We have been in cheese land for just over 7 months now and these hausfrau days are starting to eat away at me a bit. I was wondering how long it would take before I would be biting at the bit to get back to work. Like when you are in junior high and the last bell, on the last day of school, rings and all you can think about is not having to go to school for the next three months and then about a week later you are bored. Yeah. That's about where I am now.
I mentioned a few weeks back that there might be some interesting work opportunities available in the new year for me. I can't go into too much detail right now, but wanted to voice my opinion when it comes to lameness of work permits. I still don't understand the system very well, but I am now learning first-hand. There are two main categories that expats like me fall into. Either you have a B Permit, which means I could work here no problem (there is a limited number and are basically saved for EU peeps) or the Loser Permit, the L Permit, which means a company would have to sponsor you in order to work.
When we found out we were moving here we had no idea which work permit we would receive. I don't think we actually found out until after we had lived here for 6 weeks and got our official alien ID card in the mail. Bam! Both of us Losers. No worries for Josh though since he already had a company going to bat for him.
Another lesson learned was if a company was to put a case in for me, the Loser, it could take up to three months before we heard anything and it could still be rejected. But, of course if I was EU this would be no problem. Sounds like they just have to pick up the bat phone and poof! I would be granted my wish. All of this is oh so interesting.
Wish me luck though. I should be finding out some more tonight. Hopefully a loophole will be found. Till then, I will be spending my day in usual hausfrau style...yoga pants and a ponytail.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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We are also the proud bearers of the Loser permit, although other non-EU people that moved here after us got B permits. It all has to do with which canton and gemeinde you're in and when you apply and probably lots of other unpredictable things.
ReplyDeleteI'll be very interested to see how the job search goes for you. In the meantime, I am starting to bite my nails about our renewal. There's always something.
How did those non-EU folks get B's? That is so weird. Do they live in the middle of nowhere?
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking about the renewal process. I hear that is a pain. Does it really take 3 months?
I will let you know how it goes. It is supposed to take three months, which is why I'm so nervous. We're already inside that window.
ReplyDeleteHey ladies,
ReplyDeleteI guess I was lucky to get a B permit, but that's because I live in the Loser Canton of Aargau. Come join me in loserland and maybe your fates will change :)
But even with my B permit, I was not allowed to work until I was sponsored by a company. EU people with B permits can though. Go figure. However, once being sponsored by a company, I am now much freer as far as work goes even though I was laid off. (It pays when unemployment wants to get rid of you).
Good luck, I'm rooting for you. I remember when I was in the exact same situation waiting. And keep in mind that Jessica also had an L permit but got a job. It's possible!!
And yes, renewal sucks. One year, it took me FOUR months to get my permit back. But last year, it only took a month. I think with the new permit cards versus the paper things somehow it's faster.