need urgent advice [D-visa in CH]

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi, I am from a non-EU/EEA country, and hold a Schengen D-Visa issued by Swedish authority to study in Sweden for a year. My course (Master course) starts on the last week of august. NOW, 2 days back, I got accepted in a Swiss university for a subject (Master course) I am more comfortable with. I called the Swiss embassy and they said it would take atleast 3 months to get a D-Visa for Switzerland, where as my course starts from the second week of september. My question is:

1. Can I go to Switzerland first from my home country instead of Sweden with a D-visa issued by swedish authority?

2. (if I can go to switzerland first and DECIDED to take the course after discussion with the faculty), can I cancel my Swedish D visa immediately (sooner the better as they would have time to notify people on the waiting list) and apply for a new D-visa to study in switzerland while being in Switzerland? Please advice.... Many Thanks.

2
Welcome to EF. Suggest you introduce yourself. I suggest the Swiss University will be best placed to advise you on what is and isnt possible.

3
1. No

2. It is (VERY!!) not good to be in Switzerland without a permit. And police do check.

4
What makes you say that? Do you have a source?

Where did the OP suggest he would do that?

5
hello

I dont know why the embassy told you that it would take at least 3 months. A D-Visa for Students is supposed to be issued between 6 and 12 weeks.

For more information check out this webpage from the swiss government: http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/...tv/rusfro.html

There you see what is needed to get a Student visa.

6
He needs a SWISS visa to register at gemeinde and the OP did say if he could go to CH instead of Sweden but his visa, which I am sure is one entry (that is what they do for migrating visas) ... sad but true

7
Don`t wish to seem picky but isn`t 12 weeks 3 months?

8
The question was can he enter Switzerland first instead of Sweden on his Schengen visa so that he can engage with the university administrators - which he can.

9
No - 13 weeks is 3 months

10
D Visa is usually single entry visa issued for the purpose of longer term stay. So the OP would need to enter Sweden first ( unless he books Swiss, then would transit through Switzerland - could potentially exit in CH, though it would not be recommended).

Lead time for visa depends on the nationality. For certain nationals - CH would need to pass on the details of the applicant to other Schengen countries, so can be 3 to 6 months.

http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/...nf/vispak.html

11
After an intensive internet search I have found that since 2010, u CAN travel to other destination first from your point of origin (non EU/EEA), please correct me if I am wrong. thanks

And for no 2. I think I can legally stay in switzerland for up 2 90 days with a schengen D-visa (issued by any Schengen nation), why would police chase me? Thanks

12
Nope. He can enter the Schengen area at any point with only his final destination as Sweden.

13
Now thats being picky !

14
So let me get this right - you called the Swiss Embassy, and they gave you an answer, which you possibly didn't like.

So you searched the internet, and they gave you another answer, which you did like.

Then you asked a question into the Ether of the English Forum, filled with doctors, lawyers, finance professionals, armchair psychiatrists, play-writes, photographers, few of whom work at an Embassy, and they give you a mixture of answers....

Just like anything in life, I guess you can believe that which you choose - however if you wish to study in Switzerland come the end of August, maybe you should try the Swiss Embassy again, and believe what they say - as they are the ones issuing your visa(!)

15
You can legally VISIT Switzerland on your Swedish D visa for upto 90 days. If you enter the Schengen zone in Switzerland then you might be asked to show a ticket taking you to Sweden, since the purpose of the D visa is to enter to take up long term residency in the country issuing it.

If you intend to study in Switzerland you will have to apply at a Swiss embassy abroad. You may be able to do that from the Swiss embassy in Sweden, but only after you take up residence in Sweden and have a Swedish residence permit. Since time seems to be of the essence to you, I suggest you start the process from your home country Swiss embassy. It will not matter if you already have a Swedish D visa stamped on your passport.

16
I'm not sure what kind of visa you were issued but when I got the visa to enter Switzerland, I was specifically told that I could only enter through Switzerland and not any other Schengen state.

I guess the best person to advise you are the Swiss embassy people in your home country but you could also discuss this with your (future) course supervisor at the Swiss University.

17
This is not truue. With your visa (which I assume it's a D) issued by CH, you can enter through any Schengen country you wish; only that the final destination must be CH. Imagine this (a more extreme case): not every country has direct flights to CH, so it's very often that someone has to enter via a different Schengen state first (where one would clear immigration) with then a connecting flight to CH.

18
Assuming Schengen was in force at the time then you were told wrong .

19
no mate, THEY NEVER GAVE ME A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FOR MY PARTICULAR QUERY.

Here are few things you might not know about getting a visa of western nations (excl. eastern europe) from a consulate in South Asia. These are from my own experience, I lived in NZ for past 7 years,

1. The people at the consulates just deliver your documents abroad at the processing centers i.e. they are like a courier service, most of the consulates do not process the visa on site.

2. It took me 6 months to get my first NZ student visa when I applied for the first time in my home country, and I had to submit heaps of paper works weighing around 3.5 kgs .

3. It took me 4 working days to get my student visa while I applied on-shore in NZ , even when I applied for a new work permit it took less than a week.

4. The consulate people have no time explaining stuff to you, they do not ADVISE people on how to proceed if their problem is a bit different from the list they got. There are always at least 30-50 people in the queue outside the well known consulates, the councilors are like VIPs, you DO NOT piss them off with challenging problems, I do not really blame them, they have to work real hard all day long.

SO, you do understand why we come the FORUMS like this.....

20
Well, I guess I was misinformed by the Swiss embassy in London then...and yes Schengen was in place at the time

Coming back to the Ops question..I sympathize with his situation. And the things he listed about embassies in South Asian countries is by no means an exaggeration of the situation either.

My advice, talk to your course adviser at the Swiss University. I don't think anyone can advise you better than him/her.