Re: proof of unmarried status
Leaving Switzerland permanently for the USA, and cashing out my Pillar 2. Pension company requires proof that I'm not married (!?!) and suggested I contact the US embassy. Very kind embassy rep said this is an issue in Vaud and Geneva in particular. The Swiss have a central marriage registry and think the USA does too.
When I called, the Embassy rep said they have a blank attestation form, and said, "If you'll swear to it, we'll stamp it!". I made an appointment online for Notarial services at the Embassy. When I arrived I completed their blank form following a template I found online that's used by the State of Georgia in the USA. I wrote my name, date and place of birth, citizenship, and passport number, and a statement that I'm not married. Cost was $50 USD (you can use American credit cards as it's billed in USD) plus train fare to Bern.
Your leaving cert will state your marriage status in CH! Pictet on GE accepted this so I did not dare change provider & pay less tax on my payout . I probably paid 3 more than necessary but I got the money .
Thanks -- that's what I thought but pension companies need an attestation that I haven't remarried since my divorce. They won't release the money without the attestation; my status on the deregistration document is not deemed sufficient.
I needed one when I moved here. I was able to make an appointment at the Canadian Embassy in Bern like someone else mentioned earlier although their experience was with the US embassy mine was the same thing. I just had to make a written statement that I am not nor have I ever been married. It was notarized there, I paid I think 50CAD. this was accepted as "proof of single status" for the Swiss government.
Not sure about translation. Given that this was the Canadian embassy I had the option to write in French which of course is an official language here so no need to have it officially translated vs in English it probably would have to be.
Yikes, I hadn't considered translation but since it's from the American embassy I hope the pension companies accept that the document will be in English.
Ok, I'm glad I found this thread and discovered that I'm not the only single Brit in this situation...
I've just got off the phone with my 2ème pillar people, very nice lady but 'Oh yes, we need proof you're not married'.
I explained to her that as far as I knew there was no document available from the UK to attest to this.
She told me I need to make an 'attestation d'honneur' - a sworn statement I think - before a notary to the effect that I was single.
So I searched for a notary office in my area, rang them up and asked them how much they'd charge me for such a statement.
'Oh, we can't do that, we don't know you, how can we sign a statement to the effect that you're not married?'
They suggested that I contacted the UK, or the British embassy.
The thing is, I only worked for a few months here (long story) so we're talking about just under CHF 800.
Is it worth going through all the hassle to get such a document (assuming I figure out where to get such a document) for such a small sum?
Can I still 'claim' my minuscule pension from them when I retire?
Get back to the notar and tell them that YOU are making the declaration, and you want them to notarise that you made the declaration in front of them. Seems a little odd that a notary doesn't understand the function of notarising a declaration!
The lady at the end of the phone was bothered because 'we don't have a document for that'. Does this mean I need to type something up and bring it with me?
Here's an Affidavit of Single Status template from the US State of Georgia which could serve as a basis for your affidavit:
https://www.gsccca.org/docs/notary-d...t.pdf?sfvrsn=4
Your leaving certificate is accepted by some pension providers (Pictet in GE) however you will need something from the UK after you leave as you can't get your person money straight away so could marry after leaving CH.
You can get your entire pension even through your provider will tell you only part can be taken as your leaving for a EU country. I started a thread that explains the process.
Just an update...
After being turned down flat by a notary, and having been told by the Centre Social Protestant that they couldn't help me, I (well actually one of my key workers at the group home where I live) rang the pension company again. Just for future reference, it's FIP (Fonds Interprofessionnel de Prevoyance).
They clarified that they would not accept my leaving certificate as "communes don't always have the most up to date information". Apparently they had a case recently of someone whose leaving certificate said they were single but who was actually married.
Secondly, they clarified that this "attestation sur l'honneur" that they advised me to get was based on a previous case with an English client, and that this document was actually produced and signed by an English notary, and that it was written in English.
So as I have a feeling that notaries are cheaper in the UK, I'm going to wait until I get back to the UK and then investigate producing a document proving my singleness there.
I'll update this thread if / when I get any further along in the process!
The British Consulate in Bern can give you a certificate.
But do I have to go there to get it? I can't find the information on their website because it directs me to a UK website on getting married abroad. Don't want to get married - just want a certificate saying I'm not!
The British Embassy Web site says,
Administer an oath, affirmation or affidavit
This service is for people who need to swear an oath, make an affirmation or make an affidavit in front of a consular officer. The Embassy has a prepared document for you, which will state your name, current residential address and civil status. This service is for non-marriage purposes only. It applies to customers who need to provide a declaration of civil status to the local authorities (in English, German, French or Italian). Please be aware that we do not handle wills or probate nor do we witness Deed Polls.
What you will need to bring with you:
The correct fee – see the list of fees and payment options Proof of identity/address – see what we will accept as proof Marriage/Death certificate, Deed Poll certificate, Divorce decree absolute, if applicable https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial...n-or-affidavit (There is a link for booking an appointment).
A blank form for such an affidavit can be downloaded from the Web site of the British Embassy in Vietnam, and perhaps others: https://www.gov.uk/government/public...marital-status
Thank you for your help; I've booked an appointment!
Just another update.
I had my appointment today, and now have my affidavit (in French).
In case anyone else stumbles on this thread and experiences the same confusion I did...
On the website that Caryl has quoted above, the Embassy says they have a pre-prepared document.
When I used the online booking system, it refused to let me book unless I ticked a box saying that I would bring my own document to be witnessed with me.
Being the worry-guts that I am, this got me all in a panic. I included a message on my appointment form asking if I needed to bring the document or not. I didn't get a reply.
I rang them up on Monday and the person at the end of the phone said they would 'probably' e-mail the document to me... but they didn't.
So I turned up today, minus document, all ready to explain why I didn't have said document and how I'd done my best to confirm this... and of course there was no need for any panic, the document was prepared while I waited, I filled it out and then it was signed.
Now I just need to send it off to my pension company.