Law / Resident Permit/NIP? [8]

Your work permit info is "sort of" incorrect. I have been around and around with this and was finally shown the law in a book in the Urzad Pracy (Work Office) and since they are the one's who give the permits they are the authority on this part of the game.

Being a native speaker is only part of it. A native speaker doesn't need a work permit if he works for a school that is approved by the government as an educational institution like a High School or University. Private schools are registered as businesses not educational institutions normally (there may be some big ones that are but most are not I have been informed)

So if you work for a private school you need the permit. The schools often handle that but may not.

Now none of that means you might not slip through if someone is not worried about it...but generally when things don't go according to the rules it is NOT when that would help you but rather the opposite.

Law / Resident Permit/NIP? [8]

Tell me about it...I have had many a head exploding moment and I am not even half way there.

I would frankly not even bother if I didn't have to for now. It is not worth the trouble if you have the option.

But if you have already turned in your app you must know everything you need as if something was missing they would tell you and request it. So you must be on track.

Law / Resident Permit/NIP? [8]

As they have told me in the offices: You don't need the residence permit to apply for the NIP...just a legal right to be here (which as an Aussie is probably a visa free travel stamp at this point yeah?)

On the time I can't say for a non-EU foreigner as the people I know that have gotten them are EU. But they did tell me at the offices that it takes 2 weeks (which always means at least 4) for us non EU folks.

The Polish way is that there is no way. It changes with the wind and it is incredibly frustrating.

I agree a job wouldn't wait so I am sure people are working somehow legally or just ignoring the rules. It takes about half the year each year for a non EU person to get everything you need for the next year.

Another issue is that anyone teaching English for a private school or any agency NOT registered with the Ministry of Education as a school (like High Schools etc) are supposed to have a Work Permit. You get this at the Urzad Pracy (Work Office) This is one of the documents needed to get a Residence Permit for working. This document takes a couple months usually and is a pain in the arse. Many times people with jobs at private schools have someone at the school handle all this and may not be aware of the details.

Law / Resident Permit/NIP? [8]

No on the working until you are approved...so I was told in labor and immigration offices..but you know how that goes.

They (offices) also said you DO need the NIP first as it is your tax identifier and figures into your paychecks etc....though I have had people tell me they did work while waiting for the NIP. You get it at the Urzad Skarbowy (Tax Office) for your area. Google maps usually brings these up if you type that name plus the district. They told me it takes 2 weeks and people are saying between that and three is how long it took them to get it. I have to wait on some other stuff to apply for mine so can't say for sure.

Again...I am relaying what I was told most recently...but they tend to change their minds. I am trying to go it solo so don't have colleagues to ask but do you work for a school?

History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

Grzeg you wear those little rectangular glasses and gel your hair up into one of those quasi mohawks don't you? You can admit it here....it's ok.

History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

Nope...Polska

History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

OK...I think Poles have a huge superiority complex. I have mentioned before they love to tell you how smart they are and how much better they are at things. That is what I mean by your comment being ironic.

History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]


That is ironic coming from a Polish guy.

Life / How well is English spoken in Poland? [27]

You....and I see I misunderstood so my apologies :)

I didn't mean it in some screaming violent way Miranda ;)

Just that it is incorrect that most things are available in English....some...and not consistently are. Someone coming here expecting more is going to be disappointed and it goes back to my point of giving valid information to people. And people here often don't try to work with you and understand when you have language problems. Just today a girl was asking me for a ticket office and for the life of me I could not figure out how to say "underground" in Polish when giving her directions. I had all the rest of it fine and was making 'down' gestures with my hand and she was standing there like I had a willy growing out of my forehead. I have no idea how she couldn't get it out of context as well.

Communication is not always as simple as people think...lots if misinformation out there.

Life / Stupid question i know - is post delivered in Poland on a Saturday? [17]

Can't speak for all Polish cities but in Warsaw at least they have a hard enough time managing to get anything to you during the week. They just leave the little "you have mail" paper rather than even trying to see if you are home.

I have caught them a few times doing it and asked why they didn't ring me. "Oh I tried the domofon was broken"....yeah right. If you need something urgently or guaranteed pay more for UPS etc. I lost a couple important things using EMS and Priority Post before I learned my lesson and they did nothing to help reclaim it...didn't care at all and just shrugged their shoulders.

Life / How well is English spoken in Poland? [27]

Some...most is not...as I said.

Are you going to tell me that Bus and Train lists...info in shops...banks, business offices and government offices have English signs commonly? If you do I will all you a liar outright.

Life / How well is English spoken in Poland? [27]

What???

Most stuff in Warsaw is only in Polish. With the exception of famous tourist sites etc.

Sometimes they announce trains in English and Russian as well but not always plus the speakers are so bad you can't make out what they are saying normally.

And in shops there are a LOT of people who don't speak English. I have even noticed an increase in young people who don't. But you can manage with bad Polish and pointing.

You can normally find someone in the street that does if you try hard enough..might take you a few people though.

I would not assume it will be no problem to sort trains etc unless you know some Polish. Ironically even the "international" windows at train stations etc rarely if ever speak English. The airports are much better.

Travel / My 3 weeks in Poland.... I didn't want to leave. [33]

Atheism???

