Student Visa - Switzerland

trahul4 · Post by **trahul4** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:17 am

I'm an Indian intending to study Full Time MBA in Switzerland under Student visa. I wanted to know how many days i can stay in Switzerland after my course to find jobs ?

Thanks.

Post by **Directive/2004/38/EC** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:34 am

I do not know the answer to your question. Check the excellent swiss web sites.

Your best bet is to look for a job in the last 6 months of your studies. The school will usually be putting a lot of support into this recruiting.

St Gallen?

flyboy · Post by **flyboy** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:38 am

Depending on the length of your course, you will be given a student B permit which must be renewed annually if your course lasts longer than 1 year. On completion of your course and expiration of your student B permit you'll have to leave the country. Switzerland does not issue job hunting permits for non EU / EFTA citzens.
As Directive 2004/38/EC pointed out, it is best you try and find an employer willing to sponsor you for a job in the last 6 months before your course ends.
Have a look at the following thread as well:

http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=21724

trahul4 · Post by **trahul4** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:42 am

yes st gallen....
looking for job during the last 6 months is good but just o be on the safer side i think i need atleast 3-6 months after graduation...

flyboy · Post by **flyboy** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:46 am

trahul4 wrote:yes st gallen....
looking for job during the last 6 months is good but just o be on the safer side i think i need atleast 3-6 months after graduation...

In that case it is best to leave the country and then try and come back on a tourist visa and do your job hunting discreetly or to to obtain some sort of permission from your cantonal foreigners population office for an extension as a tourist after completion of your course.
As mentioned before,there are no job hunting permits available to non EU/EFTA citizens in switzerland.

Good luck

trahul4 · Post by **trahul4** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:50 am

Thanks flyboy for your response. Most other countires give some grace time after graduation to look for jobs, thats why i thought it might be same with Switzerland.
Moreover is it possible to get a tourist visa in Switzerland while on a student permit ?

flyboy · Post by **flyboy** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:54 am

It is possible to request an extension to stay on in switzerland from your commune which will pass it on to the cantonal authorities for permission to stay on as a tourist after completion of your studies. Best apply for the extension at least 6 - 8 weeks before your student B permit expires, as there are no guarantees as to whether or not they will grant it to you.

Post by **Directive/2004/38/EC** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:26 am

I do not know of a special "job hunting" visa in any country. You are not working for pay so it is not a working visa. I would always do it on a visitors visa (often known as a tourist visa).

joesoap101 · Post by **joesoap101** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:14 pm

Directive/2004/38/EC wrote:I do not know of a special "job hunting" visa in any country. You are not working for pay so it is not a working visa. I would always do it on a visitors visa (often known as a tourist visa).

Ireland issues something which could technically be called a job hunting visa for students who have completed degrees here. They give you 6 months during which time you are allowed to work full time and look for an employer who is willing to go through the work permit or green card process for you.

Its called the graduate scheme-

http://www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits ... scheme.htm

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Student Visa - Switzerland

Student Visa - Switzerland