I'm a physical therapist with US licenses ... And I am planning to work in Switzerland... Can anybody tell me what to do first in order to achieve my goal?
Thank you ...
To anybody who can answer my question:
Why Switzerland?
First you need to understand that Americans - as non-EU citizens - are at a significant disadvantage when trying to immigrate to Switzerland. In order for a work permit to be granted, an employer first has to prove that there are no CH or EU citizens qualified and willing to do the job.
As non-EU you cannot immigrate on the basis of self-employment, you would need an employer to sponsor you - and that employer first has to prove the above. Not an easy thing to do these days.
So - what do you have that no other CH or EU physical therapist has, to motivate an employer to jump through the necessary permit hoops? You need to focus on that.
Second, are your qualifications recognized here in Switzerland? You will need to research this. The Swiss and US diploma systems are very different.
Third - do you speak French, German, Italian?
As for what you do to obtain a permit - nothing. Your employer does the application.
It is very difficult for Americans to immigrate to Switzerland, unless you possess unique skills and the experience and international reputation to back them up.
I don't want to throw cold water on your dreams - but it's important for any American looking to immigrate to Switzerland to understand the current situation.
I'm sure you have been reading the news on the fall-out from FATCA; thanks to Uncle Sam's benighted policies and on-going tiff with the Swiss, Americans are pretty much personae non gratae in Switzerland these days.
Forewarned is forearmed, and all that. Anyway, I do wish you best of luck with your plans...
Thank you for your reply that truly enlightened me a whole lot. No I have not heard about the FATCA. To answer your question , it's because of my boyfriend. He's Italian and lives close to the border (Italy - Switzerland obviously). I'm learning Italian of course. Will it help if I will be an EU citizen ?thank u so much.
If you marry an EU citizen that's a whole 'nuther ball o' wax.
--
OT, but...
I'm always saddened when I hear that the turmoil that FATCA has unleashed gets so little play in the US media. FATCA has made life difficult for Americans abroad - some would say impossible - with the potential to hurt the US economy. Yet few at home seems to have heard or /paid attention to this disaster of a law.
(If you do marry your Italian, be sure you both understand US tax/reporting liabilities if you establish joint accounts.)
Good luck!
ETA: I'm now confused. I was basing my comments on your location, assuming you are an American. But your profile says you are from the Philippines. The FATCA and tax comments would only apply if you are a US citizen or green card holder. If you are neither, you don't have to worry about any of that.
You will still need to check that your qualifications are accepted by the Swiss authorities and you also have the same permit problems, unless you are married.
But is your boyfriend happy to live in Switzerland too? If you’re thinking of marrying that’s certainly a question that needs answering.
If you do have/have had a US green card then you are still stuck in the FATCA nightmare until you can get a letter from the IRS stating that you have no further tax obligations to the US. Even if a green card has expired it, unfortunately, doesn’t mean you’re beyond Uncle Sam’s reach as far as tax owed goes.
Hey guys,
Thank you so much for all your comments. I guess I was not clear since there's much confusion. So here goes, yes I am Filipino, foreign graduate(physical therapy) but I have been a PT in US close to 9-10 years. I am planning on moving to Italy, live there with my fiancée and soon be married and become an Italian citizen ... Since he lives close to the border, I want to work in Switzerland.. So I guess I am asking on how to obtain work permit and what do I need to do or where do I submit my credentials so I can get my pt license and work in Switzerland.
I hope that clarifies everything ...
And I am a US citizen...
Thank u guys for all your help!
Ayya
Well, you won’t be able to get Italian citizenship until 2 years after you’ve been married. See this from the Italian Interior Ministry:
“The foreign or stateless applicant must be married to an Italian citizen for at least 2 years and he/she must have his/her legal residence in a municipality of the Province for at least 2 years from the date of the marriage. Legal residence means that the applicant must be enrolled in the register of the population and at the same time he/she must hold a valid permit to stay.”
So that means that you’ll be treated not as an EU citizen, but as a “third country” or rest of the world citizen when it comes to applying for jobs in Switzerland. Swiss, EU nationals and others who here already resident here and hold a valid work permit must be considered for jobs first. Employers have to go to time consuming and expensive procedures to show that they cannot find someone from the above groups which means many will not bother. You yourself cannot apply for a permit, it would have to be done by any potential employer. This is why I asked if your boyfriend would be happy to live in Switzerland when you are married as it would then be easier for you to get a permit.
Still the first thing to do is get your qualifications recognised because without that applying for any job would be pointless.
Also, you are aware I hope that as a US citizen you still have to file US tax returns every year regardless of where you live in the world.
These guys at the red cross decide on the recognition of your qualification;
http://www.redcross.ch/activities/he...o_090128_e.pdf (note the language requirements at the bottom B2 )
However, would it not be easier to find work in Italy maybe? Getting permits in Switzerland can be a nightmare!
hi Ayya, we are exactly in the same situation. will be moving to switzerland in july, hopefully i will be getting my swiss residency by then. i too was trained in the Phil and work here in san francisco. i wish you luck in your endeavor. it would be great to keep in touch and compare notes on the seemingly daunting task of working and transitioning in another country yet again.
thanks island monkey for the red cross link. i have been looking for this.