90 days soon expire - where can I go?

I am an American who is trying to gain residency in Krakow - I have a job offer and all is in line, but I have used up most of my 90 days and must leave the EU (or Schengen - not exactly sure) for a day to restart my initial grace period. Any suggestions on where to go? My first thought is a visit to L'wow in Ukraine - it would be fast, relatively inexpensive, and would get me out of both the EU and Schengen - but perhaps others have better suggestions. Thanks!

I went to L'wow from warsaw and it was 15hrs on a train each way. I am curios to find a better place to go too. you might check wizz and see what kind of deals they have.

Unfortunately you can't 'reset' your 90 days any more - you are allowed to be in the Schengen zone for a total of 90 days in any 180.

Are you sure of this? Do you have a link to this info in English?

yes I'm pretty sure - lots of US friends in Krakow have had to go back. Just google schengen + 90 days.

The general rule stipulates a maximum 90-day stay within a 180-day period beginning from the first day of entry. Provided a multiple-entry visa has been granted, one may leave and return a number of times within the 180-day period but the combined stay within the region must total no more than 90 days.

So leaving the Schengen area after 90 days and returning a few days later to get an automatic visa renewal is not an option. You can get a new tourist visa for all Schengen countries only after 180 days from your first entry into Schengen territory.

travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=21863

will I have a problem leaving if I have overstayed my visa, even if I am going home to get my work permit?

you can get an extension from the foreigners office if your application for permission to stay has been filed and you are awaiting a decision. at least they gave me one for two months

I was told I could have this extension as long as I signed an agreement stating I would leave Schengen and return before my initial 90 day period lapsed. I will know more tomorrow...stay tuned!

Do you know of any way around the problem if I have been here more than 90 days?

No - I am as out of the loop as you seem to be. I do know this: I have talked to an English-speaking representative at the appropriate office...and my Polish girlfriend has spoken to several officials at the same office who speak Polish...and ALL of them have said it is acceptable for me to leave for one day and return. The proof is in the pudding, so I will likely find out the hard way - but I am proceeding as if this is still copacetic. When I know more, I will chime in once again. Powodzenia!

Well I wish you luck, but I don't think you will be back...I hope I am proved wrong for your sake :)

What is the appropriate office? I can ask them in Warsaw.

My girlfriend has been doing most of the leg work since she speaks the language, but I have a document with the Krakow address and phone number which we have contacted. Here is what is printed in the letterhead:

Małopolski Urząd Wojewódzki w Krakowie
Wydzial Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców

I hope this helps - if I understood the language better, I could assist you better, but this should be of some help...

Have you considered the possibility that they're telling you that you can get right back in to get rid of you? (not you personally, but people in your situation)

I read a report recently that Poland needs 8000-9000 new English teachers this year - why would they want to oust a native speaker with a Masters degree, CELTA certification, and aspirations to teach English here?

When I contacted them, the first question they asked is how I plan to make a living - so they were aware of my plans before they provided any answers.

I found in poland its better not to ask why and ask how can I solve this problem... just my own experience

Where was this report? It sounds kind of bogus.

The urząd might not want to oust a native speaker (or generally speaking Americans) but if you haven't started work yet, be aware that a lot of Polish teachers of English really don't like native speakers who they generally regard as unqualified and causing trouble (by not knowing how things work here). They're not the majority but they do exist and can cause problems, forewarned is forearmed.

If you have an application for residency pending you should have a letter that can be used at the border to help you get back in too. I had one when I was in a similar situation.

Hey BLS I'm in the same situation, except that I've overstayed my welcome by a year almost. There's apparently no way to escape the Shengen zone, which is basically Europe as a whole, so there's nowhere to go.

My 'solution' was to get a new passport, which I will do shortly before I plan on leaving. But that could misfire of course.

I just returned from registration - I was told that leaving Schengen one day and returning the next would satisfy my residency requirements. In fact, they asked me to sign a document stating I would do this - I am to come back to the same office with a copy of the new marks on my passport after my return to Poland.

I will visit L'wow before my 90 days is up, so returning should not be an issue whatsoever. It seems everything worked out fine - let's hope so!

Good luck in Lwow, just a word of warning though, an american friend of mine tried the same thing, and was refused entry because his visa was expired.

Well done! But make sure you have a certified/stamped copy of this document with you when you come back in!

But I will still have a few days left on my 90 days when I return - is this really necessary?

The '90 days' means 'up to 90 days' and can only occur in one lump period of time, it ceases to exist once you leave Poland, whether you leave after 1 or 89 days. YOu can't necessarily leave after 80 days and expect to have another 10 days when you come back, the clock starts again (if they let you back in, which they should if you have the papers to show you have a pending application for residency).

Hello are u polish?

That's not quite true - it's 90 days in any period of 180 days, so if you go out of Schengen after say, 80 days spent there in one go, you still have 10 days left.


The ultimate decision whether to let someone in or not lies with the immigration people at the border. Personally I'd rather have all the documentation with me that I can think of if there was a lot riding on my being let back into the country, but it's up to you. Now I'm thinking about it, I'd also ask for the mobile phone number of the official who gave you this advice... (yes, I know, I'm beginning to sound paranoid, but I've lost count of the number of times I've been given one piece of advice by an official that counts for nothing with another).

Oops, you're right, I was thinking of the old system. But that still doesn't mean they have to let you back in. I agree about having as many documents about the application for residency as possible.

I just returned from Lviv - no problems whatsoever getting back into Poland. I took all my relevant papers but they were not necessary - it was a breeze crossing the border.

Now - let's see what happens with my residency request...

good one thanks for the update

im in exactly the same situation...
only i cant go to the ukraine without a visa so thats not an option but hoping to go to croatia/romania or bulgaria

hopefully it will work

just to be clear, the office of foreigners gave you a letter stating you applied for residency?