Shouldn't be too much of a challenge, Carl ! There's a large demand for qualified English-tecahers in the area. Why don't you already have a look on this site under "Classifieds/jobs", as well as on the various Swiss official jobsites, such as:

jobup.ch

job.search.ch

jobs.ch

compassteaching.com

and

 http://www.tdgemploi.ch/emploi/offres-demploi.html

Good luck and welcome to Geneva!

Thanks for the URLs/links, Eva. I hope you're right (that it should not be too much of a challenge). It was actually quite challenging just to get this far .

Please check the International School in Geneva. They're regularly looking for English teachers.

http://www.ecolint.ch/ 

Wish you good luck in finding a job

Thanks, Jack. I appreciate the link.

you should also check  other schools such as  :

http://www.cdl.ch/home_en

or

Ecole Moser in Nyon

Thanks, Maria.

sorry to rain on your parade carl, but due to work visa regulations, all non europeans ( i.e. americans, canadians, africans, australians etc ) will only receive work visas if no other eurpeans can be found to fill the job. i understand that this is not what you were hoping to hear, but those are the facts, also, if you are here as a tourist, you are not allowed to look for work as your main activity. even if you were to find an employer, you would be required to leave switzerland and wait for your permit to be issued and then re-enter switzerland with the correct documents. as it stands now, you will have to leave after 3 months, and if it has been shown that you were here looking for work, you would not receive another entrance visa. i'm surprised you haven't been told before.

Epicure,

    You are not quite accurate. Most of what you say is true--and I already knew it. However, I specifically checked with the Swiss Consulate before coming, and your statement "if you are here as a tourist (i.e., on a passport), you are not allowed to look for work as your main activitiy" is not quite accurate--at least according to an official response from the Swiss Consulate. I've saved the response and have it with me here. In any case, thank you for your concern, but I will follow the direction of Swiss government officials (to whom I explained exactly what I am trying to do here). 

Regards,

Carl

In any case, I am also doing plenty of "touristy" type things like paying for a room and spending an exhorbitant amount of money (relatively speaking) on food :-). I have visited many "tourist" sites and plan to visit more. Though not directly related to Switzerland, I hiked up Mount Saleve (missing accent to be provided when I become more proficient using the international keyboard) over the weekend. In fact, I would say that I have spent more time doing these kinds of activities than anything else so far. 

carl, i really wish you all the best. i just know of other people ( americans) who have looked for work here having entered on a tourist visa and they had problems prolonging their visa after 90 days. also you should realize that the swiss just adopted a law ( last few weeks ) which will only allow 43'000 new work visas for non-europeans ( a quota system ) until 2014 .

it really was unfair that you were told by the swiss conulate that you could seek employment while you were here, knowing full well, that on your tourist visa you would not be able to receive a  contract by an employer, or at least be issued a work permit.

my advise would be to ask to speak to an HR person at an international school, just to ask about how your status would relate to finding a teaching job.( and not do they have any openings)  perhaps they could give you some guidance.

when you find out, please post this info on this thread for others to learn.

best wishes,

roger

You mention "tourist visa." I am not here on a tourist visa. As you should know, Americans are not required to obtain a visa for a 3 month passport stay. I am strictly here on my passport. There are many activities other than tourism that can be undertaken on a passport.   As to your other comments, all I can say is that I have been careful to consult with the Swiss Consulate on any matters that were not entirely clear to me--and, as I mentioned, I have kept their responses. I will certainly report back my experience to this forum. 

" As you should know, Americans are not required to obtain a visa for a 3 month passport stay"

c'mon carl, you're splitting hairs. you are automatically given a tourist visa on your us passport. however, try and accept a job ( legally :-)   ) and you will be told you are here as a tourist, regardless of your "i'm here on my passport, not a tourist visa" reply.

i'm really curious to know why other glocals have not given you any information.

where are "translator" and "richard" who are usualy quite present on these issues. ?

One more time, I asked a lot of questions of Swiss officials before I came here. There is a distinction between a visa and a passport stamp. I know this from previous experience. I've had a visa in the Schengen area before, and it is a completely different process. Also, what gets placed in your passport as a result is more than a stamp. There is NO visa (of any kind) required for Americans for a three month passport stay (not the case for many other nationalities though). Americans come here to do business on their passport all the time. They are not tourists. The requirement for a visa enters into the picture beyond the 90 days. I want to recommend that you be more careful before dispensing advice or your opinion.

