Counselling agencies

Name
frabina, counselling agency for binational couples and families

Short description of the agency
frabina offers legal information and psychosocial counselling on binational cohabitation.

Counselling topics

• Marriage and family reunification
• Couple relationship
• Parenthood and family
• Separation and divorce
• Residence and integration
• Finances
• Contact with authorities

Languages
German, French, Italian, English, Spanish and Arabic or with interpreting service

Offer
The counselling service is aimed at individuals, couples and families in binational relationships, regardless of their residence status.

The following counselling services are available:

• Face-to-face counselling at the counselling centres in Bern, Tavannes, Olten and Solothurn.
• Telephone counselling via the hotline 0900 81 27 01 (CHF 2.20 / min.), Tue and Thu 11.00 to 13.00
• E-mail counselling (SSL encrypted)
  Individual chat consultation (SSL encrypted)
• Video consultation (SSL encrypted)

Costs
The full fee for a counselling session is CHF 200.00. Thanks to service agreements, a reduced fee can be offered to people living in the cantons of Bern and Solothurn. The rates range from CHF 20.00 to CHF 200.00 and are based on the monthly net income per household.

Contact and opening hours
frabina
Kapellenstrasse 24
3011 Bern
Tel.: 031 381 27 01
info@frabina.ch

www.frabina.ch

For appointments you can reach us: Mon-Fri from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.

Name
frabina, Counselling Agency for Binational Couples and Families, Migrants and Victims of Racism and Discrimination

Short description of the agency
frabina offers legal information and psychosocial counselling on the topic of people of different nationalities and cultures living together.

Counselling topics

• Marriage and family reunification
• Couple relationships
• Parenthood and family
• Separation and divorce
• Residence and integration
• Finances
• Contact with authorities

Languages
German, French, Italian, English, Spanish and Arabic or with interpreting service

Offer
The counselling service is aimed at individuals, couples and families in binational relationships, regardless of their residence status.

The following counselling services are available:

• Face-to-face counselling at the counselling centres in Bern, Tavannes, Olten and Solothurn.
• Telephone counselling via the hotline 0900 81 27 01 (CHF 2.20 / min.),
  Tue and Thu 11.00 to 13.00
• E-mail counselling (SSL encrypted)
  Individual chat consultation (SSL encrypted)
• Video consultation (SSL encrypted)

Costs
The full fee for a counselling session is CHF 200.00. Thanks to service agreements, a reduced fee can be offered to people living in the cantons of Bern and Solothurn. The rates range from CHF 20.00 to CHF 200.00 and are based on the monthly net income per household.

Contact and opening hours
frabina
Westbahnhofstrasse 12
4500 Solothurn
Tel.: 032 621 68 60

info@frabina.ch
www.frabina.ch

For appointments you can reach us: Mon-Fri from 10.00 to 12.00 hrs

Name
Counselling Acency for Binational Couples and Families of both Basel

Brief description of the agency
Our counselling agency is a contact point for all people who live in a binational relationship or be related to it. It mediates, advises and provides information on the various aspects of living in a binational couple.

Counselling topics
Social, legal, cultural and religious issues

Languages
German, French, English, Spanish, Italian

Offer
Legal and psychosocial counselling, coaching, mediation

Costs
CHF 100.00 for clients from the cantons BS/BL. CHF 150.00 for all others. A reduction is possible in justified cases.

Contact and opening hours

Steinengraben 71
4051 Basel
061 271 33 49

info@binational-bs.ch
www.binational-bs.ch

Tue - Thu 8.15 - 11.45 hrs

Name

elbe - Office for Life Issues Lucerne, Nidwalden and Obwalden

Brief description of the office
The elbe, Fachstelle für Lebensfragen Luzern, Nidwalden und Obwalden, runs a counselling agency for individual, couple and pregnancy counselling as an association on behalf of the three cantons and their national churches. The counselling agency is open to all people from this catchment area, regardless of their social situation, ethnic origin or religious beliefs. Our counsellors are bound by professional secrecy.

Counselling topics
We support binational couples in particular in psychosocial issues such as

• Relationship crises / problems
• Communication and understanding problems
• Different values due to different cultural backgrounds
• Difficulties due to the imbalance in the couple as a result of migration
• Difficulties in raising children due to different cultural backgrounds of the parents
• Separation and related action in the interest of the children

Languages
German, English, French and Italian. (Interpreters may be involved)

Offer
Counselling for individuals and couples

Costs
The first counselling session costs CHF 50.00 (individual counselling) or CHF 100.00 (couple counselling). The fee for further counselling sessions depends on income. In case of financial difficulties, the fee can be reduced by arrangement.

Contact and opening hours
elbe - Office for Life Issues Lucerne, Nidwalden and Obwalden
Hertensteinstrasse 28
6004 Lucerne
041 210 10 87

www.elbeluzern.ch

As a rule, the telephone 041 210 10 87 is answered Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 12:00 and Friday from 11:00 to 12:00. If the answering machine answers: Please leave a message on the machine and we will call you back as soon as possible.

Name

FABIA, Competence Centre Migration

Brief description of the agency
FABIA Competence Agency Migration informs and advises immigrants on issues related to integration and migration. We advise, educate, network and raise awareness of intercultural and transcultural issues.

Counselling topics
We support binational couples on the following topics.

• legal issues such as residence and permits, preparation and procedure for family reunification
  social, linguistic and professional integration
• divorce and separation
• Finances and social security
• Racial discrimination
• issues concerning your children's schooling

Languages
If necessary, we can call in intercultural interpreters.

Offer
Appointments by arrangement.

Costs
Consultations are free of charge.

Contact and opening hours
FABIA
Competence Centre Migration
Tribschenstrasse 78
6005 Lucerne
Tel. 041 360 07 22

info@fabialuzern.ch

www.fabialuzern.ch

Monday: 09.00 to 12.00 hrs
Tuesday: 09.00 to 12.00 / 14.00 to 17.30
Wednesday & Thursday: 09.00 to 12.00 /14.00 to 17.00
Friday: 09.00 to 12.00 hrs

Name
International Social Service Switzerland (SSI)

French-speaking Switzerland: no counselling service currently available; a new counselling service is being developed.

Name
International Social Service Switzerland (SSI)

About the Service

As an NGO, SSI champions the individual rights of children, families and migrants, and offers them support with social and legal matters. SSI Switzerland provides guidance to couples with links to Switzerland on the topics of marriage, family life and separation.

Our advice is provided within the framework of Swiss law and helps couples to understand their situation and plan appropriate next steps.

Counselling topics

• Marriage:

  SSI Switzerland offers initial guidance to binational couples who wish to clarify questions regarding joint residence or marriage, covering the following topics:

  • key aspects of Swiss family law, as well as issues relating to civil law and immigration law in connection with binational couples or marriages, and family reunification
  • relevant issues when starting a family

• Separation and divorce

  In the event of separation or divorce, SSI Switzerland provides child-centred support and offers guidance on:

  • the implications under family law and immigration law
  • questions regarding residence status following separation
  • the rights and needs of shared children
  • the prevention of child abduction and co-parenting in an international context

  Where necessary, SSI can offer mediation to facilitate communication between the parties involved.

Languages
German, French, English, Spanish

Services offered

Counselling can take place online or in person, either for couples together or for individuals.

Costs
Hourly rate of CHF 160.00

Contact and opening hours
International Social Service Switzerland
Hofwiesenstrasse 3
8057 Zurich
044 366 44 77/

info@ssi-schweiz.org

www.ssi-suisse.org

Mon - Fri from 9.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 16.00

Hofwiesenstrasse 3
8057 Zurich
+41 44 366 44 77