Registration with the Municipality (INTV)

1. The following newly arrived foreigners from abroad, as well as foreigners who have not spent more than twelve months in Switzerland before moving from another canton (hereafter referred to as foreigners), are required to personally register with the competent municipal authority for the initial interview within 14 days

a) Persons applying for a short-term residence permit under Article 32 of the Federal Act of December 16, 2005, on Foreign Nationals and Integration (Foreign Nationals Act, FNA) if they seek permanent residency,

b) Persons applying for a residence permit under Article 33 FNA,

c) Persons applying for a residence permit as family members of refugees recognized under Article 49 of the Asylum Act of June 26, 1998 (AsylA), or of individuals provisionally admitted under Article 83 FNA.

1. The competent authority of the municipality examines the existence of a special need for information within the framework of an initial consultation.

2. For this purpose, it records the following information in the form issued by the Health, Social and Integration Directorate (GSI)

a. existing language skills,

b. educational and professional training,

c. current or intended employment,

d. minor children.

3. The GSI provides recommendations for the structuring of the consultations and for the assignment of the affected individuals to a contact point for integration (contact point).

1. A special need for information generally exists and requires registration by the competent municipal authority with the contact point when the individuals concerned do not have sufficient language skills as defined in Article 5, paragraph 4, letter a of the Integration Act (IntG), and do not meet the requirements regarding employment or education according to Article 5, paragraph 4, letter b of the Integration Act (IntG).

2. A special need for information may also particularly exist, and require registration by the competent municipal authority with the contact point, if the individuals concerned have minor children and do not possess the necessary information regarding care, education, and support services for children.

3. When assessing whether a special need for information exists, appropriate consideration must be given to the circumstances of the individual case.

4. The report to the contact point must be made without delay, but no later than five working days after the initial consultation.

1. The sponsorship of a contact point must be a municipality or a non-profit private-law organization, whose purpose includes advising and supporting foreign nationals.

2. If the sponsorship is a municipality, an organizational separation between the contact point and the competent migration authority must be ensured.

Contact points typically have at least 200 full-time equivalent positions staffed by professionals.

1. Individuals engaged in advising foreigners typically possess a completed and recognized education in Social Work or Social Education, in another social or humanities discipline, or in the legal field, or hold a federal professional certificate as a migration specialist.

2. Individuals who do not possess the education outlined in paragraph 1 must have several years of experience in providing support within the field of integration promotion for foreigners.

3. Individuals engaged in advising foreigners must possess cross-cultural competencies.

4. When composing the staff personnel, the widest possible range of language skills should be considered.

1. The contact points shall promptly assign a consultation appointment to the individuals allocated to them.

2. In the consultation, they particularly ascertain in which areas the affected individuals have a specific need for information and what resources they possess to make their contributions to integration in the sense of Article 3 of the IntG without further assistance.

1. If it becomes apparent during the consultation that there is a need for integration measures, the point of contact recommends the necessary integration measures to the affected individuals and determines with them the time frame within which the measures should be implemented.

2. The point of contact supports the affected individuals in implementing the integration measures and verifies whether they have been undertaken.

**1. The need for an integration agreement arises if it is determined that**

a. the individuals concerned are not sufficiently implementing the integration measures recommended pursuant to Article 8, or

b. the individuals concerned are unable to implement the integration measures recommended pursuant to Article 8.

**2. The contact point reports the identified need for the conclusion of an integration agreement to the migration authority.**

**3. If the migration authority intends to conclude an integration agreement, the contact point, together with the individual concerned, drafts a proposed agreement.**

1. Proof of attendance and completion of a language course is deemed to be provided if there is a certificate of attendance that confirms participation in at least 80 percent of the classes or attests to a reasonable progress in language acquisition.

2. Proof of attendance and completion of another agreed integration measure is regulated in the integration agreement.

1. The GSI provides employers, in cooperation with employers' associations, with the necessary documentation for informing foreign employees.

1. The Cantonal Commission for the Integration of the Foreign Population (Integration Commission) is an advisory body and serves the development and implementation of the canton’s integration policy.

2. It is assigned to the GSI.

1. The Integration Commission consists of a minimum of 11 and a maximum of 21 members.

2. It is composed of individuals involved in integration matters, specifically from

a. representatives of migrants from various regions of origin,

b. representatives of organizations and institutions,

c. private individuals, as well as

d. representatives of the municipalities and the canton.

3. In the appointment process, expertise and proper representation of regions, language areas, and both genders are considered.

4. The government council appoints the commission members upon the proposal of the GSI for a term of four years.

5. The Director of Health, Social Affairs, and Integration, as well as the head of the Cantonal Office for Integration and Social Affairs, are ex officio members of the Integration Commission.

6. The Integration Commission may invite representatives from other directorates or the state chancery, as well as additional experts, to its meetings.

1. The Integration Commission is chaired by the Director of Health, Social Affairs, and Integration.

2. It forms an executive committee consisting of five members under the chairpersonship of its President.

3. The committee is specifically authorized to issue opinions within the meaning of Article 16 paragraph 2, in cases of time-sensitive urgency.

4. The Integration Commission otherwise constitutes itself.

1. The Integration Commission

a. advises the government council and the administration as well as the municipalities on integration issues,

b. **\* facilitates contact and the exchange of information between the cantonal office for integration and social affairs and the various organizations and institutions dealing with integration issues,

c. assesses the needs in the field of integration and informs the government council and the administration thereof,

d. regularly informs the public about its activities.

**1. The Integration Commission is authorized**

a) to obtain information from authorities and private individuals within the scope of its responsibilities, provided that such information is non-personal,

b) to submit proposals to the directorates for the government council regarding all matters pertaining to the promotion of integration.

**2. It is invited to comment on all proposals from the directorates that are relevant to the promotion of integration.**

1. The GSI may issue regulations for further organization and business operations.

1. The cantonal Office for Integration and Social Affairs manages the secretariat of the Integration Commission.

1. A record of the proceedings of the Integration Commission and the Committee shall be kept.

1. The Compensation of the Members of the Integration Commission is in accordance with the Ordinance of 2 July 1980 on the Daily Allowances and Travel Compensation of Members of State Commissions[4].

1. The expenses chargeable by the municipalities for the initial information according to Article 2 consist of a flat rate of 45 Swiss francs per initial consultation and a flat rate of 76 Swiss francs per initial consultation for the involvement of professional intercultural translators.

1. The Ordinance of 29 November 2000 on the Organization and Tasks of the Directorate of Health and Social Affairs (Organizational Ordinance DPH, OrgO DPH)[5] is amended as follows

1. The Ordinance of September 12, 2007, on the Cantonal Commission for the Integration of the Foreign Population (IKV) (BSG 152.221.121.3) is repealed.

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on January 1, 2015.