Did anyone stamp your passport when you entered Switzerland?

Yes

1. Stamped when I originally came almost 3 months ago

2. Stamped when I went to the US for 2 weeks, and when I got back.

3. Stamped last week in London and then when I returned to Geneva a few days later.

They didn't stamp mine when I came back in August, but when I flew back to the U.S. in Dec they scanned it and I had to show them my residence permit to be able to get out.  I wouldn't recommend staying longer without some kind of permit in the process at least.  My friends gf was just held in London for 3 days after leaving italy where she had been living for 6 months without a permit... now shes fined and back in the U.S.

I was able to get my permit while living here, very quickly (3 weeks I think)  I had an attorney handling mine though.  Maybe an option?

Lexillent:

So you are a US citizen and you got your permit to stay here while you were in switzerland?  Do you know any attorneys to recommend to assist with this and how it was done?

I just do not want to have to go back to the US for 8-10 weeks for this to be proccessed. I plan on going back in the end of March, which will be after about 4 months of being here.....I was not aware that I could be finded when I leave, I thought I just would not be able to come back without the permit.

Also, you mentioned "without some kind of permit in the process"? So if my permit application is already out, you think that will help?

Hi,

A residence permit (like L) and a visa are two different things. Residence permit will allow you to work while a visa will allow you to stay longer than 3 months.

In case you do not get a residence permit you can certainly apply for a long stay visa:

http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migration/einreise/visumantragsformulare/visumantrag-visumd-en-de.pdf

You should get a visa within a week or two. 

To be safe you can do both.

Now, you are alllowed to stay up to 3 months within a 6 months period.  Since you were away travelling for almost 3 weeks you still get some time to get things sorted before the 3 months will expire.

http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migration/einreise/merkblatt_einreise/mb-grueezi-e.pdf

Some people at my school never had proper paperwork and were here a little bit longer, they went to the cantonal office and got an exit card and they were able to leave without problems.

My school had the attorney do it.. so that I cant help with.

But yes, I am American, and I was here without any documentation, cuz I had planned to move to London in January, when I decided to stay, I just filled out the paperwork and gave it to the lawyer. 

I was told the permit can be done while you are here, it is just a gray area and their 'willingness' to do it.

The OCP was very helpful for me when I went, and they did the whole thing with me in english.  I would go there and ask what you need to do, since you are here within the legal timeframe you don't have to fear the immigration police ;)

Thank You for all of this advice. My boyfriend and I are going to go to the OCP and try speaking with someone in person as you suggested. They have not been very helpful over the phone or email. I believe they told my boyfriend I need to get the residence permit, not a Visa, but I will try to find out because the Visa sounds perfect. I only want to saty here until October 2011 and I am not looking to be employed....1-2 weeks proccessing time would be a gift!

I have another 2 weeks until I reach 90 days. Did you need to bring anything to the office to get an exit card to stay a bit longer?

Hi, just curious how things panned out in the end. My GF who is in the States would like to come live with me here in the Geneva area, so looking at what are the best ways to proceed