For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), being away from their loved ones can be one of the most challenging aspects of their journey abroad. However, the prospect of reuniting with family members through a family reunification visa offers hope and the promise of togetherness. This visa is a vital pathway for OFWs who wish to bring their spouses, children, parents, or other eligible family members to join them in their country of work.
Navigating the bureaucracy of immigration can be overwhelming, but with the right information and guidance, OFWs can streamline the process of applying for a family reunification visa. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps and provide insights into what you need to know to successfully reunite with your family in Switzerland.
Disclaimer: The information posted here is based on the personal experiences shared by the OFW in the video below. Please let this post serve as a guide only. If you have specific questions, you may ask the OFW by commenting on their video on their accounts.
Guide to Applying for a Family Reunification Visa for OFWs
This article is based on a YouTube video from Miss Raine, an OFW vlogger based in Switzerland. She talks about the process of obtaining a family reunification visa for Switzerland from the Philippines. More details in the video link below:
National Visa
In Switzerland, a family reunification visa is a type of visa that allows individuals who are legally residing in Switzerland to bring their family members to join them. This visa is typically granted to spouses, children, and sometimes parents or other dependent relatives of the visa holder. The purpose of the family reunification visa is to facilitate the reunion of families who have been separated due to one or more family members living in Switzerland for work, study, or other reasons.
Reasons for Applying for a National Visa
- There are several reasons wherein you can apply for a national visa or stay for more than 90 days in the Schengen Area or the country in the Schengen Area:
- Studies
- Family recruitment or family reunification
- Marriage preparation
- Work
- Cohabitation in some countries
- In the vlogger’s case, it is a family recruitment or family reunification visa.
- Unlike the Schengen visa, the national visas must be applied with the embassy or consulate.
- In the vlogger’s case, they applied with the Embassy of Switzerland in Manila, the Philippines.
Required Documents
- Valid passport plus two photocopies of the bio page and instant inside back cover
- Visa application form (three copies)
- Four colored passport-size photos
- Postilled birth certificate plus a copy
- Note: The birth certificate needs to be translated. The vlogger had theirs translated into German.
- Marriage certificate plus a photocopy
- Note: Since the vlogger got married in Denmark, they submitted the Danish marriage certificate.
- Two copies of the spouse’s residence permit
- Police clearance plus a copy
- Proof of Language Competency: invoice copy and certificate of enrollment in a language school
- Note: The police clearance needs to be translated into German as well.
Visa Fee
- Visa fee (approximately 4,600 units of currency)
- Note: The visa fee is waived in the vlogger’s case because they are the spouse of an EU national.
Application Procedure
- Compile all applicable documents for your case.
- Request an appointment with the embassy.
- Submit your documents at the embassy during your appointment.
- Wait for the decision.
- Once approved, submit your passport for the visa sticker.
Marriage Registration in Switzerland
- For the verification of civil status documents, the vlogger submitted the following by request of the cantonal civil registry or the civil standard:
- Apostilled PSA birth certificate
- Apostilled PSA CENOMAR
- Community tax certificate
- Copy of marriage certificate
- Husband’s passport
- Husband’s residence permit
- Note: All residents of Switzerland have the obligation to report. More information can be found in the provided text below.
- All documents were submitted to the civil registry section of the Swiss Embassy.
- The vlogger had to pay 13,000 pesos for the verification, but received a change of 785 pesos.
FRV Application Timeline
- Day 0 or April 7: Submitted a complete set of documents to the Swiss Embassy in Manila.
- Day 1: Paid the verification fees for the civil registry documents via international bank transfer.
- Day 3: Received a confirmed payment for the verification and the verification process started with the civil registry.
- Day 12: The civil registry completed verification and forwarded our documents to the financial civil registry.
- Day 18: Husband submitted an additional set of documents for the residence permit.
- Documents submitted:
- Passport photo
- Marriage certificate or family booklet
- Copy of valid passport or identity card
- Copy of rental agreement of the apartment
- Employment confirmation
- Completed form (in German)
- Documents submitted:
- Inquiries made to the canton migration office during this period.
- Day 89: Received the entry visa authorization order.
- Forwarded a copy to the Swiss Embassy in Manila to request an appointment for the sticker issue.
- Day 19: Received a confirmation for appointment from the Swiss Embassy.
- Day 94: Received the visa sticker on the same day as the appointment, which took only 30 minutes to process.
Summary of Fees for FRV
- Visa application fees waived as spouse of an EU national.
- Verification of civil status documents:
- Paid around 5,815 pesos or 100 Swiss Francs for visa authorization.
- Paid 5,956 Francs or 5,578.15 pesos for the verification.
- Total application cost: 195 Swiss Francs or approximately 11,400 pesos.
Getting a family reunification visa for Switzerland as a Filipino worker overseas involves a few steps. We’ve covered how to apply, what documents you need, and what to expect during the process.
For students who may want to bring their families to Switzerland, it’s important to know that you’ll need to gather all the necessary papers and submit them to the Swiss Embassy or consulate. This includes things like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other official documents.
Remember, it might take some time for everything to be processed. But if you stay in touch with the embassy and follow their instructions, things should go smoothly.
In the end, being able to live with your family in Switzerland is worth the effort. By following the steps we’ve outlined and staying patient, high school students can successfully navigate the visa process and look forward to reuniting with their loved ones in Switzerland.