Banking, visas, permits and divorce.

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I am a Canadian citizen with a B-permit. I will soon be moving to the United States, but I would like to keep my Swiss bank account after the move, Is this possible?

In principle this should not be a problem. There is a lot more money kept in Swiss banks that is owned by people outside Switzerland, than by people who are resident here. There may be, however, some restrictions on which services are available to you. Some banks, for example, do not allow Internet banking for persons resident in the United States.

I am an Indian, with an L-permit, working here for six months. Can you please advise me on how to get a Schengen visa so that I can visit Germany, France, Italy and other countries as a tourist?

A Schengen visa must be applied for with the first country you are going to visit (i.e. the country where you are entering the Schengen area). As you are resident in Switzerland, the application has to be submitted with the embassy or consulate of such country in Switzerland.

I have been receiving state pension (AHV) since age 65, But since : continue to work, 1 pay as much as SFr 2,700 every month (in AHV contributions). Will these additional contributions result in a higher state pension when I stop working? Currently, I receive around SFr 1,200 each month in AHV.

Once a person reaches the legal retirement age (65 for men and 64 for women) but continues to work, there are no AHV contributions payable on the first SFr 1,400 per month or SFr 16,800 per year that you earn from one employer. Any salary exceeding these amounts is subject to the normal AHV deductions.

It is possible to delay the start of the pension by up to five years (i.e. to age 70), but once the pension has started, further years of paying contributions are not taken into consideration anymore. The AHV contributions you are paying now therefore will unfortunately not increase your pension when you stop working.

I'm a Russian student in Switzerland and just graduated from Les Roches Hospitality School. I recently received a job opportunity in one of the best hotels in Geneva. Being a hotel trainee for a year would be a wonderful chance for me to put my knowledge of hospitality into practice.

Could you give me advice me on which permit I should apply for and which documents I should provide? How much in advance? And do I have to leave the country for that?

As you are not an EU-citizen you cannot apply for the work permit yourself--your future employer will have to do this for you. The kind of permit depends on the type of contract you get. For a trainee position up to one year this would normally be an L-permit.

In Geneva the process can take up to four months, so it is vital to start the application process early. You will have to provide your employer with a CV, copies of your diploma and a photocopy of your passport. If your student permit has already expired you will have to leave Switzerland in order to apply for a new permit.

I am an Englishman, who has been working in Switzerland for the last eight years on an annual work permit. I work only from mid-March to the end of October, returning to the UK for the winter. Throughout my time here I have paid AHV contributions, which is also the case for my wife who works during the same period, I am due to retire in November 2007 after ten seasons in Switzerland and will return to the UK permanently.

Will my wife and I be able to reclaim all or part of our AHV contributions? If so, how do we do this? If not, what would be the situation regarding the payment of the very small pension that we would be entitled to?

As an EU-citizen you cannot have the AHV contributions refunded to you. In order to find out about your monthly pension entitlement, please contact the Ausgleichskasse / Caisse de Compensation that your current employer pays the contributions to. It is recommended to contact them six months before retirement to allow enough time to process the application and start any pension payments on time.

I am an American/Swiss, and have been living in Switzerland for at least 14 years. I hold a Swiss passport and am married to a Swiss man. Is there anywhere I can obtain information in English about separation and divorce, beginning with the first steps of the process? I need to know what my rights are, because I am unable to work and am in a financial mess. Is there a way to obtain information without having to pay legal fees?

I don't know any place you can get information in English, but in most cantons the local solicitors' association offers a free session of legal advice. For a list of the relevant organisations please check the website of the Swiss Bar Association--www.swisslawyers.com--then click on Rechtsauskunft/ Conseils juridique. You will be advised by a solicitor who can point out the most important steps and implications to you.

Could you tell me where I can find a list of rules and regulations regarding the sale of land and its restrictions? For example, I am looking at a piece of land for sale online and it mentions Densite 02 and Zone T3, but I don't have a clue what that means.

The cantons are responsible for setting up the zoning systems and approve each town or village's zoning plans. Each canton has its own terminology. The terms you quote sound like the ones being used by the canton of Valais. I have not found any website with an explanation of these terms but would suggest you contact the cantonal Service de l'amenagement du territoire who should be able to help you.

I am a U.S. citizen, and have been living and working on a B-permit in Switzerland for three years. I would like to take some time off (about three to six months) to travel white maintaining my residence in Switzerland, After this time, I would seek new employment, either in Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe. I am wondering if my B-permit (renewed in June 2007) will be immediately revoked upon leaving my employer, or will I be permitted to continue to reside in my apartment in Zurich until the B-permit runs out in June 2008?

Also, l would like to knew if ! am allowed to maintain my residence in Switzerland if I leave my job and then work as a consultant (on a contract) for Swiss companies m the pharmaceutical industry

A B-permit for a non-EU-citizen is always fled to employment. In principle, the employer should let the authorities know that the job contract has ended and the permit therefore should be automatically revoked. If this does not happen, you will still have your B-permit, but it could be revoked at any time if the authorities find out.

Normally, a non-EU-citizen with a B-permit cannot work as a self-employed consultant in Switzerland. The authorities can, at their discretion, allow self-employment if you can prove that you can make a sufficient income to live on. They usually require a sound business plan and proof of contracts with future clients. There is, however, no legal entitlement and the canton is not legally obliged to grant a self-employed permit no matter how good your plans are.

Legal Advice

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Gabrielle Grether, a Swiss lawyer and partner in Grether MacGeorge GmbH, Basel, answers questions on legal issues in Switzerland. Advice is based on the individual information provided. If you have questions relating to work permits or other issues concerning foreigners in Switzerland, please don't forget to tell us your nationality. Please send your questions to: [e-mail]