Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Progress!

The consulate actually called me back today. I was surprised. After getting formal approval (which required multiple passport photos) we still needed to send a few items to the consulate in San Francisco. We ran out and got more passport sized photos today and shipped them, the application fees ($44 per), and our passports to the consulate. The consulate indicated they would ship the passports and visas back on Thursday, so we should be good to go by Friday.

Next item on the agenda....organizing the house sale closure, arranging for temporary housing (Seattle and Morges), and booking tickets.

Pack and load has been scheduled!

The pack and load is tentatively scheduled for the 5th and 6th of March. This assumes that the paperwork from the consulate is sent in a timely manner. More details to follow after I have actually contacted something\someone at the consulate other than the voicemail system.

Monday, February 26, 2007

An Actual Update!

I received official confirmation that our visa has been approved. Now I just need to mail a check and a tiny bit of paperwork to the consulate in San Francisco. That should have a quick turn around and we hope to be Swiss bound by the 9th (depending on when we can schedule the movers)

Sunday, February 25, 2007

It must be a heck of a computer issue

No news yet.

Maybe this week...only 34 days until the mother-in-law arrives in Morges.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Swiss Consititution

For those of you interested in the Swiss political system.

http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/sz00t___.htm

I believe this is the recently (1990s) updated version. I haven't found an English translation of the original on the web.

Avian Flu...should we be worried

I found his posting on www.wrgfm.com interesting. It seems like this would cause chaos if the masks aren't available in time.

Protective masks, to guard against the spread of bird flu, will be available on
Swiss supermarket shelves if the country finds itself in the grip of a flu
pandemic. Migros and Co-Op both say that making sure people can buy masks
as they do their weekly shopping is part of the government’s plan if bird flu
hits the country. The masks have not as yet been ordered, from a
manufacturer in China, but the supermarkets say that should happen in the next
few months. If it is necessary to use them, people will need to change the
masks up to four times a day, meaning demand could reach the hundreds of
millions. Health experts have reiterated the need for surgical masks in
the event of a bird flu pandemic and say that those used by builders, to stop
them breathing in dust or paint fumes, would not be an effective substitute.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

It must have been a Microsoft problem...

Here is the latest story from the immigration lawyers.

Apparently, the approvals of McCann, Goh and Tng are done but due to problems
with the computer system could not be sent out last week. We should hopefully
receive them this week.


I'm not holding my breath.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Another week....another story

The latest news is that the paperwork will be available by the end of February. Not that I have much faith in this, but I guess a miracle could happen. The lawyers working on this are obviously clueless.

Friday, February 9, 2007

Somebody lied...

The visa did not arrive this week. No prediction on when it will be available.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

New web site URL

Our old web site has been shut down because it was linked to our soon to be closed Comcast account. Our new web site can be found at: http://www.famillemccann.net/

A healthcare change in Switzerland?

Here is some interesting news on healthcare in CH...

On March 11, the Swiss will go to the polls on an issue that is making headlines in the U.S as well, the rising cost of health care. In Switzerland, where health insurance is compulsory, voters will decide on a people’s initiative to replace the nation’s 80 health insurance providers with one unified state-run provider. Proponents of the initiative say the new system would be more transparent, less costly, and have less administrative overhead. Their proposal would base people’s premiums on their health and income levels.
The
Swiss government opposes the initiative, arguing that this proposal would diminish the quality of care, particularly for those who couldn’t afford extra coverage. The government contends that by eliminating insurance choices, such a system would limit competition and innovation. It is too early to tell how the Swiss people will vote, although a similar proposal was defeated in 2004. Vote results will appear on swisspolitics.org after March 11.

*Copied from Swiss embassy email

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Another day...another story

Here is the latest on the visa....

Please note that according to oral information of the Cantonal Migration Office (which will issue the final approval) the work permit for Mr. McCann will hopefully be issued and mailed to us this week.

Monday, February 5, 2007

A very small visa update

The lawyers are now expecting our visas to be issued between the 9th and 16th of February. They won't provide any details as to how these dates were determined, so I don't have much faith that we'll see the visa anytime soon.

At this point we are just hoping to be there before Emily's mom arrives on the 1st of April.

Friday, February 2, 2007

No news yet

I just received confirmation that the Swiss government has not issued my documents yet. It looks like we'll be in Seattle until mid February. Giving our washer\dryer away seems like a bad decision now.