Has anybody applied for US tourist Visa in Krakow? Which foreign service officers are cool (if any) and which should be avoided for conducting an interview? I realize it's all chance
My girlfriend and I had a very positive experience with one of the consular officers at the Krakow consulate one year ago,but this summer we had a very negative experience with a different guy - I want to know if anyone else out there has any stories to tell about not being heard out,or good/bad experiences from particular consular officers in Krakow...please help
I find it hard to believe that nobody out there has any stories about applying for a tourist visa in Krakow?
My cousin tried last February with no avail. After filling out the application, paying the $130 US, and answering some rather stupid questions he had his interview in Krakow after three weeks. He was coming to the states for only 2 1/2 weeks to visit his sister who is here studying.
Despite the fact he has a house that's paid off, a expecting wife, and a job, he was rejected. Some young guy near by him was granted despite not having any of those and he was a college flunky.
They say if you can, have your interview on a Friday because people are in a better mood. However, as with the case with my cousin that may not be. After he was rejected the interviewer told him to apply again in August, by then Poland should be on the Visa Waiver Program; but the way things are going I doubt it.
Poland's rejection for US visa applications are somewhere between 28-35%
And remember Americans love your soldiers but not your tourists.
As a Belgian I do not need a visa for the US, but I am mystified why anybody would like to visit a country where immigration officials treat you like ****, they think you are a potential 9/11 or they are just plain stupid.
Not me. I will stay in Europe.
Whereas every time I come back home to Poland, the border officials are always nice.
It even mystifies me even more why Poles want to stand for hours in line, to be interviewed by a US embassy moron. You have to be idealistic for that.
The reason I asked this,is because I'm going through this process with my girlfriend (I'm a US citizen with an Honorable discharge from the USMC) - so,I'm pretty patriotic -and I'm from New York (so I'm pretty familiar with 9/11) and all I can say is that I am appalled at this process! It seems completely arbitrary,and I can tell you,it does little or nothing from stopping "bad guys" and people who abuse the system into the US. Without getting into a "rant" about it,what I really want to hear from people are any specific stories involving particular Consular Officers - while I would like to believe they base their decisions on training and experience,but I am starting to wonder if it comes down to the CO's mood given that particular day - So - anyone have a story about particular Consular Officers in Krakow?
I'm aware that it's up to chance as to what guy we get for the interview,but I've noticed that some of those guys (thye consulate officers conducting the interview) are rude and dismissive with people,while other guys are a bit more considerate and treat people with more dignity.
I'm not suggetsing that some are easier to get the visa from,(they all wark with the same guidedlines) ,but I do believe that some of them are more predisposed to be pricks for any number of underlying reasons (they hate their assignment at the consulate,or they just are having a bad day).
I really would like to think I'm wrong about this,but from the stories I've heard from people exiting the visa interview,this very much seems to be the case.
It's disturbing to know that Christian,educated Europeans are subjected to this degrading and completely arbitrary experience on the pretense of national security,while France,England,and Germany enjoy unrestricted entry on the Visa Waiver Program - I have known all three countries to be host to some of THE MOST extreme militant muslims who would like nothing more than to see US civilians burn alive in subway cars -
THEY are free to enter the US on the Visa Waiver Program no problem - yet a country that is 90% Chatholic,literate,and with a new growing economy is subject to humiliation....ENOUGH
krysia
Good. Stay out of US.
That's such an arrogant/ignorant position. "Stay out of the US" - I'm from New York City,and I work construction.The majority of the labor/service industry in NYC consists of illegal immigrants from the West Indies,Central/Latin America.My personal experience has been,that the people who come in illegaly from the Western Hemisphere,do less to assimilate into the population,and are less educated.
The majority of Poles that I've known,immigrate lawfully through the system,are far more educated,and make it a point to learn English and be productive. I don't know if you've ever worked with or spent time with people from Jamaica and the Caribean,but it is impossible to communicate with them,even though they clame to speak English (and no,they're not all 'peace and love' like Bob Marley)
Point is,when you say 'Good,stay out of US' you're missing the point.The US policy of strict immigration is being applied to the wrong people.English speaking,well educated Poles,as well as other Europeans,are being treated as third world lepers,while unskilled,uneducated people from true third world countries are abusing the system,and pouring through the US borders.Poland never has,and never will pose a serious threat to the US labor/job market,and certainly poses no threat to National Security....So why is the US breaking Polands balls?
