After six years of admiring the Swiss system concerning almost every aspect of day to day life I find myself frustrated beyond belief with this one!
The Problem:
Left Switzerland to reside permanently in South Africa (yeah I know but its not as bad as people say)
Deregistered in Luzern, got my Wohnsitzbescheinigung, had the nice lady at the Geminde note that I was single on it and sent it off to the good people at Basler Versicherungeng in order to release my pension.
The good people at Basler say all is in order apart from one small issue. The Geminde’s statement that I am single is insufficient. They need PROOF that I am single.
Now I ask you all (with two weeks of frustrated tears in my eyes), how in the name of all that is holy does one prove that they have never been married?
I have only ever resided in Luzern, so they hold the only records regarding me and my single status.
I have traveled to over 25 countries in the last six years on business. I could have married in any one or in fact all of them. (But I didn’t).
The people at Basler are strangely unable to advise exactly what is recognised as proof of single marital status for a foreign passport holder. (UK Passport).
Go and look them in the eye? That hunted look is trans-cultural
seriously though - even in the UK the banns have to be posted, you can get a statement from the registry office in your "home town" that is the address from which the passport was granted, that you are not married. Alternatively contact the UK embassy - maybe they have a bright idea.
Take them to your apartment. Make sure you have left copious amounts of dirty underpants and socks on the floor and the sink is piled high with unwashed dishes.
Throw a few empty pizza boxes around and have the TV tuned to a sports channel.
Of course it is a legal question. Being married or being single have different implications - tax, for example. Also, if you want to marry in the future they have to be sure you are not already married.
That idea is actually quite brilliant - the tax return also shows if you are liable for payments to an ex-spouse i.e. if you divorce then your spouse is possibly entitled to some of your pension money, I presume what Basler wants to avoid is to hand out a lump sum to somebody who is not entitled to it
You can't be the first single foreigner to have left CH.
Write a recorded delivery letter to Basler stating that you are single and demanding your pension be released by a certain date.
Formally request them to provide you with written confirmation of what for them would constitute formal proof of single status.
Inform them that if they cannot provide such information, and if you don't receive your pension within --specified time limit-- then you will be be forced to take legal advice on the matter.
Before I got married here in Basel they also needed this proof. I had to have a sworn affidavit that I got at the U.S. embassy in Bern and then this was sufficient.
It being Switzerland there must be one sure fire way to prove my singledom.
From the responses so far a shotgun approach might be best. (No I don’t mean take the Basler employee outside and have him shot, as satisfying as that might be) I mean a scatter approach.
Sign affidavit (including pic of me swearing it on a stack of bibles) Include correspondence from relatives stating their sadness at my apparent unwillingness to breed Enclose pics of by bachelor pad Threaten legal action if not paid by a specific date (ON MY PAY? Well its worth a shot) Send copy of my tax return Go to church on Sunday and PRAY. Cross my fingers Fly back to Switzerland and give them “that hunted look”
Thanks for the responses. I shall certainly try the Affidavit (Jeez the Brit embassy in Pretoria is a pain but it’s worth a shot)
Any other suggestions?
Your’s hoping that the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train
This actually might not be too far off from what you need to do. When we moved here, my wife had been working here for a while while commuting from the US so she had a work permit already. When we decided to move here and applied for my permit, the authorities were concerned that we would keep bringing family members over. We had to write a letter that we had no children, sign it and have it notarized. We did this in CH. That was accepted by the authorities as "proof" that we had no children. Maybe a notarized letter stating that you are not married will do the trick.
Just to reopen the thread this is something I am dealing -fighting with at the moment.
I think I am tempted to get married and divorced ,it would be way easier than proving single ship ness.
A tip I had moved my 2pillar to a foundation which will not accept any english documents. I have to get everything translated and notarized. Something I never thought to check avoid it if you can expensive & slow.
I am making slow progress but if someone can benefit from my blunders it good.
1. Better to move things directly from your pension at least if they have being working in English they will continue to do so.
2. Be aware that all documents regarding martial status are only considered valid with a month. They would not accept my lovely new passport.
3. Worse case as the wise one told me, I will get it when I retire
Today
I have been advised to go and get another Affidavit to state my single status .. which is kind of silly basically I am paying someone to say I am single..my mother will tell them as she weeps about the lack of Grand Brats.
If I find a way I will post, if not assume I am out looking for a bachelor
re 2: first part makes sense to me, about that long it would take to get documents approved to get married. re passport, there is nothing in my passport to indicate whether I am married or single, but perhaps it is different for some countries.
re 3: no you would still need to prove if you were single.
Affidavit makes total sense to me, believe you have to swear an oath & you are paying for the Official person's time etc
Bottom line when you deregister make sure they record your marital status
My problem started because there was no martial status and I had already left the country.
Sbrinz - This is a great idea but even better ,I should I checked on my Deregister form from my local Geminde’s statement
Zivilstandsamt in Luzern would not issue because I had left switzerland and their logic was I could have gotten married when I left -
Moggy .
Thank you for your inputs
My statement was unclear .
All documents must not be older then 3 month old. .
My old Swiss tax "statement" stated I was single but was older 3 months.
The pension company also has a copy of my passport on file which expired so they also insisted on getting a notarized copy of the new passport.
You are correct
Affidavit makes total sense to me, believe you have to swear an oath & you are paying for the Official person's time etc
However if overseas please ensure it is produced by a International notary
So avoid the hassle ensure your martial status is recorded when you deregister and start the process if possible while still in Switzerland as the Swiss will accept Swiss documents