Hi Everyone,
I got a funded PhD offer in a research institute in Switzerland which is supposed to last 3.5 years. I got the offer in march 2019 and I am supposed to resume in October 2019. During the same period, I was granted political asylum in France. I have since learned that I need to submit my country's passport to French authorities in exchange for a refugee passport and a French residence permit. I contacted the Swiss Embassy and they told me they would need my French residence permit along with my refugee passport/country passport to issue me a visa for Switzerland. The problem is, the French administration is slow and I was informed that it might take 9 months to get everything sorted out to have the French residence permit.
My supervisor in Switzerland expects me to resume in October but I am no longer sure I can meet this deadline. Please what can I do? I really don't want to lose this PhD opportunity because it's what I've always wanted to do. I have considered asking for a deferral to the next academic session but I don't know how that will play out seeing that I have two funders- EU and my supervisor's university in Switzerland. I will really appreciate any advice as I am in a state of confusion. Thank you.

Congragulations on getting a PhD offer!

I am not an expert in visas or European bureaucracy but can you get the swiss visa first then deal with the french permit? If you do get delayed, your supervisor should be understanding as it is a legitimate problem that is outside your control. Once you know all the facts I would tell your supervisor that this they may be a problem and fore warn them.