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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Somebody lied...

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Update on house inspection sale

I learned from the relocation company on Friday that we would not have to actually fix the garage roof or retaining wall prior to selling the house. I will be getting estimates this week on getting both items. The sale price of the house will then be reduced by the value of the estimates.

I also learned that since we don't actually have to go into an office to sign the closing paperwork, it is possible for us to close on the house while in Switzerland. That isn't the preferred option, but it may be necessary depending on when the permits arrive.

As for the permits, the update I received on the 26th of January indicated that the permit would be issued on or before the 25th of January. I'm assuming that the file wasn't properly updated and that it won't take a year to get us the permit

Inspection results and the impact on the selling price

The inspector found 7 items that need to be fixed prior to selling the house.

1. Shrubs need to be cut back from the side of the house. There weren't any indications of bug problems, but they want to be extra careful
2. Roof needs to be cleared off (What do they expect after all the wind we've had the last few weeks?)
3. Dishwasher needs an air cap. I'm not sure what this envolves, but I assume it can't be too difficult.
4. Cracked sink needs to be replaced. We have agreeded that this doesn't really need to happen since it is just a cosmetic crack.
5. Smoke detectors need to work. I'm not exactly sure what the inspectors problem was. We tested it right after he left and it worked fine for us.
6. Gargage roof needs to be replaced. This isn't too big a surprise. It has need to be replaced for a number of years.
7. The retaining wall in the back needs to be reviewed again to see if it needs to be replaced.

I'm not too worried about the first 5 items, but the last 2 could take some time. We are investigating whether we can just get estimates and then reduce the house's selling price.

Visa Update

I've learned that there are three levels of approval to get a visa\work permit.

1. Cantonal Labor Office
2. Federal Migration Office
3. Cantonal Migration Office

They must occur sequentially and the entire process can take 6-8 weeks for non-EU individuals.

My application was approved by the Cantonal Labor office and the Federal Migration office on the 17th of January. They expect final approval to be granted on or before the 25th of January.

Appraisals are in!

It only took a few days longer than expected, but the appraisals are in. According to the two appraisers, the value of the house went up by about 40% since we originally purchased it. It turns out we won't be listing the house ourselves and will just let the company buy it at the appraised value.

I have a meeting to review the inspection results on Monday. We may have to fix a few items, but I'm not sure what yet.

No real update

Another week has passed and we haven't received much of an update. We learned that the company will pay for our February US mortgage and that the house offer should be available by Monday at the latest.

It should be interesting to see how fast things move once the work permit arrives.

I've shut our website down. We'll create a new page once we get setup in Morges with our new internet provider.

Appraisal Update

The appraisers came on Tuesday and things seemed to go well. Each appraisal lasted about 30 minutes. We should find the results on Tuesday.