Having successfully relocated to Switzerland myself, I am quite often asked to assist with relocation considerations either by former professional acquaintances and friends or by alumni/ae of universities/graduate schools that I have attended. In my email this morning, I found a typical request.
I was delighted to learn that the particular individual in question today was male. His spouse has been offered a position with an international organization (IO) in Geneva. This has become the case more frequently as women have become professionals with credentials and work experience every bit the equal of men's. In the early 90s when we first moved to Switzerland, however, the rule in international relocations was that a "trailing spouse" was female. While for the most part, it still is, I am always delighted when I see the balance shift somewhat. When HWMBO, as one such "trailing spouse," accompanied me, he used to introduce himself as my "support spouse." While my female colleagues loved that description, it raised quite a few male eyebrows, if not outright hackles. Now such an introduction has become so commonplace that at least fewer eyebrows are raised.
In the situation described this morning, the prospective trailing spouse listed an impressive array of credentials and experience. With some advance effort, he should be able have his candidacy seriously considered. With perseverance and, most of all, luck, I have no doubt but that he will succeed in finding a job in Geneva. So, at HWMBO's suggestion, my blog posts today and tomorrow will focus on relocation advice. Perhaps it may be helpful to others. While this information is specific to Switzerland, some of it may also be applicable generally.
First, it cannot be stressed enough that it is extremely difficult for non-Swiss and non-EU nationals to obtain permits to live and work in Switzerland. This man was extremely fortunate in that his wife has been offered a job with an international organization. Once arrived in Switzerland, she will have status as an international civil servant (fonctionnaire international) and will accordingly receive a carte de légitimation which will grant her and, derivatively, her dependents (they also have a one-year-old daughter) the right to live and work there. As her spouse, he automatically will have access to the Swiss labor market through a special "Ci" permit. This is no small thing because it can immediately facilitate his job search in the private sector. The "Ci" permit is a comparatively recent development.
The downside for the "Ci" permit is that it will last only as long as his spouse's employment with the IO does. Once her employment is concluded, neither has the right to stay or work in Switzerland any longer. If their marriage is terminated by any circumstance, his derivative rights will also terminate. So, depending on how long her employment is likely to last, he should at least consider looking for work in the public international sector himself to obtain his own right to stay and work, independent of hers.
The Swiss equivalent of a US "Green card" is the C or permanent residence permit. This is extremely difficult to obtain. Generally, one first receives a B permit from a private sector employer for a position where the long-term stay is related to a particular goal (paid or self-employed activity), for example, transfers of specialist executives or highly qualified labour for multinational corporations, establishment of a company, etc. The first B permit is limited to one year. It is subject to quota, so if an individual does not have a special skill or rare expertise or meet one of the other categories mentioned, it is practically impossible to obtain. The B permit is renewable until a C permit can be granted. For US citizens, a C permit may be granted after five years. Years spent working with a carte de légitimation do not count towards a C permit except in a very special circumstance: if an individual officially retires from the UN or an IO, after having spent from 5-10 years living and working in the Geneva area of Switzerland, that person may receive a C permit contingent upon also meeting a variety of other requirements, including payment of Swiss taxes, Swiss Social Security (AVS), and proof of health/accident insurance meeting the minimal Swiss requirements (LAMAL). For US citizens, once again, the residence requirement is five years. I obtained my own C permit through this circumstance and consider it a rare privilege.
I have spent a lot of time discussing these permits because they are an initial hurdle for everyone, even though in the particular circumstances described by this man, the hassle will be eased significantly by his wife's employment status. In his case, thus, I did not dwell on permits at this point, preferring to concentrate on two other initial issues. The first - and this is generally applicable to anyone considering a change of employment or a relocation anywhere - is that one is always more attractive to an international or Swiss - indeed, any - employer if one is already employed. Thus, the earlier the better to begin seriously looking for employment in Switzerland. This man has done well to begin his job search now because the prospective move will not take place before late fall and he is currently employed. At the same time, if his current employers value his work, they may also be able to assist him in more ways than simply in providing references. They may themselves know individuals in Switzerland who are looking for someone with his qualifications. They may also know of opportunities through those contacts that have not yet been publicized. This is a common-sense first step in any new job search, unless, of course, one is not on good terms with one's current employers. If not, well, perhaps it's back to the drawing board. Depending on the circumstances of those bad terms, perhaps one might also not be suited to the public international workplace, where teamwork, collegiality, diplomacy, understanding, tact, and acceptance of differences in customs, religions, dress, practices and workstyles are not only valued, but absolutely necessary.
One other practical bit of initial advice: if one is a dual national and the second nationality is an EU nationality, this can assist with the permit hassle generally. EU nationals are given priority in the Swiss quota system. Also, any second nationality may exponentially increase one's ability to be hired in the UN or IOs because they also have quotas. The US quota is usually full to overflowing.
For today, this is enough. In Part 2, I'll discuss more about actually looking for employment in the Geneva area.
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