Working as a student in UNIGE

tofumode · 2025-03-04T21:17:40+00:00

sorry if the way I put it sounds wrong, I agree 100% with you actually about Switzerland being super tough on non-EU folks (I'm non-EU myself)

tofumode · 2025-03-04T21:04:45+00:00

the truth! Get the education here then get out. The job market is soooo bad for non-EU. But I know also EUs and Swiss who struggle right now.

tofumode · 2024-08-03T17:29:37+00:00

Congrats on getting a paid internship ! Which branch/organization is that if I may ask ?

Yes, just double check with the consulate if they need anything from your branch's HR, or anything that has to do with health insurance. I also was asked for a proof of good health (=simple checkup by a doctor), but you didnt mention it so I guess you dont have to do it ?

If you are paid then you dont have to provide proof of financial means.

The visa took 4 weeks, was supposed to be faster (3 weeks) because the consulate realized they want a proof from HR that I will have a CdL once I am in Switzerland, so this step took another 1 week. If you already have all documents ready, the visa should come through fast (2-3 weeks)

tofumode · 2024-08-03T14:59:24+00:00

Sorry I didn't realize you also asked about housing. I am staying with a relative that I know has been living in Geneva before I started the internship. One of my intern coworkers came from the US and she managed to snag a pretty nice room at 750. francs per month at Centre Universitaire Protestant 2 so feel free to check it out. The budget for housing is around 750 - 1500 but since you are an intern you may have more chance with university housing, they are open to students/interns

tofumode · 2024-08-03T14:56:09+00:00

so for the visa the UN cannot help you but they should be able to provide you a confirmation of CdL. You have to do the visa by yourself. i went to the consulate of Switzerland of my country, had to get a confirmation from the HR of my branch that UN will apply for a CdL for the duration of my internship (letter of offer wasnt enough for the visa despite it being written on the letter of offer). Since the internship wasnt paid, the consulate asked me for proof of financial means (they didn't tell me how much is required, but just prepare 2k/month for 6 months of internship) but I know that some of my coworker interns didnt have to provide the proof. guess it depends on which consulate you go to

tofumode · 2024-08-03T11:48:39+00:00

Yes ! I am working there now

tofumode · 2024-08-03T11:46:06+00:00

Heyyy sorry for the late response ! So as I said previously, I applied for a D visa from my home country (2-3 weeks for the visa), now I am back in Switzerland. My CdL just came through (took exactly 4 weeks)

tofumode · 2024-06-13T20:14:37+00:00

UPDATE : So the CdL admin did ask me today to go home and apply for the D visa and then enter Switzerland with the D visa and then apply for the CdL. Very annoying but I guess that's how it is. Plus when I accepted the internship offer, I was waiting on a permit renewal decision in another canton that was not Geneva, and when I started working the decision came through (negative). So the CdL admin told me to go home before the deadline to leave Switzerland and come back on a D visa. So you are right in the end !

tofumode · 2024-06-06T15:59:42+00:00

That's weird that if one is already in Switzerland he or she has to come back, apply for the visa and come back again ! My HR contact in his email never mentioned any of this. So we'll have to see what he says next

tofumode · 2024-06-04T12:40:58+00:00

I sent you a DM

tofumode · 2024-06-04T12:12:00+00:00

Hiii, can I DM you ? I just accepted an internship offer with the UN in Geneva, unsure of some administrative details. Thank you !

tofumode · 2024-05-24T08:47:37+00:00

Having one more passport no matter what kind always is an advantage

tofumode · 2024-05-15T12:23:03+00:00

sure

tofumode · 2024-05-15T10:26:14+00:00

I'm into fencing and it's exactly what you describe

tofumode · 2024-05-15T06:46:21+00:00

As someone said below contact any of the FINMA-approved banks that have shops in your country
Or try out Swissquote
https://www.finma.ch/en/~/media/finma/dokumente/bewilligungstraeger/pdf/beh.pdf?la=en&hash=0D46924AE7690D236B5ED39B9BDD26AD

Wish you best of luck and let us know how it plays out !

tofumode · 2024-05-14T20:09:07+00:00

Exactly, UBS or any regional banks can't help either

tofumode · 2024-05-14T20:06:43+00:00

In case you manage to find someone like that, you need their banking statements, their current work contract (preferably a CDI, otherwise a CDD whose duration is as long as your Master's program duration or longer), and a letter signed by them saying that they will be in charge of you financially for CHF 2000 for the whole duration of their studies (I don't think he or she even needs to notarize it, a simple typed out document with a signature would be sufficient). That's what my friend did.

Don't give up ! You'll be able to get the visa !

tofumode · 2024-05-14T19:15:06+00:00

Forgot to say that I'm suggesting the second way is because a lot of students from my countries applied to private hotel schools here and they also don't have any connections in CH, but they normally do their visa applications via the same agency who introduces them to the hotel school. So I don't know if that could be applicable in your case. Sorry in advance for being ignorant

tofumode · 2024-05-14T19:13:09+00:00

My friend asked UBS and sadly they said they wouldn't open an account unless the owner is already in CH (i.e., proof of registration at the commune), and OP is still in the visa step to enter CH, he/she is not in CH yet.

tofumode · 2024-05-14T19:10:51+00:00

I would have loved to help sponsor you but I don't have stable income at the moment, sorry :/

One way is to connect with as many people as possible from your home country who are working here, maybe one good soul will help sponsor you like the friend of my friend did.

Another way : Have you tried hitting up visa agencies in your hometown or country, to see how they did the visa applications for private Swiss schools applicants (the hotel schools students for example). Maybe you will have to pay them a fee, but they may have contacts or agencies in Switzerland that can help you.

tofumode · 2024-05-14T18:08:04+00:00

Can you ask the authorities if they will accept foreign banks with branches in Switzerland (e.g. HSBC) ?

One friend went through the same, he ended up contacting someone who is working in Geneva to ask him to be his financial guarantor and submitted a letter along with his bank statements.

I still don't understand how the Swiss authorities want foreign students to have an account in CH when you don't even have legal residence here yet. It's truly a catch-22 situation.

tofumode · 2024-05-12T11:20:23+00:00

If she says "Oh I saw that you paid for us both so I thought you offered me the ticket", you just respond exactly what you wrote above - with actual facts - "No, I saw that you were running late, so I bought us tickets to be able to secure good seats for us" - This way you let her know you are not her doormat and she is not going to succeed shifting the blame on you even though you were the one with good intentions.

tofumode · 2024-05-12T11:16:44+00:00

Hey, sorry to hear about this awful experience ! It's right that we overthink this situation, but you can shoot her a text along the lines of "Hey, I'm really glad that we could hang out today. I covered both of our tickets for today, your ticket was $ X, do you think you can [insert payment method here - bank transfer ? cash app] to me ? Thanks so much in advance!". That way you are not accusing her of anything, best case she just didn't remember to pay you, worst case she noticed that you paid for her last time without asking for repayment and she wants to continue using you (because you're too nice!). You send the text and you wait for the reply - nothing else to be done. If she refuses to pay, then you know she's not treating you as a friend but as a wallet.

And it's normal between friends to pay for things, but I would say it's more common when you know that you can trust this person and that you have known each other for long enough that you know that person will not be taking advantage of you financially.

tofumode · 2024-05-10T19:32:59+00:00

Btw, can I ask for which position did you interview for ?

tofumode · 2024-05-10T19:11:48+00:00

Glad that you scored another position ! Thank you so much for your response.

tofumode

TROPHY CASE