curious if folks know how much flexibility we have for the two interviews with Gemeinde / Community and Canton? I am travelling these days and want to know how much influence I have scheduling the interviews. Specific case from Canton Zug.
They are very flexible and would accept change or appointment easily, however, most likely would be far away appointments.
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The trigger point for them is Sozialhelfe.. RAV is not a show stopper, as they can easily delay the process more waiting to see if you would land a job or would opt for Sozialhelfe..
Hi, Iām based in the Canton of Zug. I received a letter from the municipality Gemeinde, but I was travelling on the scheduled date, so I contacted them by email and they kindly offered me a new appointment.
For the cantonal meeting, they called me directly and allowed me to choose a suitable time. They were very flexible.
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Im curious how much in advance people get notice of the conversation with the Gemeinde? Like 2-3 months in advance? And what is the date range people can choose from?
More like a month in advance. They propose a date and if that doesnāt work for you ask for an alternative.
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I would guess though, that if you are contacted a month in advance and you want to delay the conversation for another three to six months past that, they might wonder why you want to be Swiss at all.
If you are absent repeatedly for weeks at a time that could affect your eligibility. If itās for work that may mitigate the risk.
If you are serious about nationality I suggest you make all efforts to attend meetings on their schedule.
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They give enough advanced notice of the interview that it should be possible to arrange work trips or private travel to accommodate the interview.
I think they donāt mind postponing once or twice for valid reasons but wouldnāt be too happy if it was on multiple occasions.
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Status change to PrĆ¼fung Gemeinde 
So far:
06.10.2025: Submitted
20.01.2026: VorprĆ¼fung
30.04.2026: PrĆ¼fung Gemeinde
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Curious where we can see the status online?? Iām in canton zug
My updated timeline.
- Received SEM invoice in Jan
- Contacted SEM to check if they had received my payment. They said they had sent my application back to the canton on 17.03.
It seems that in VD, there is another 6 months after the federal phase.
What is causing this extra 6 months? I also got the invoice from SEM in Jan and my file is also approved by now (after calling VD). Did someone from the canton tell you there were extra delays? There are older cases from last year where the invitation letter for the ceremony was sent within a month after SEM payment in the canton of Vaud.
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Vaud participant here
Iām now officially in year 3 of this process. The civil registry was the longest part and I had a 7-8 month delay getting everything.
But my friend who applied in Vaud also (2 months before I applied - 3 years ago), they got their SEM bill beginning of last November 2025 and are also still waiting for the ceremony invitation!
Iām really surprised how Vaud is so slow compared to all the other timelines I see on here!
I have other friends in Vaud that got the ceremony 2 months after getting the SEM bill. Itās pretty crazy the ambiguity of it all..
I didnāt call the canton to check. There is a naturalization timeline document from Renens commune, it says there is another six months after the cantonal phase.
So your file has been approved by SEM or the canton? It it has been approved by the canton, why would it take so long for the invitation letter? 
What do you mean by year 3? Are you past the federal phase?
For Canton Zurich is there a requirement to provide two/three references from Swiss living in the same Gemeinde?
Itās been approved by the Commune, then the Canton, and now (early April) by SEM (the last fĆ©dĆ©ral level). Now Iām waiting for the ceremony. It seems to take an unnecessary long time.
Iām not passed federal no.. just finishing the canton level..
My friend is though:
BUT for both of us it has taken 3 years, so far, to get to these two separate stages :D.
Everything is arbitrary with this, thereās literally no method to the madness. All this forum does is calm you down by hearing similar stories or quicker ones..