US Citizen Marriage Visa to Swiss National under tourist visa

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi!

First Post!!!

Hello all! I have a few questions. I have been seeing a girl off and on now for 4 years. We traveled together, lived together in California, and went backpacking through SE Asia. Afterwards, we decided to visit Switzerland before I had to go back home to the States... In the end, I have decided that she is too important to me to live without. So we are now engaged trying to plan out our future together. We want to be married as soon as possible. (now you know the situation

Ok, now. We have decided to live in Switzerland. What are our options? I read on the US Embassies website that all I need is a my:

-Birth Certificate translated to French/German/Italian

-My passport,

-and a signed affidavit stating that I am able to marry (paperwork which could be completed at the US embassy in Bern).

I realize that there is an interviewing process that you go through before and after wedding ceremony.

My question is, Is this the right process? Am I going to have to go home to fill out more paperwork or can I complete that paperwork in Switzerland at the Embassy? I am only aloud to stay on my Passport Tourist Visa for up to three months.

Also, I have heard a few different posts about having a sufficient amount of funds in your bank accounts to support yourself. How much money does the Embassy or Swiss Gov. consider as considerable amount to support yourself if you have a Bachelors degree, a Swiss wife, and the will to work your ass off???

Please Help. I understand this may be a popular topic however there are so many people who write, "There are so many posts about this topic" That you cant find one of those original posts that actually give you the correct information. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time.

Tschüss!

2
You don't mention the nationality of your fiance but assuming Swiss then she is an ideal position to sort everything out.

Edit: Aha, you do, in the title

3
Thanks Swiss Bob, you have been a good source of Information in other posts as well. I am just hoping I don't have to go home. Have a great Easter!

4
It's highly unlikely you have to go home. And if your BC is in English you probably won't have to get that translated either. It's actually quite easy.

Go to the registry office with your girl. They will give you the list of papers you need. When you get all the papers together you can pick a date to get married. Then, bam, Bob's your uncle. (Note I said, Bob & not SwissBob. I don't think he's taking new nephews )

You DO need to get all your papers ready and get married before your tourist visa is up though.

I've never heard of anyone having an interview after the wedding, but there's always a first.

Good luck! & Congratulations.

PS, as SwissBob says, there are plenty of more specific resources on here. Search away!

5
the birth certificate has to be less than 6 months old

6
@ SwissWannaBe - we're in the same boat at the moment, my fiancé is from AL, I am Swiss. Did it work out for you two?

7
It's difficult to give advise because the laws are different in different parts of Switzerland. , in Zurich I know that it is possible to get a marriage preparation visa so that you don't have to go back to the states. Also, something which takes a long time to get which you need to obtain your visa is a background check. So get started on it now. Luckily because almost all Swiss officials speak English you may not need to have your documents translated.

Good luck, the road to marriage in Switzerland can feel like a long one, especially when your rushing. but, don't worry just do what they say and as long as they know your getting married/ registered they won't make you leave.

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On the contrary, it's relatively easy as the law on this topic is the same in all parts of Switzerland - visa's are federal, not kantonal.

I guess you might be referring to the fact that you can pick up a so called "fiance" visa from an embassy cloe to the Swiss border - but you cannot have it issued in Zurich .

9
You should ask your fiancée to make an appointment with the Standesamt of her Gemeinde to ask what the process is and what you will need.

I did just that when I was engaged (though we didn't do it and I did dodge a bullet with that one...) and came home with a list of exactly what we needed to submit when and where.

10
We found it easier to just get legit married in the U.S. with a justice of the peace and no witnesses (state of Massachusetts doesn't require them) and then to have our ceremony in Switzerland. This way we avoided all the paperwork and I was able to come to Switzerland as a your standard tourist.

As far as settling into Switzerland, my situation likely won't help you much since we stayed in the U.S. for a number of years before relocating last month. When I came now, it was under "family reunification."

I referred to this page often during the process. On the right-hand side there's a pdf file for family reunification.

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

Congrats on the pending nuptials!

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Hi, I just stumbled across this thread and I was wondering if it is possible to be in Switzerland as an American Tourist (90 days) and marry?

OR do the Swiss Authorities require a VISA in order to be married? I ask only because it has been 4 years since this post was answered.

I've asked Swissbob recently on a Private message and he has been a good help, but I wanted to see if it my situation is possible without applying for this 'fiance visa'.

The Swiss Embassy in London stated that this type of VISA is not known to them.

My main concern is not wanting to go back to America just for a visa after we are married or to get permission to marry because of a VISA.

My swiss partner is going to the swiss local authorities to see what documentation is needed as well.

Best,

James.

