01.04.2016 - Request to supply documents "as soon as possible" for Kantonal approval.
Despite what I previously wrote, for sure the Kanton wanted their facetime.
... Nov 2016. Mr Fatboy waddles off to the Kanton to very politely ask "what of it?". They reply "perhaps in Winter". Perhaps I misunderstood where they part about "rushing to do things".
Don't know if that dislodged a rusty cog or something, but ...
21.01.2017 - Letter asking to come to the Kanton on the 15.02, at 09.40am. (Date and time only very slightly fictitious to protect the guilty).
15.02.2017 - Interview. Girlfriend timed how long I was behind closed doors. Barely 9 minutes. Think it went well. Or at least, not badly. Did note the looks of terror on other candidate faces.
Expected: Week of 21 March 2017: Meeting of the Grosser Rat. Sometime thereafter, notification. Finally.
For anyone who took the Kantonal Deutsch Exam in Zurich (the KDE), how long did it take you to get the result? I took the test a month ago (can't imagine not passing it), but I've heard nothing from anyone.
The next thing we heard was the invitation to the Gemeinde interview (in Stadt Zürich), which I presume would only have happened with a KDE test pass. We didn't hear anything directly following the test, but were informed of our scores during the Gemeinde interview. So on that basis, no news is good news
... and finally, after around 1100 days from submitting the first documents, a letter arrived saying "come to a ceremony in early May, we'll baptize you in Fondue" and you'll officially be Swiss.
While being very happy with my new home and new status , some of the edge was taken off by the marathon endurance test the process became .
After submitting my initial application exactly a year ago, I seem to be near the end of the process. Today I received my Schriftenempangschein with my invalidated C-permit, and last week I received my voting ballot for the May 21st referendum. But what's next? Do I wait for more communication about applying for the passport? Or can I go to the passport office already? And who do I need to inform about my change of status - employer, bank etc ? And when?
I'm not the average EF'er I think. I was born in Zurich, American parents, and we lived on and off in Switzerland, in Zurich and Geneva, in my childhood. I was surprised to find that a Swiss birth makes a huge difference in the citizenship process - no language tests, no interviews, nobody checking me out except for the obligatory forms that are required with the application. I came back to Switzerland almost 8 years ago, but didn' know I was eligle for citzenship after 2 (I think) due to fulfilling residency requirements in the childhood years.
Once you have the Schriftenempfangschein (note your spelling error) you require no other paper from the authorities to apply for an ID/Passport or both.
Depending on your canton you can do one or more of the following:
-apply for the ID card in your Gemeinde (eg Kanton ZH)
-apply for the Passport in your PassBüro
-apply for the Kombi-Passport and ID in your PassBüro at the same time
-apply for the ID card in your Passbüro (where Gemeinde no longer issue du to Cantonal law eg TI/BE IIRC)
It's important whichever you do first, you bring along the cancelled Ausländerausweis as they will likely ask for it in exchange.
Once you have an ID/Passport you can then start writing letters for all documents where your non-Swiss nationality is stated (eg Driving license) and enclose a copy of your ID/Passport to change your Heimatort to your new Swiss one and/or your nationality (e.g. Fahrzeugausweis).
Don't forget to inform your pension fund, insurers, bank, employer, etc as your canceled ausländerausweis currently on file with them is now no longer valid!
Personally although in Kt. ZH I could apply for the ID in the Gemeinde, I made an appointment with the Passbüro for the Kombi. The Passport arrived faster than the ID. Buy a few stamps for your letters.
The driving license change costs 15CHF in ZH. You may need to include a new photo
I started the application process in the city of Zurich last August (2016). I received an invitation to take the Kantonal Deutsch test around Christmas (2016). I took the test in February, and then didn't hear anything at all again until June (2017), when I received my invitation for an interview. Interview is in two weeks and I am really nervous. I really don't know anyone who did the interview for normal naturalization specifically in Zurich city. I know the experience varies dramatically from commune to commune. I'll post when its over.
We did the interview in Städt Zürich just over 2 years ago and it really is nothing to worry about. More like a friendly chat! They wanted to know our motivations for naturalising, asked us what would change for us (biggest difference to C Permit of course the right to vote) and basically wanted to see we didn't have two heads but were law abiding, tax paying citizens. We were given the choice whether to converse in high German or Swiss German. They didn't ask any specific "Swiss knowledge" quiz questions, or try to catch us out at all, but rather gave us the opportunity to show we had done our homework and knew what it was all about in our answers to their friendly questions. Good luck!
I just had my interview in Zurich City this morning. Interestingly, my interviewer never asked me why I wanted to be Swiss. He did most of the talking, actually. (Wonderful, since I have trouble expressing myself in German.) He asked me 20 questions about politics, history and geography--all from the little book they mailed me a few months ago. The decision seems way less subjective than I imagined. He gave me the impression that since I did well on that little verbal quiz, there was no problem. This is Stadt Zurich, which may be one of the easiest places to be naturalized.
Based on 7 and 8, it seems like Penelopy and spouse are applying for regular naturalization together. For facilitated, I only interviewed with the municipality - no "grand council" or anything.