American Mate working Options Switz/Germany (extended stay, apartments, rent)

[taijamarie]

My mate is deciding on what government contract he will take within the next month or so. I know it can either be in switzerland or germany. I was wondering, can I work in these countries, even though I am an American citizen. Would I have to apply for a work visa if I wanted to earn some income while we stayed there for a year. Is it difficult to get a visa on such short notice. I just dont want to sit in the house all day and do my studies.

Also for those who have visited on stayed in these countries, do you prefer one over the other.

Thanks!

[irman]

Originally Posted by taijamarie

can I work in these countries, even though I am an American citizen. Would I have to apply for a work visa if I wanted to earn some income while we stayed there for a year. Is it difficult to get a visa on such short notice. I just dont want to sit in the house all day and do my studies.
Also for those who have visited on stayed in these countries, do you prefer one over the other.

Germany. (1980-1989)
Cost of living slightly higher than the USA (then, not sure how much now)
Visa and work permit depends on the company you work for.
They should do all the paperwork.
Good chance YOU may not be able to work there, but you could at least check with the *Arbeitsamt*.
If you stay longer than a year:
TIP:
Keep a record of who you will drive for (business wise) and when you started to drive there with your USA license, but get an International License at home first.
Then at 363 days after you start driving there (not earlier, not later !!!),
go to the Verkehrsamt, and get a German license. I am not sure if it still works this way but it did for us in 1982 ...
If you do not intend to stay there forever, opt for not paying social security there, but still pay in the USA, or you will loose US benefits !!!!
We were scheduled for one year and stayed 9 years .....
If company is under German law, do not state Protestant or Catholic, or they will deduct from your paycheck. Just tell them you an agnostic ...
See if you can live outside the big city, in one of those *Ferien Wohnungs* at a *Bauernhof* (Working dairy Farm). Ask what they charge for short stays, then offer them a certain amount for extended stay. Much more idyllic and really friendly people. If you have kids, send them to local schools, better for them. Our kids are now multi lingual.

When we came back, the DMV could not believe we did not have any traffic violations for over ten years

Switzerland (1990 - 1993)
Cost of living about 2 to 2.5 times as USA, so watch it ....
We shopped in Germany all the time, and so did a lot of Swiss people also.
Your company will have to do all the paperwork for your visa and work permit. Once there and you decide where you want to live, you have to register at the proper place, and re-register each time you move abodes.
You will probably not be able to work unless his company makes somekind of arrangement .... There is always a way around this stuff.
Social security is complicated there. Three column system ... Hard to explain, but find out for sure and try to understand. This only for pure Swiss Company. Do not know if same for American company based in Suisse. I worked for Swiss Company.
Housing hard to find and always rather small apartments.
If you have kids, send to local schools, Swiss government pays for tuition to learn language for kids. If your kids are over eighteen, they will not get a permanent visa or work permit, but can visit for short time only.
Depending on where the job is, you may not see any mountains .... !!!!
Lots of flat land in Suisse. Depending on where job is, you may have to consider additional hardship if you do not speak German, French or Italian. The northern part of Switzerland speaks German with a funny accent ....
If you stay shorter than 2 years, you can drive with your USA car and USA drivers license and USA car registration. Any longer, you have to register, and that is a pain .....
You will need a permit to drive on the freeways in Switzerland !!! Each year you buy another sticker. Even if you visit there, you have to buy that sticker.

LBNL. if the choice is Switzerland or *Southern Germany*, like Bavaria, choose Bavaria !!!! You can always visit Switzerland.

In the end, how much money will you have at the end of your *stint*.
So find out before you go. Ask a lot of questions to your work provider !!!
make sure also they pay for all travel and moving cost. Will they store your furniture here in the USA for you ?
Moving to Europe, your cargo goes by weight.
Moving to the USA, your cargo goes by volume.
For us, a complete household was a bit under 28,000 dollars !!!!
After one year we sold all our furniture in the USA and bought all local stuff in Germany (lots of antiques !!!)

Most houses your rent in Germany are not furnished, and the kitchen has just bare walls, no appliances whatsoever !!!
Same in Switzerland. That is why we opted for a *Ferien Wohnung* or *Vacation Home*.
All electricity is 220 volts, so what you have here that is single voltage 110, will not work, unless you get a transformer.

A bit long winded, but you asked for it ...
Oh . learn German at least now !!!!!

[taijamarie]

Thanks for the info! I believe zurich is what he is coming to settle with, but he hasnt signed on the dotted line yet. Has to put in a leave of absence with US company.

