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Forum Question Posted By: Replies:
Bern
Living and Working in Bern
Posted: Sun November 18, 2007 06:43 AM UTC
Hi friends,
My fiance would be coming to Bern in December 2007 on B permit, for his one year project assignment. I am a software professional working in India, we are getting married in febraury 2008. I have couple of questions
1) is 84.000 franc per year(before any deductions/tax), a decent salary for 2 ppl to live in Bern
2) What are the chances of me getting a job there, without knowing the local language? When am I eligible to apply for a job?
(I would be coming in a tourist visa, and then apply for residence permit)

Also any general tips for 1st time visitors to Bern would be highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance! :-)
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 priyaa 4 replies

[Reply]

Bern
Re: Living and Working in Bern
Posted: Sun November 18, 2007 08:55 AM UTC
You can live on this salary but you won't get rich. Lots of people do live on less. You shouldn't pay more than 1/3 of your net salary for rent. I doubt that you will get a work permit just because you are getting married. This because you only get married to a "B". You probably have to get an L for the purpose of getting married unless you find a job and get your own B because of that. You could look for a job in Zurich as it's possible to commute.

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Bern
Re: Living and Working in Bern
Posted: Sun November 18, 2007 12:00 PM UTC
You can live on 84000 francs a year in Bern. As to finding a job: There is a lot of work for software professionals, but getting a working permit won't be that easy until you're married. Once you're married you'll be able to get a residence permit based on your husband's and this allows you to work. For software engineers not knowing German isn't that big a problem as English is widely used.

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 K_V_B [Reply]
Bern
Re: Living and Working in Bern
Posted: Sun November 18, 2007 08:01 PM UTC
the way that I understand this is that both of you are coming from abroad, so your marriage will not sove any working-problems for both of you !
It might be different today, BUT at the time when I was working in Switzerland it was impossible to come on a visitor-visa and apply for a working permit, while in Switzerland. Your employer has to apply for the permit and you would have to leave the country again, while your permit needs several weeks to arrive.
---
I am an austrian citizen and can get to Switzerland any time without a visa, BUT as soon as my working-permit was over I had had to leave the country and was not even allowed to stay a few more days on vacation.
b.t.w.70% of the population in Switzerland would be happy to have 84.000 sfr a year !

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Bern
Re: Living and Working in Bern
Posted: Sun November 18, 2007 09:19 PM UTC
I am a foreigner living in Bern, and I know a bit about the procedures involved. I am however a EU citizen, so for me it is easier. EU citizens get 5 year permits nowadays, and don't have to leave the country if they lose their jobs.
(globetrott's experiences must be from a few years ago...)

If I understand you correctly your fiancé allready has his permit. You want to follow him and marry. One question though. Wy not just marry him before you come to Switzerland. That will make things easier.
As it now stadns what you probably need to do is apply for an "L permit" in the first week you are in Switzerland. Tell the authorities it is to prepare for the wedding. Once married you can apply for a B permit yourself.
No guarantees here however.

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