United States Embassy Bern

The embassy provides comprehensive visa services for Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens traveling to the United States, including tourist visas (B-2) for experiencing America's diverse destinations, business visas (B-1) for financial sector missions, pharmaceutical industry collaboration, precision manufacturing partnerships, and international business development, student visas (F-1) for accessing American higher education at world-renowned institutions with established partnerships with Swiss universities, work visas including H-1B for skilled professionals in finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, and precision manufacturing, and L-1 visas for intracompany transfers supporting the extensive Swiss-American corporate relationships including major multinational corporations with operations in both countries. Specialized visa categories include E-2 investor visas for Swiss entrepreneurs establishing American operations, particularly relevant given Switzerland's strong venture capital ecosystem and tradition of international business expansion, J-1 exchange visitor visas for academic and professional exchange programs including partnerships with Swiss research institutions and international organizations, and O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary abilities in finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, or sciences. The embassy coordinates closely with Switzerland's extensive American business community including major financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and precision manufacturing firms, supporting visa applications for financial industry delegations, pharmaceutical research collaboration missions, and high-technology business development initiatives.

Switzerland represents exceptional investment opportunities for American companies seeking European expansion or global partnerships, offering political stability, world-class infrastructure, highly skilled workforce, and unique access to international markets and organizations. Priority investment sectors include pharmaceuticals and biotechnology where Switzerland's position as a global pharmaceutical powerhouse with companies like Novartis, Roche, and over 300 biotech companies creates opportunities for American pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and biotechnology firms to establish European operations, access specialized talent, and leverage Switzerland's regulatory expertise for global market access; financial services and fintech where Switzerland's position as a leading global financial center creates opportunities for American fintech companies, wealth management firms, insurance companies, and financial technology providers to access European markets while benefiting from Switzerland's financial expertise and regulatory framework; precision manufacturing and advanced technology where Swiss excellence in precision engineering creates opportunities for American advanced manufacturing companies, industrial technology firms, and automation specialists to access European markets and leverage Swiss engineering capabilities; information technology and cybersecurity where Switzerland's growing tech sector and emphasis on data privacy create opportunities for American software companies, cybersecurity firms, and digital service providers to establish European operations; and sustainable technology and clean energy where Switzerland's commitment to environmental sustainability creates opportunities for American clean technology companies, renewable energy firms, and sustainable innovation specialists. The embassy provides comprehensive investment facilitation including coordination with Switzerland Global Enterprise which offers investment support services and incentives for qualifying American investments, assistance with site selection across Switzerland's 26 cantons each offering unique advantages and specialized industrial clusters, support for accessing Swiss innovation programs including partnerships with leading research institutions like ETH Zurich and EPFL, and coordination with Swiss development institutions that provide favorable financing and support for American companies establishing operations in Switzerland's key economic sectors. Strategic advantages include access to the European market through Switzerland's extensive bilateral agreements, exceptional quality of life consistently ranked among the world's best, strong intellectual property protection, and political stability that makes Switzerland one of the world's most attractive locations for American companies seeking global expansion.

The embassy coordinates extensive cultural and educational programs that celebrate the strong historical ties between America and Switzerland while fostering innovation and collaboration across academic, cultural, and professional sectors. Educational initiatives include partnerships with Switzerland's world-renowned institutions including ETH Zurich (consistently ranked among the world's top 10 universities) and EPFL which maintain active partnerships with American institutions including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and the California Institute of Technology, facilitating student exchanges, joint research programs, and technology transfer initiatives; support for Swiss business schools including IMD and University of St. Gallen that maintain partnerships with American business schools for MBA and executive education programs; coordination with major research institutions and international organizations based in Switzerland that collaborate extensively with American universities and research organizations; and facilitation of Fulbright Commission programs that annually bring Swiss students to American universities while supporting American scholars at Swiss institutions. Cultural programs encompass support for major international cultural events including the World Economic Forum in Davos with significant American participation, coordination with Switzerland's renowned cultural institutions including major museums, concert halls, and festivals for American guest performances and cultural exchanges, support for American participation in Switzerland's extensive cultural calendar including music festivals and art exhibitions, and facilitation of American companies' cultural sponsorship programs that strengthen business networks while supporting Switzerland's rich cultural landscape. Professional exchange programs include the International Visitor Leadership Program bringing over 100 Swiss professionals annually to America for specialized training in sectors like pharmaceuticals, financial services, precision manufacturing, and international diplomacy, while facilitating American professional exchanges to Swiss institutions for collaboration in areas like pharmaceutical research, financial innovation, precision engineering, and international organization management that leverage Switzerland's unique expertise and global networks in these critical sectors for transatlantic cooperation and global competitiveness.