[irman]

I forgot to mention the contract he will have to sign.

I assume that you will only be working there for one year ...
Still, if you hate it after a few months, (never say never, remember?),
see if you can leave without breaking your contract.

Our visa was canceled for the kids, when they turned 18, and that did not sit right with the wife, so I send her back, with the kids.

My contract had a clause in it that guaranteed all cost paid for her to move back, regardless if reason.
They did not like that clause, but I insisted, and since there were not that many Aerospace Engineers,
here in the USA, who spoke German, French and Italian, they had little choice.
I stayed until the first airplane was delivered and then joined my family at home after 3 years.

I think you will do OK, just do not try to change the Swiss people.
Have respect for them, after all, you are the guest there.
Interesting is that their constitution is very similar to ours,
but do not tell the Swiss that ....

Zuerich is a modern city with almost all amenities you may wish for.
Just stay away from certain areas (you will discover on your own which ones ...)
By all means, travel as much as you can, Italy, France, Austria, Southern Germany, etc. All within a days drive ...
You may never have the chance again ... You will get used to the high cost of living sooner or later.
If I may be so blunt and ask, *What field will he be working in* ?

[Gessa]

check out: Main Page - Swiss American Chamber of Commerce

I lived in Swiss for a while - not really for me, but....

I can tell you that the economy is much better in Swiss then Germany. Either way I hope neither of you are black (I am).

[irman]

geesj, I always knew somehow that the Swiss constitution was similar to ours, but after checking out the link mentioned above, I found this :

<<<Since the democratic and federative Swiss constitution of 1848, shaped after the American model>>>

I mentioned <<< do not tell the Swiss that>>>, because I did mention it to them and they became very agitated, so I dropped the subject..... is still my favoured !

LBNL, of all the places I have lived in, the USA is still my favoured.
I still insist that anybody who has a chance to work and live in a foreign country,
should take that chance and make the best of it. Especially if you have kids.
They are so much more adaptable after that and more acceptable to other ideas.
I think ours are, and they do now work for international companies,
due to their multi-langual capabilities.
The only problem we had with our kids, was the fact that since we moved so much from one country to another,
they became bored with one place after a short time
and asked me when my next assignment would be ....

[irman]

Originally Posted by Gessa

I lived in Swiss for a while - not really for me, but....

Interesting to hear that Gessa. Do not feel that you are are alone.
I lived and worked there for a few years, and I will never *want* to go back there.
It was so bloody expensive, it was ridiculous.
I have my own expression for the Swiss people and that may upset a lot of Swiss people but it is my own opinion.
The Swiss think that outside Basel, Geneva and the St. Gotthart Tunnel, there is nothing ...
I think most of them have always been so isolated from the rest of the world, that they really do not know what goes on outside their beautiful small country.
The other thing was the fact that they had to resort to *importing* foreign knowledge to do their work. They had to ask me to come to work for them ... Sound familiar ?
We did attend church there, and those people are the sweetest, but as everywhere else, *only on Sunday* ....
LBNL, I do give credit, where credit is due.
The Swiss are an amazing people. Think of it, they really do not have any resources themselves, but they make one of the best chocolate products ... the same with other products they produce.

[taijamarie]

We are black. I have been fortunate enought to live overseas when I was a child. My father was in aviation. My mate still hasnt decided, we have been punching numbers to see if the money is worth it. We have homes to take care of in the states and he has a daughter thats in private school. He is only looking at a 1 year contract so that he can return back to his job in the US.

Thanks for everyones opinions and advice. I was hoping switz was better than how you guys projected. I remember that was the place to go to for boarding school when I was a young girl living in the middle east.

[irman]

Originally Posted by taijamarie

I was hoping switz was better than how you guys projected. I remember that was the place to go to for boarding school when I was a young girl living in the middle east.

I would still go.....
How old is your daughter ?
Kids are usually more forgiving, depending on age.
I think that living in a large city, is probably better than living in a very small town (what we did). There would be less of a *funny stares* ...
I am a *brown-face* (South Asia), and really had no problems in that department.

LBNL, you mention *boarding school* ....
Money (aka *status*) changes everything ....
When I was in Switzerland, I wore my military Uniform often (I am a Lt. Colonel), and I think that made a difference.

My advice ... go ... hang a round with the people from work ... then you will meet their friends, and that will ease the *newness* !

[internat]

Originally Posted by irman

When I was in Switzerland, I wore my military Uniform often (I am a Lt. Colonel), and I think that made a difference.

It's sad and shows they are prejudiced if you have to wear a particular clothing iterm to get the respect everyone deserves.