While communism may have promoted it it made Poles cling to Catholicism even harder if anything.

Travel / My 3 weeks in Poland.... I didn't want to leave. [33]

BLS...I never said all were. I said more are that way than are not. And it is a fact. 9 months??? Ok. Just wait. And if it works out I am happy for you.

But to say "don't listen to the warnings" is irresponsible. I never said don't date them. I said be careful and lose the "they are perfect and it will be wonderful" fantasy and remember they are as human s the next.

Lodz the Boat says is simply here :

polishforums.com/true_love_timeless-44_28162_2.html

Food / Polish food secret recipes [11]

That is 99% MSG and horrible for you...same stuff that's in Vegeta and all other 'flavour enhancers". It does add flavor but it is poison.

Love / I like this Polish girl, but she doesn't get my... English sense of humor [124]

Hah...well my "compassionate" gene tries not to laugh at another's expense. I am a ball of conflicted emotions.

Love / Why english men like polish women ? [126]

How do you know a Finnish girl is excited?

She looks at your feet instead of hers. ;)

Love / I like this Polish girl, but she doesn't get my... English sense of humor [124]

Brits have a lot of pressure to be dryly funny as the myth goes. Most are not. Forced is DEFINITELY not funny, or clever, or charming. I want to smack smarmy little tw@ts who can't complete a sentence without trying to be a comedian.

Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

I have always been curious if when they scan your passport with the hand held scanners on trains etc if that just reads the encoded info on the passport to verify it isn't fake or if it actually is linked to a database that tells them of your status. I can't imagine they are so connected in real time...but maybe they are.

Love / Why english men like polish women ? [126]

Nah its very clear to me but thanks for telling me what I understand.

I get what he was saying and all I am saying is that I think he will think differently after experience. That's all.

History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

Yeah I would agree not stupid...but no smarter than other developed countries.

I have also never met a culture so insistent on telling you how smart they are. I know this is another manifestation of the complex they have but it drives me batty having to listen to all these 'studies' about how intelligent they are or how Doda has a genius IQ (sure.....)

Why do they feel the need to be 'better' at everything?

Love / Why english men like polish women ? [126]

I am not saying the guy can't believe it. I am saying I 'bet' he likely hasn't lived with one for any time or done anything other than spend short periods with them as the fantasy ideals people have are never the reality.

I would wager real money that he would not feel the same after living with a Polish girl for a few years...doesn't mean he wouldn't like her but I am sure the 'near perfect label would wear off.

It's like these guys who post "Oh I was in Poland for one week and met the most perfect girl and I would do anything, sell my flat, give her all my money,,,yadda yadda because she is so perfect"...it's a very eye rolling thing to read.

Clear enough?

Love / Why english men like polish women ? [126]

Sure it is...and I am saying I can't believe you are basing that opinion on anything substantial. As you said there are none around you. Live with one for a few years and see how perfect they are...

Love / Why english men like polish women ? [126]


Rubbish. They are no better or worse overall than any other woman. Some thing are good and some are miserable.

The only men who would say they are perfect have never lived with them, spent time with their families, or had one scream at him out of the blue about how it is his fault her jeans are tighter and it is somehow his fault.

History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

The most easily offended culture on the planet is clearly going to be a target.

I swear you can compliment a Pole and they will say "what do you mean by that?!?!"

Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

Yeah the whole thing is stupid, disorganized and maddening.

Life / UNSHAVEN BUM LOOK - STILL POPULAR in POLAND? [15]

I bet that guy is more decent than most of the gelled mohawk, tiny rectangular glasses wearing, too cool for school morons that populate Warsaw.

Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

You might have to "REALLY" make sure you get that stamp...like beg or even go to another car to find a guy and insist he stamps it. Several times when they even stamped more regularly I didn't even see a border guard while crossing and I had to spend a lot of time explaining in the airport once how I had been in Germany a couple times and not Poland for 9 months straight (in the old days when you could just cross every 3 months) since the train guys didn't stamp my passport. Luckily they believed me because on paper it looked as if I had overstayed.

Now with Schengen fully open it is not uncommon for them to pay even less attention on the trains, not come in the car at all, or wave you off when you try to show them your passport. I had a Czech guy just refuse recently and I think he was trying to tell me he didn't even have a stamp, and there was not a Polish guard with him. At least in my experience and that of other expats I talk to often this is common.

Just pay attention at the border and don't sleep through it ;)

Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

Good luck. You never know here. They may not notice you were here for 70 or so days before. They may take it as you just got here and you will slip by.

What have you got to lose trying?

Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

Well that is my point...leaving for a "day or two" does nothing if you are already past your 45 days minimum time to apply for temporary residency. You would have to leave for 90 days. So as to get another 90. The rule is no more than 90 in a 180 day period. If you have been here 60 going out doesn't get you another 90...just the 30 you have left in that 6 months starting when you come back in.

They are probably assuming nobody will notice and think the new entry starts the clock over but when you apply for residency you have to show your whole passport, prove your legal right to be there while you are waiting, and list every place you have been for the last 5 years so when they are processing the application they will see it.

And yeah...they do NOT follow or know their own rules most of the time.

It can go easy and you can get away with a lot of you are lucky...but the one time it doesn't you are screwed. And there are a ton of points at which it can go wrong.