.

Me:

-Finnish residence permit valid until end of this month(with the possibility of extending for 6 months).

-Currently living in a family friend's house for free while wife and I find an apartment.

-Currently looking for a job.

Wife(Swiss citizen):

-Working. But not enough to cover me in means of support(?)

-Still living with parents as we haven't found a flat yet.

Us:

-We are planning to be together once our church wedding ceremonies are over.

Today, I went to the OCP and asked about the details. But the guy I was talking to didn't quite understand my situation as I noticed him having a bit of difficulty with english(surprising to me!). He said that we need to give a letter explaining the situation together with my application(about why we are not living together).

Do you think it's a good idea to send a letter of explanation?

Is it possible to just move to the in-laws house and declare that we're living together?

Is there a possibility of my application getting rejected?

8
If I understand well, you and your wife are now officially living in two different addresses. This might be a problem for your permit application (which is based on family reunion), because they assume that you two should live together. I know that as a married couple you are not obliged to live together, blablabla... but in the case of a foreigner just married to a Swiss and asking family reunion they do assume that you live together or you should provide a valid reason by writing (this is why they ask you this letter). If you work, you can find related reasons (such as far working places...), but in your case you just come in CH and do not still have a job so I wonder what valid reason can convince OCP.

And in some strict cantons (such as VS), they will simply refuse to process your permit application if you are not living together (even if you explain that you have this that reasons).

So I suggest you to move into the in-laws house. It's just a change of address for you at the commune and is straightforward. After this everything will be much easier.

9
Thanks. I guess that would be the safest way. Another question, how do I declare my official residency? I haven't done this yet.

10
It may also affect whether the authorities decide your marriage is "legitimate" or "recognized." They might want to dig a little deeper to make sure it is not a scam. Not saying it is, but don't be shocked if they start asking more questions and ask for more documentation like shared bank accounts, etc.

I think your safest route is to both live with the in-laws, at least at first. Not sure how you'll sort out the financial aspect. Anyone know if the in-laws can sign something saying they will be financially responsible?

11
As far as I know, you should go to the "control des habitants" of the commune where you live to apply for your residence permit (not the OCP as OCP is the cantonal office, maybe there are some confusion of authority names for you), and in the mean time you declare your address.

So you should go to the commune of your in-laws to apply for your permit, and use their address (also make sure that you really live there).

12
If i'm correct, the OCP and OCPM(for foreigners) is in one office only. The in-laws lives in Geneva city itself. Living with the in-laws seems like the most logical way(I was trying to avoid this.) It's a good thing that my in-laws and I have a very close relationship or this wouldn't work at all!

Worst case for me would be to go back to Finland and apply for an extention, isn't it?

13
What I said is based on my knowledge of canton VS, I guess that in GE it may be different (that you directly ask your permit at OCP, the cantonal level).

And as soon you submit your application, you are fine to stay until the decision is made. Usually you will get positive decision given that you are married with Swiss citizen. You do not have to renew your Finnish permit.

14
Thanks a lot for your help! I will go to OCPM tomorrow and see what happens.

15
hi jesuisuntouriste, if you don't mind me asking can you let me know how much time it took for you to get the marriage preparation process approved.

thanks

16
From his previous threads he started the procedure in mid Dec, at beginning Feb he still had no reply, and that the marriage took place end Feb. So the preparation process took about 2 months.

17
thankyou happyrobbie

18
That's right, it took 2 months only.

Just to update you guys: OH and I went to OCPM a while ago and clarified everything. They said that since we skipped a step(applying an entry permit in the nearest swiss embassy), they have no choice since we already got married here and that the Mairie didn't inform us. And that it's not really a big deal. They said that we just have to let OH's parents sign the apartment thing and the OH to give the 3 months salary slip. Hopefully everything turns out well. Thanks again!

19
Hi everyone. I am in a similar situation. I am swiss and my fiance is australian. We have been together for 3 years. We decided to get married in Switzerland this Summer. We went together to the swiss consulate in sydney australia and submitted all the required documents for the marriage preparation. My fiance had to submit his birth certificate, a statutory declaration that states his civil status( not married) his nationality and his place of residents. I had to submit a certificate of personal status and a proof of residence paper. And our passports. We had to fill in some forms when we were in the office in sydney and then it was sent off. It has been two weeks now and the civil office here in the town where i live got already the documents but they have to wait until it is approved by the canton st. Gallen.... We already filled out the family reunion visa as well but my fiance has to wait to send it off until he gets his police check... I have read about people who had to send in payslips and savings account statements, but the guy in sydney said we only have to submit the visa d form passport. Copies and photos.. I was just wondering what my wage should be and my savings??? Does anyone have experience with that in case they ask us for this? I

20
I assume that after marriage you and your spouse will come and live in Switzerland. Am I right?

You have to separate two things which are being processed in parallel now in your case.

The first is the marriage. For this, you two had to provide documents with regarding to residence, nationality, civil status... but not financial things (e.g. you never show a working contract, nor any salary slip or saving account in order to get married). And the marriage request will be sent to the cantonal authority of your origin in Switzerland for examination. It is always the canton who decide whether you may marry. And this decision usually takes anywhere between 1 to 4 months in case of international marriage.

The second thing is family reunion because you will bring your spouse to live Switzerland. Although you submitted this request at the same time as marriage, family reunion visa can only be issued after you are officially married. For family reunion, you have to show that you have enough financial ability. It's in this stage that they MAY ask you to provide your salary slip and/or savings, and you MAY also be asked to sign a paper which states that you will be responsible to cover the cost of life for your spouse in Switzerland.

You just submitted your marriage request two weeks ago, actually you are in the very beginning of the whole process. If they haven't yet asked you about the documents in the financial part, just wait, and if they ask you one day (if ever), just provide them.