Hello everyone. I have some visa/remote working questions and I am seeking for some help here.
I am a C permit holder and I am about to start a new job. My contract will be based in Switzerland but the company is very flexible regarding remote working. My partner just relocated to USA and I would like to follow her and keep working from such a company from the USA.
At the moment I am not eligible to work in the USA, but I will be in some months (under J2 visa with EAD).
I am interested in exploring my possibilities. In particular:
- is it possible to keep a Swiss-based contract and work from abroad (based that I have eligibility in the country I want to work on)? If so, should I keep a residence in Switzerland?
- what happens to my C permit? I heard it is possible to put that on hold.
If you are not resident in Switzerland, you cannot have a Swiss residency permit. If you already have a Permis C it can be put on hold in some limited circumstances for a limited period. Circumstances such as your company temporarily transferring you abroad for a limited period.
With third country (Non-EU) permits in limited supply, and subject to quotas the Cantons are not that interested in having permits put on hold.
Taxes and insurances will depend on where you live.
Also bear in mind that apart from USB, Credit Suisse, PostFinance and maybe Migros Bank, any taint of the US will likely result in your bank throwing you out and closing your account due to FATCA.
Keeping the C permit is not much of a necessity for me.
My main point is about the feasibility to keep a Swiss contract while working permanently abroad. I guess I would obviously need to pay my taxes in the country of residence, but what about the social contribution that the employer pays? Does he need to pay that one in another country?
Otherwise, a simpler solution would be to become a contractor.
It does not work like that. There is an annual quota for L and B permits. Once a permit is issued that’s it. The quota system simply limits annual immigration numbers from non-EU citizens, not the net balance of non-EU nationals in the territory. And no, C permits have nothing to do with quotas.
I think contractor is the only way for now, until world acknowledges digital nomads in a broader way... Hopefully your company doesn't mind that.
I know a Spanish IT guy that is hired by Swiss company as a contractor, has his company registered in Bulgaria (apparently one of the lowest taxes in EU) and used to work from SE Asia (moving around as I think he can't exceed x amount of days in 1 country).
And here I am, getting to 2nd year on my couch in Swiss village, instead of under palm tree But my company won't allow contractors...
- it's not easy as there many regulations that be in the way
Since you have C permit , you won't be able to hold to it - that may or may not be an issue to the employer .
Easiest way is to work "with" mother/daughter/sister company - based on fact that your contract is 'delegated' to remote branch etc. This would let you keep all the Swiss privileges (likely inclusive your C-permit) like health care , tax etc
After two years - it be more difficult to be employee working from abroad .
Going to US with J2 is another thing as you require authorization to seek employment and not sure whenever that is still required as well what the (tax?) implications would be.