12
Recently there was a new law that says you need to have a "valid visa" in order to get married. But I don't have 100% confirmation that a "valid visa" includes a valid tourist visa. Personally, I interpret it as "yes, a valid tourist visa is OK".

However you'll have to do more research and figure out yourself how to interpret the new law. I think you are correct to get in touch with both the local authorities and the Swiss embassy near where you live.

Good luck & congratulations!!!

13
Hi, I did this, US citizen, married a Swiss citizen, in Switzerland but then left before applying to come 'permanently'. It was quite simple. I'd check with the Swiss embassy/consulate in the US. They are very helpful.

This link may also be helpful:

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/inte...rmalities.html

Regards,

Dan

14
Hello Everyone again...

My fiance and I are going through the whole process of trying to get married in Switzerland. To recap the situation. I am an American Citizen and my Fiance is a Swiss National. From research I found out what documents I needed and went through the process.

We wanted to get married in Valais. So we went to Brig to file our mariage papers.

What we needed...

US Citizen

-Passport

-Birthcertificate issued within 6 months in English

-US Affidavit stating I wasn't secretly married elsewhere. (Obtainable at US Embassy for $50)

*Valid Visa

Swiss Citizen

-Passport/ ID Card

-Wohnsitzbestätigung (Obtainable in your Gemeinde Office)

Then you set up an appointment in your Kanton where you will fill out paperwork. In some cases you may need an English translator however, we did not.

What I just listed was what we researched on the net, what the US Embassy said we needed, and what were told by other sources.

*Now.... We have a problem because the list said a Valid Visa. A friend of ours got married 2 years ago and she was able to get a Fiance visa at the embassy for a short extention in order to get married. Today we recieved a letter saying that we are unable to get married because I only have a Tourist Visa for 3 months (Passport) and that I would be required to get a D Visa back at the Swiss Embassy that recides in respective region where I am from in the States....

My question is (which will be answered shortly anyway by the Embassy), Does anyone know a way around this? I dont want to go home. I have my own apartment paid for, Rail Pass, Job interviews, etc. Going home would set us back months.... Do I really HAVE to go home?

I will keep this blog updated as I go through this painful series of hoops that I am forced to jump through.

Also, We filed the paperwork on a Thursday and recieved the letter a little under 2 weeks later. Good news is that paperwork moves fairly quickly in Switzerland. What disturbs me is that I would definitely have enough time on my tourist visa to get married. The reason that they said I needed a D Visa is because they claim we need more time... Very painful to hear... But we will get through it.

Any advice is always welcome if you think you can help us out of this jam. Otherwise, we will just update the blog to share our experience.

Thanks

(please mind the misspelled words and typos, im on a German computer/keyboard

15
Probably one of these threads might help.

New Rules 2011 - Swiss Marriages with Foreigners

For those not in CH who want to marry a Swiss

The law changed recently, as of Jan. 2011 I believe, to help reduce 'sham' marriages. They want people to be legally in the country in order to be married here. As Minimia said above, it might not be entirely clear yet what each commune may demand to prove you are legally here, but if they are asking for a visa, it seems that is quite clear request from the authorities.

16
How did you get a rail pass without a residence permit? How did you register your residence is your apartment?

Anyhoo, yes, you have to go home and apply for the visa. Anything else, now you are on the authorities radar, would not be safe.

17
Why do they claim you need more time? If you have all ready and a date set before your 90 days are up it should be good, no? Give them a date that is in side that time frame and ask them nicely to please let you marry then. It can't hurt. They can only say no. If you got with all papers in hand that will show them you don't need more time.

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Aside from the paperwork, what a sweet story this is...five months after the original post and you still can't bear to be apart...

Good luck to you both

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Good luck!! I like hearing stories like this - preferably with a happy ending so I'd love to know how you go.

I have a Swiss partner and the legalities are a drama (but I do understand the need for them) currently we are about to apply for a permit D long stay for me from Australia - small chance we have, but only chance short of me becoming a student in my mid 30s or getting married - clearly both will be next in line if this visa is rejected!

SwissBob - I got a rail pass (only halbtax) using my boyfriends address - I didn't need to prove I lived there..which I don't and can't

I don't write often but am constantly on here viewing the issues and great advice many of you give - I have no idea how to "thank" people for their posts on this site but here's a proper written thanks for all the links and info you "forum legends" etc give on this site.

Regards

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By the way... I forgot how to log into my account and created a new one.... But now I remember so... Go figure... We are now switching roles and trying to get the CH national to move to the US... Whole new genre of problems....

US Marriage Visa vs US J-1 Visa Options. HELP!

Oh yeah... I am in the States and my fiance is in CH.... Go figure but we are still trying...