Hi, I'm new in this forum. I'm writing regarding to the posibility of getting polish citizenship as my grand father was polish and he emigrate to Argentina. I'm a Chilean graphic designer.
I would apprecciate any help. This are the facts of my grandfather's history:
Name: Napoleon Pik Birth date and place : 6th of june, 1912, WARSAW Became argentinian citizen: 10th may, 1948 Died: 15th of june, 1966, ARGENTINA Profesion: Ingenier Son of Samuel Pik and Michalina Flancman
That's all the info I have from my grandfather. Does anybody know what should I do? I 've contacted a company called Charsky & Co Law Firm. Does anybody know them?
Here you will find some basic answers to the question regarding ELIGIBILITY TO ACQUIRE POLISH CITIZENSHIP.
Each case is different and contacting law firm is always a good idea.
People with Polish roots live in many countries around the world. Most of them emigrated before WWII, soon after it or later. If the ancestors who emigrated were born while Poland did not exist, before Poland regained its independence in 1918, it means that they emigrated as Polish nationals, but not Polish citizens. Poland did not exist as a state at that time, those Poles who traveled to Americas and else ware, traveled there as citizens of Austria, Germany and Russia. Such ancestors could not pass Polish citizenship to their children because they were not Polish citizens themselves.
The answer to whether one is Polish citizen and his descendants are eligible for Polish citizenship or a Polish Passport depends on the rules that applied at the time he/she left Poland.
The terms and conditions for Polish Citizenship and Polish Passport eligibility are set in three statutory acts: the 1920 Polish Citizenship Act, polishcitizenship.co.il/english/polish-citizenship-act-1951 -the 1951 Polish Citizenship Act and the 1962 Polish Citizenship Act.
(I could not find the link to the 1920 Polish Citizenship Act. It basically states that: Only people who lived in Poland in 1920 and not being citizens of other countries could be recognized as Polish citizens).
Poles in former USSR: mswia.gov.pl/en/document/the-repatriation-act-o/28,dok.html - The Repatriation Act of 9 November 2000, which became law on 1 January 2001.
The Statute on Polish Citizenship, as amended in 2000, permits the descendants of Poles who lost their nationality involuntarily between 1920 and 1989 to take up Polish citizenship without regard to ordinary naturalization criteria.
Each case is different and the procedure rather complicated so contacting a law firm is advised.
Thanks a lot for your advice. Does anybody knows a law firm that specializis in civil-commercial law, with special emphasis on Poland? I found one called Ilan Charsky & CO. – Law Offices but I would like to know if it is a trustable firm.
Avoid using this law firm. I'm more than 2 years waiting for my "citizenship"... Service is terrible, they don't answer the phone, never call you back, don't give updates, etc.
Maybe it's just a matter of bad service but after 2 years waiting for a result that was supposed to take 8 months, one can only wait the worse...
Ups, Really? Did you already paid them? Do you know anybody that had worked with them? Or do you know any other Attorneys that do the same work? Is much apprecciate your help. many thanks! Carolina
I live in Sweden and applied for a dual-citizenship just a few weeks ago (since both my parents are polish). I just contacted the Polish consulate and they sent me some papers.
Thanks for the advice to everybody. My grandfather emigrated to argentina before the second world war. The problems I have are that I have absolutely no document of him and don't know were to find them! He was born in Warsaw 1912 Became an Argentinian Citizen 1948 And Died in Argentina 1966
To get the citizenship the embassy ask me for lots of document which are very difficult to get like a birth certificate.
I am also a client of Ilan Charsky, and they have given me TERRIBLE service. I would not use them again under any circumstances. They don't answer their phone, won't give you an update on your case, etc. I've been waiting more than 2 years also.
If you have difficulties with this firm, please contact me. Maybe we can complain about them together to the Polish consulates.
I worked as a spanish > polish sworn translator form Mr Charsky's polish law office, translating latin american documents. The office doesn't exist any more but if you still need to translate old spanish documents such as birth certificates etc., please contact me.