In any case, I have not found your posts to be very welcoming. I clearly indicated at the beginning of my post that I realized that I was undertaking a challenge by coming here, but I am doing it legally according to what I have been told by the Swiss government (and would not do it another way). So, again, I appreciate your concern, but I would prefer not to continue this line of discussion with you. 

carl when you get offered a contract and start to work , i'll be plesaed to "eat humble pie" maybe there is a way after all to find a job as you are doing.

First I want to thank epicure. Even though he might not have been correct in everything he said, looking at his forum-records, I do think that he is genuinely trying to be helpful.

True, US citizens do not need a visa and they can work up to eight days per calendar year (at least in most businesses).

http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home/dokumentation/rechtsgrundlagen/weisungen_und_kreisschreiben/visa/liste1_staatsangehoerigkeit/leg_visum/v1.html

I have to agree with most of what epicure has said due to my own personal experience as an American citizen.  I too, Carl, came here following my now husband but until we were married I could not work on my Shengen visa and I couldn't work even on my L-permit.  Only after marriage I was able to recieve a B-permit and start work.

The Swiss system is very tough to get into and I too was under the assumption that becasue I am qualified I would be hired when I first arrived, but because of the restrictions on the number of B permints the OCP can hand out or the Employment office, most people w/o permits won't get hired.

I don't believe Epicure is trying to be unwelcoming, he is just being honest, and the reality is Carl, that the Swiss employment and OCP system is very formal and not the most welcoming.  I wish you luck in your job hunt!

Yes, as I mentioned at the very beginning, I know I am in for a challenge. I know about the quotas. I know that I may not be successful; but, quite frankly, I did not join this forum to be reminded about all of this. I am not expecting the Swiss government or its policies to be welcoming (though I have to say I had more positive conversations with the Swiss Consulate!), but I would hope to find some kind of welcome or greetings on this forum. 

There are cultural differences showing up in this thread, and becoming comfortable with them is quite important here.

I know that, along with the nationals of some other countries, Americans like to be told that everything will be great, but most Europeans feel more comfortable if they are made aware of potential pitfalls, so they do this for other people as a kindness.

The reality is that it is quite common to spend a year finding a job in Geneva and many people get badly caught out by not budgeting enough for it.

Andy, this is not necessarily the case of cultural differences. I am not looking to be told that "everything will be great." I have emphasized over and over that I was quite aware of the challenge involved. I will not get into the details, but I have been investigating this over a long period of time. This is my 5th trip to Switzerland, and my 3rd to Geneva. I am afraid that you might be generalizing a bit too much in this case. However, I joined this forum for other purposes than what is playing out currently on this thread. 

Seeking work whilst having entered under the auspices of "tourism" may or may not be legal; I don't really know.  If you do find work, I would be extra careful to learn if you can be present in Switzerland while the visa and the residence permit processing is underway.

Greetings and welcome ... to reality...

1. One of the primary functions of the Swiss consulate is to encourage tourism as well as to explain, in general terms, the rules and regulations of immigration to Switzerland;

2. HOWEVER, general advice and guidelines from the consulate does not constitute a decision on an immigration dossier;

3.  Everything epicure stated is effectively true. Furthermore, he was trying to do you a favor in encouraging you not to announce on a public forum your intention -- however pleasantly packaged -- to look for work while here as a tourist;

4.  The treatment of Americans in the immigration process is under increasingly intense scrutiny due to strained relations between the two nations on tax evasion/banking secrecy discussions;

5.  Many, if not most, international schools require applicants to have  B or C permits;

6. There is an adequate -- if not excess supply -- of qualified English teachers in the area:

7. Another solution is to enroll in school as a student, if you have the funds. You must then follow the regulations for student employment. 

Many of us already here have provided, free of charge, relocation advice to our compatriots. We do so in the most effective possible rather than sugar-coating advice.

Best of luck to you!

" I will not get into the details, but I have been investigating this over a long period of time. This is my 5th trip to Switzerland, and my 3rd to Geneva"

i'm smiling now, what part of "forgetaboutit" don't you understand?

unless you are really here for another reason ( might edward snowden know something we don't ?)

sorry, i couldn't resist

"Everything epicure stated is effectively true. Furthermore, he was trying to do you a favor in encouraging you not to announce on a public forum your intention -- however pleasantly packaged -- to look for work while here as a tourist"

Why should I try to hide something that is not underhanded or illegal? 

