I'm South African and have been living in Switzerland with my Belgian husband for the past 6 years. I currently hold a "family member" residence card for Switzerland, valid for 4 years. We are planning to move to America soon, and my residence card for Switzerland expires in 2019.
I would like to know if it's possible, instead of applying for a Schengen visa for myself each time we would want to enter the EU, to obtain a residence card (valid for several years) or something similar, so as to return with my husband when he visits his family in Belgium. I know it's not possible to receive Belgian citizenship as we would need to reside in Belgium for a number of years, which neither of us wants.
I've been searching but I cannot find a similar situation to mine, as most people are purely wondering about the process to live in Belgium with their Belgian - or even EU - spouse... Applying for visas can be an extremely tedious task especially when you've been doing it since you were 11 (long story :P). So as someone married to an EU citizen, and married for 6 years at that, it is frustrating that it is not easier to travel to the EU (as it is obviously necessary when they have family and friends who reside here) without having to apply for visas each time, which obviously will be the case if we move to the US.
I'm sorry this is so long-winded. Thanks in advance.