The Gemeindehaus

When we first came to Switzerland for our "Orientation Tour" in May, our relocation agent gently approached the topic of "The Gemeindehaus." The Gemeindehaus is the town hall in the town in which you live. These local authorities are responsible for monitoring us during our duration in Switzerland.  I was surprised that the town halls could have so much control. My relocation agent replied, "that is why Switzerland does not have the problems that America has. We know who we have living here, who vouched for them, where they work, that they pay taxes, what their story is...."

The town hall in most comparable small towns in America is the place where the mayor's desk is and where ceremonious keys to the city are bestowed upon deserving citizens. Here in Switzerland, political power is very decentralized and the Gemeindehaus is the keystone. Our residency visa application originated at the Gemeindehaus in the little village where we decided to rent a house. Once it was approved here, at the local level, it progressed to the Canton (County or State level), then onto the Federal level, and then to the US Embassy announcing its approval. In the US, all visa approval is done at the Federal level. The Swiss localize many decisions via the Gemeindehaus, effectively determining whether you can live here. Once that was approved, and we flew over, we were given a temporary one-entrance-only visa....that is, if we leave, we can not necessarily come back into the country (this knowledge came in handy when I was invited to go shopping in France last week, and realized I may not be re-admitted and may trigger an international incident!).  Also, if you move to a different village, or town, or city, you must un-register and prove your next residency....and go thru the process again at that next location. Needless to say, I am not planning to move for the next couple years.

The Gemeindehaus required we register within 2 weeks of our arrival. We registered immediately, at opening, on Monday Morning Jan 3. We showed up looking bright eyed and bushy tailed although we were really weary with jetlag. We had all of the necessary documents - passport, entrance visa, marriage license, birth certificates, work documentation. J had to meet with the Tax man to assure him we understood our tax obligations. We also had to prove we had health insurance. We also had to declare whether or not we were joining a church so that we could pay that tax fee if needed. We received the forms to fill out for our radio and tv licenses so that we could pay our fees for having these services. The children had to be present also so that they could ascertain we brought who we said we would. They made copies of all of our paperwork and it is kept on file.  All of the information we were given was in German, as that is the official language. Finally, we were granted a letter of permission to reside here temporarily....until our PERMIT is cleared.

With the Gemeindehaus lettter of permission, we could legally rent our haus, get a land-line, cable service, and buy our car...which we did approximately 2 hours later.

The PERMIT/PERMISSION is another big step. We had to provide letters validating our good character and clean criminal record from our IL police department. We have an appointment this Friday to go to the Central Police Station in Zurich for fingerprinting. They will finalize with a government background check and hopefully we will be cleared to officially reside here. Only when we receive this PERMIT/PERMISSION can we leave and return to Switzerland, and can sign cell phone contracts. I don't exactly understand why they require this for a cell phone contract .I was told by someone that perhaps it has to do with restricting terrorists from getting cell phones, and by another person that they want to be sure you can pay your bills before allowing you to have a phone. Its puzzling because they allowed me to rent a haus and get a land-line, but no iphone.  So, in the meantime, I am winging it with a cheap pre-paid phone.

So, getting our Permits is an ongoing process that will hopefully wrap up in time for us to getaway for ski week next month....or at least Spring Break Weeks in April.

I'm not an astute political scholar, but this process and the relocation agent's comment ("This is why we don't have the problems that America has") has made an impression on me. It is interesting that the US is so" free;" so free about letting people in, staying when their visas expire, not enforcing immigration laws consistenly, not knowing who resides where/when, etc. It is just a bit of a guessing game until some tragedies ensue and we are all left scratching our heads wondering "how did this happen?" (Of course 9/11, and last year's Times Square auto bomb are the first things that pop into my mind). I must say that as big a pain this process is, it actually provides more freedom in some ways- more security, and peace of mind. There is extremely low crime because the authorities know who is living where, each person is accounted for, and someone/corporation has vouched for them, the emigrating people are employed, have health coverage, their children are registered in school, etc. Another aspect of my stay here, is that all the official documents/signs, instructions, cooking instructions, menus etc are all in the official language - German. It is always OUR responsibility to get them translated. Finally, as a foreigner living here, I have to always carry my "paperwork/Permission letter" with me ....at all times. If I were to not have them, that could indicate a threat to the country and I could be subject to the law. Police can pull over any one/driver without cause, and I have to be prepared for that.  I understand ...I am a foreigner living in someone else's country, and I need to abide by their rules....those rules that are designed to benefit their citizens. I hold no grudges, and wish that our country could be so well organized, decisive, and firm as to protect its citizens.