Heading back to the U.S. Apparently, in Switzerland, the residency renewal process is complex. You apply; the nice people at Migrationsamt tell you they're processing the renewal. Then you find out they never processed the application. They sent you a letter last year regarding your previous residency application telling you the last day you can remain in the country. That means that this year, they will not process another residency application. Even though they take your money and accept the form and you go for an appointment and get your fingerprints taken and an official photograph, etc. You ask them in person. They tell you they're processing the application. They will send you a letter in two to three weeks. Some time passes, and you call them on the phone, they tell you they didn't process the application. You paid the money to the "Community" who sends it to the Migrationsamt. Migrationsamt says you can go to the "Community" to get the money back. You go there, and they laugh. You can't get your money back. Furthermore, they tell you they have 'nothing to do with Migrationsamt'. You wonder why they take the money for Migrationsamt applications if they truly have nothing to do with Migrationsamt. Interesting. You return your residency card to the "City" offices. They charge you 30 CHF for a receipt. They tell you to go to the "Community" to get your 122 CHF money back for the renewal application. How did the "City" become involved with the Migrationsamt? Difficult to imagine. And everyone points fingers at everyone else. I asked the nice lady at the "Community" how I could get the truth from the Migrationsamt. She asked me, "What is the truth?" Then it all made sense to me.