I moved to CH last week to do a PhD (I'm American). I have an employment contract with my university and was told that my residence permit would be waiting for me when I got to Switzerland after I registered at the Kreisbüro by both my university and the Swiss embassy. I registered last week and got an appointment with the immigration office for fingerprinting today and was told by the registration office that, after completing the fingerprints, I would get my permit mailed to me. However, at the immigration office they gave me a letter stating that they would "make a decision" on my permit once I sent them a confirmation of my degree along with a copy of my MSc diploma. I didn't realize that (1) they were still able to deny me a permit (as I had been told it would be waiting for me at all other points in this "chain") and (2) I don't have a copy of my diploma. I graduated with my MSc on June 30th and it takes ~3 months at my university to get the diploma. According to the letter I have only until August 24th to give the office these documents. I've drained my savings to move here and live for the month while awaiting my first salary, but now if I can't get the residence permit I won't even get a salary and I'm slightly panicking. Even if I can get an extension on the amount of time to turn the documents into the immigration office, I won't have money to survive here in CH until the diploma comes in (which won't be until mid to late September if I'm lucky).


I'm worried that they will deny me my permit and I will have to go back to the U.S. because I couldn't produce a diploma (even though it's just in the mail--it takes a while to get them). I can get letters, transcripts, and an official confirmation of my degree (signed and sealed) by my university--just not a diploma. I was wondering if anyone has encountered this issue or something similar before? I've asked my European friends here, but it seems like they never had to do all these things when they came and they're at a loss as to what to tell me to do/who to contact. I would appreciate any help you can give. Even my university was not aware of this requirement and said it was odd. I'm hoping somewhere here can help.

Were you able to explain this coherently to the immigration people or is there a language barrier?

I asked the guy at the immigration office today and explained the situation and his response was that he couldn't tell me what would be done in my case as it "wasn't his decision". So I don't really know who I'm supposed to contact or anything. All I have is the letter that doesn't even actually say where I'm supposed to turn these documents in (I guess back at the immigration department?). I emailed the office and am planning to talk to my university's HR department tomorrow, but it seems like the university wasn't even aware that this would be an issue or how to resolve it.

Sent you a PM.