Embassy/Consulate Addresses | Foreign Relations | Travel Advisories | Travel Tips | Customs/Duties



EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:

Ambassador: Manuel Sager
Embassy: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-256

Consulate(s) General are in:
Los Angeles
11766 Wilshire Bl., Suite 1400,
Los Angeles,CA 90025.
(310) 575-1145, FAX (310) 575-1982

Atlanta
1275 Peachtree St., N.E., Suite 425,
Atlanta, GA 30309.
(404) 870-2000, FAX (404) 870-2011

Chicago
737 N. Michigan Av., Suite 2301,
Chicago, IL 60611.
(312) 915-0061, FAX (312) 915-0388

New York
633 3rd Ave., 30th Fl.,
New York, NY 10017
(212) 599-5700, FAX (212) 599-4266

Houston
Wells Fargo Plaza, 1000 Louisiana, Suite 5670,
Houston, TX 77002.
(713) 650-0000, FAX (713) 650-1321

Pago Pago
Embassy Of Switzerland, 22 Panama St.,
Wellington, NZ.

San Francisco
456 Montgomery St,
Suite 1500,
San Francisco, CA 94104-1233
(415) 788-2272



US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Donald S. Beyer
Embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
Mailing address: use embassy street address
Telephone: [41](31) 357-7011; 24HR Emergency (31)357-7218
FAX: [41](31) 357-7344

Branch Office: Geneva
Consulate(s) General: Zurich

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Switzerland

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Switzerland
Swiss Embassy Web Site
U.S. Information Service (USIS) Office in Geneva


FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-SWITZERLAND RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Switzerland in 1853 following the formation of a unified Swiss state. Switzerland is a democratic country subscribing to the fundamental ideals with which the United States also is identified. The country is politically stable with an essentially strong economy. It has played an increasingly important role in supporting the spread of democratic institutions and values worldwide, as well as providing humanitarian relief and economic development assistance. U.S. policy toward Switzerland takes these factors into account and seeks to cooperate with Switzerland to the extent consistent with Swiss neutrality.

The United States and Switzerland have signed a number of agreements creating mechanisms that deepen cooperation and improve the relationship: the Enhanced Political Cooperation Framework, the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum, and the revised Operative Working Arrangement on Law Enforcement Cooperation on Counterterrorism. The centerpiece of the Enhanced Political Cooperation Framework is an annual senior-level meeting, the Joint Working Group. Another vehicle for bilateral cooperation is the U.S.-Swiss Joint Economic Commission, which covers anti-money laundering efforts, counterterrorism, regulatory cooperation, and intellectual property rights, among other topics.

U.S. Assistance to Switzerland

The United States provides no development assistance to Switzerland.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association, whose countries are significant markets for U.S. exporters and investors. The two countries have a long history of cooperation both bilaterally and within the World Trade Organization. The United States is one of the top destinations for Swiss investment and is one of the largest foreign investors in Switzerland. The United States and Switzerland have signed an agreement creating a trade and investment forum to assess areas where the two governments could facilitate greater trade and investment flows.

U.S. exports to Switzerland include gold, pharmaceutical products, art and antiques, optic and medical instruments, machinery, and agricultural products. U.S. imports from Switzerland include pharmaceutical products, optic and medical instruments, clocks and watches, machinery, jewelry and diamonds, and agricultural products. Per capita, Switzerland is among the countries with the most visitors to the United States every year. Switzerland participates in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for certain business or tourism purposes for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

Switzerland's Membership in International Organizations

Switzerland and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Switzerland is also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace program and is an observer to the Organization of American States.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland is Donald S. Beyer, Jr.; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Switzerland maintains an embassy in the United States at 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; tel. (202) 745-7900.

More information about Switzerland is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Switzerland Country Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Switzerland Page
U.S. Embassy: Switzerland
History of U.S. Relations With Switzerland
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Switzerland check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (CHF) Swiss Franc
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 41, City Code Zurich 1+7D, Lausanne 21+7D, Geneve 22+7D, Bern 31+7D



Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 41. Outgoing international code: 00. Phonecards are available for use in payphones.

Climate: The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher Alpine regions temperatures tend to be low, while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and warm summers.

Required clothing: Warm clothes and rainwear; lightweights for summer.

Food & Drink: Swiss cuisine is varied. The great speciality is fondue, a delicious concoction of Gruyère and Vacherin cheese, melted and mixed with white wine, flour, Kirsch and a little garlic. Other cheese specialities are Emmental and Tête de Moine. Regional specialities include viande sechée (dried beef or pork) from Valais and the Grisons where it is called Bündnerfleisch. The meat is cut wafer thin and served with pickled spring onions and gherkins. Papet vaudoir is a delicious dish made from leeks and potatoes. Geneva’s great speciality is pieds de porc (pigs feet). Pork sausages or salami come in a variety of local recipes including Landjäger, Beinwurst, Engadinerwurst, Leberwurst (pâté), Kalbsleberwurst (calf’s liver pâté), and Knackerli. Try Rösti (shredded fried potatoes) and Fondue Bourguignonne (cubed meat with various sauces). Cakes and pastries are also varied: Leckerli are Basle specialities (spiced honey cakes topped with icing sugar, decorated in Bern with a white sugar bear); Gugelhopf (a type of sponge cake with a hollow centre), Fasnachtküchli (sugar-dusted pastries eaten during Carnival) and Schaffhausen (cream-filled cakes) are also popular. Although there are many self-service snack bars, table service is normal.
A great variety of Swiss wines are available throughout the country. There are also spirits made from fruit, the most popular being Kirsch, Marc, Pflümli and Williams. Swiss beer of a lager type is also available. Bottled mineral water is an accepted beverage, with local brands including Henniez and Passuger. Bars/cocktail lounges have table and/or counter service.

Shopping: Special purchases include embroidery and linen, Bernese woodcarving, chocolate, cheese, Swiss army knives and luxury handmade clocks and watches. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1830, Sat 0800-1200 and 1330-1600. Most shops are closed on Monday mornings.

Tipping: A service charge is included in all hotel, restaurant, cafe, bar, taxi and hairdressing services by law: further gratuities are not usualy required.

Currency: Swiss Franc (SFr) = 100 rappen or centimes. Notes are in denominations of SFr1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of SFr5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Currency exchange: Personal cheques within the Eurocheque system are accepted. ATMs provide a convenient means of obtaining Swiss Francs. There are Bureaux de Change at train stations and banks.

Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit, or debit, card company for details of merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Perfume..................Reasonable for personal use

Cameras.................2 still / 1 movie or video

Film.......................Reasonalbe for personal use

Agriculture Items.....Refer to consulate

Currency.................No restrictions

Visitors from EUcountries:


Tobacco.........200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco

Liquor............2 liters of alcohol (up to 15%); 1 litre of alcohol (over 15%)

Gifts.............Duty free allowance up to sfr100 (sfr50 for passengers under 17)

Visitors from non-EU countries:


Tobacco........400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco

Liquor...........2 liters of alcohol (up to 15%); 1 litre of alcohol (over 15%)

Gifts.............Duty free allowance up to sfr100 (sfr50 for passengers under 17)

Prohibited items: Most meat and processed meat, absinth and narcotics. there are strict regulations on importing animals and firearms.



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