My situation: My goal is to spend as much of the next year as possible (starting in September 2024) in Geneva since my girlfriend is extending her contract there for one year. I'm not from an EU/EFTA country, but from my country (the US) I don't need a visa to enter Switzerland as a tourist. I have a remote job that I can sustain myself with (technically I'm self employed), with flexible work hours. It probably doesn't matter, but I've already lived in Switzerland for 3 years from 2020-2023 (2.5 years with a B permit during my masters, and 6 months afterwards working part time on an L permit). I speak French at a B2 level or so.

I'm wondering what my options are. Is it possible for me to take a language course (e.g. an intensive French course) and get a visa for this? If so, how exactly would this work? My understanding from reading online is that I should enroll in a course with a language school and then apply for a visa at the Swiss consulate in the US, but would I be applying for a short-term visa or a long-term visa? Does it matter where I take the language course (i.e. does it have to be at say, University of Geneva, or would any language school in Geneva do)?

And separate but related question about short-term visas, if I were to take a language course of 90 days or less: are these visas only for people from countries who cannot get into Switzerland visa free, or could I get one as well for the language course? If I were to obtain one, how does this fit into the system of non-EU/EFTA individuals being able to spend 90 out of 180 days in the Schengen Zone? Would I be able to still spend 90 days in Switzerland after the visa expires as a tourist? Or am I completely misunderstanding the system...

Thanks for any help/suggestions

TLDR: Can I take a language course to get a visa in Switzerland for 3-12 months, and if so, how?

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