No, it does not seem that you can resist, does it. Since you do not know anything about the timeframe or details of those trips, you may be drawing conclusions that are not accurate. I was simply trying to show that I had not vome here on a whim. In any case, I am just about ready to exit this forum/website. The "Friendly People/Fun Activities" byline just does not seem to fit my experience thus far.

I am not here under the "auspices of 'tourism'", I am here on my passport. I cleared my planned activity (not all of which I have revealed to this forum) with the Swiss Consulate before coming. No, you cannot be present in Switzerland while a work permit is being processed  (though you can stay in the Schenegn area IF you have been here less than 90 days), and I do not (and never intended) to be. 

Carl, did you get the question "what is the purpose of your visit" at the immigration desk when entering the country?  If so, how did you answer?

Nope. But, if I had, I would have answered truthfully and forthrightly.

Carl,

People on this forum try to give you information or share their personal experiences, in answer on your demand. As this tread is about a 'serious' issue, the 'fun'factor is logically low, but I am sure that all members have the intention to be friendly. They prove this in taking the time to provide you information. When the information is not what you expected, does not mean that the person is unfriendly.

Sorry, Jack, I do not buy your explanation. It has been suggested (in sometimes subtle ways) that what I have done or am doing is somehow underhanded or illegal when, in fact, it is not. I knew when I came here that there was a quota system in place, and, as an American, I would be last in line. In fact, everything that has been stated here that is actually factual, I already knew. I acknowledged that. So, why does the thread have to continue along these lines? 

I have encountered a number of ex-patriots who, for whatever reason, seem to enjoy dissuading others from joining (or trying to join) their ranks. Personally, I find this very ironic. They sometimes spread what we call in my industry "FUD" (fear, uncertaintly, and doubt) and misinformation. Some go as far as taunting (and at least one post here has come close to that). This is not "information" and it is not "friendly." 

In any case, I do not need anymore such "information." I knew this was going to be difficult, and I expected it to be so. However, I do not need it to be made even more so. Nothing that I have heard here except for some earlier posts has really been that useful or helpful to me. I had hoped that, in time, I might make some acquaintances in Geneva through this forum (or maybe even, God forbid, helpful suggestions), but perhaps I am looking in the wrong place--or maybe in the wrong way. There are other ways of forming meaningful relationships in a cirucmstance like this. 

For other US citizens interested in this issue, please be aware of the following:

The very restrictive immigration policy of the Swiss Government has made it extremely difficult to obtain residence permits for employment. As a rule, only individuals who have been offered jobs which cannot be filled by Swiss nationals have a chance of obtaining residence permits. Inevitably, these vacancies are usually only in an occupation of a highly specialized nature...

"Nationals who require a visa to work in Switzerland (most non-Europeans, including U.S. citizens) must file a personal application at the responsible Swiss visa desk at the same time as the employer applies for the work permit in Switzerland. An authorization to issue the visa is sent to the responsible Swiss visa desk after the work permit has been authorized and the appropriate visa has to be issued in your passport prior to your departure.

After arrival, every person must register with the immigration authority not longer than 14 days after arrival in Switzerland and, in all cases, before starting work."

http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/nameri/vusa/ref_visinf/visusa.html.html#ContentPar_0020javascript:mctmp(0);

I think the idea that somehow some of the US citizens on this site want to keep Switzerland all to ourselves is a bit odd. I guess I may have misread your posts when you stated you were looking for work and doing 'touristy' things. 

Lots of us already here are helping our US compatriots (as well as others) on a daily basis in finding jobs, housing and other essential services. Free of charge. We're not (Elmer) FUDders, just realists. 

That said, I quickly reverified my statements about the major international schools requirements for work permits. This is the case at three of the major international schools:  College du Leman, Institut International de Lancy, the International School all require work permits as part of the application process. 

On forums it may  happen that a discussion goes in the wrong direction,  that's a part of the game. No need to argue, just take the info which seems to be creditable for you. And you have had a lot of it today! Good luck in finding the job

while i won't try to dissaude you- i had people do that to me and so i understand what you mean- i will say, as a teacher and someone from the u.s, there aren't many schools that will hire and give a permit. that's a downer, i know, but there are just so many qualified teachers of eng here that schools don't need to be bothered with the paperwork and expense. best bet would be to look toward france for that- not as many qualified eng speaking teachers there so they may be more likely. 

again- not trying to burst your bubble, but giving you info from a teacher :)