What's turn-around time for Expats living in Switzerland

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
Hi, as I'm in the prep mode for my move to Swiss (to join my fiance..soon to be wife) the following question came into my mind:

How long to Expat's stay in Swiss before returning home? is there an average turn-around time? (3 years, 5 years, 10?)

How many of you actually settle and make it your permanant (for life) home?

With you network of expat friends, how often is it are you saying "good bye" to one who's moving back "home"?

Just curious...

2
Is your fiance swiss or expat ?

I have to say the majority of expats I meet are happy here and no plans to move home - even some who were on 2 year contracts want to stay.

the highest turnover would be the PhD students, but I think thats mostly because they *must* leave when their visas expire...

3
In Swiss what?

4
House, chalet, apartment, park bench, railway carriage, S&M parlor, Migros car park, Airbus A.340-200 .... take your pick

5
I'll take the chalet.

6
Dun dun dun!!! Cue angry mob who hate when anyone is too lazy to write Switzerland, choosing instead to shorten it to Swiss!

Quick parkadam - apologize and edit!! Before it's too late!

P.S. Does this count as my good deed for the day?

7
I'm not too sure it's laziness, actually. (CH is an acceptable, and shorter, abbreviation in most cases.)

Yes, that was a good deed.

Oh, and re the turnaround time, I haven't been here long enough to give you my first-hand experience. Most of the expats I know work in large multinationals and seem to get transferred after 2-3 years as part of their career development. But I'd imagine that those with established families (school-age kids) or close to retirement would be in it for the long haul.

8
2-3 years is probably about average. The lucky ones like us get to stay.

9
FFS how many times to we have to go through this - if you want to shorten it then type Switz or CH. By using Swiss as a proper noun you just make yourself look like a numpty. It's not about being lazy, it's about being ignorant.

By the way, do you currently live in English or American?

10
Its multi-factorial e.g.

How well have you integrated into Swiss culture?

How are your careers progressing?

Are both you and your partner happy here, or does one of you love it and the other hate it?

How are you children progressing in their schools?

What's the socioeconomic situation like in your home country relative to here?

etc..

When we left London we agreed that we would give it at least 3 years, and now we're about half way through. I'm still not sure if we'll still be here beyond that, but at least we've comitted to a minimum duration.

11
Aw, bless.

What ever happened to literacy?

Should our members answer the questions of the chronically lazy?

HollidayG's answer sums it up

12
wait phd students here must leave?

my girlfriend is coming down from canada to do her phd her and so after it she must leave? i am assuming this does not apply if we get married right

13
PhDs take some years as well and after that she can try to find a job of course... I did the same thing in NL, stayed there for 6 years (two after PhD)...Good luck!

A

14
My turn now (as another veteran whose post was also deleted): let's just get this thread back on topic.

I already gave my 2 rappen worth to answer the OP. All I'll add is that the question is a little curious; if he's considering a move to Swisserland, surely the length of stay will be determined either by the duration of his relationship/marriage (hopefully a very long time), the duration and attractiveness of his job (ditto, less certain though) or by his appreciation or otherwise of life in this country. Not, I would have thought, by how long other people stay here. But it may just have been curiosity (as he said in his post) that prompted the question.

15
I think people who use 'Switzerland' are numpty.

Switzer = person from land called Swizt

Switzerland = land of people who come from land called Switz

How moronically redundant.

16
right lets get back on topic here, it's quite a valid and interesting question so no more hijacking ta very much

17
Unless she has an EU passport, her visa will expire upon completion of the PhD +/- a few months, as usually one is on a yearly renewable L permit. There have been a few very lucky people given a 5 year B, but it is rare. Well, if you got married for the right reasons, then she would be okay.

I am unclear if she would be able to apply for a job as she neared completion if she were on an L.

18
Well not having left yet - been here for nearly 2.5 yrs, think i might stay another 1.5yrs - so that will make 4yrs. Might stay longer if my friends and family decided to all move over here

19
Normally I would say its 2-3 years before the need to leave comes around, and depending on circumstances, the leaving is either immediate or until an opportunity is found, which could be another 1 year or so.

Those who get past the 2-3 year part usually stay for quite a long while.

I mean Switzerland is really a nice place, but it just doesn't work out for everyone.

I wanted to leave at the 2 year mark, and it will take me another 0.7 years to train my replacement and move to another country.

20
0.7 years? You mean 8.4 months, don't you?