Worried Mother in Law about her Polish son-in-law (army issue)

Hi All,
I hope someone can help! My son in law came to the US in 1999 to live with his father (both are Polish citizens). He was only 16 years old at the time. He has since become a perm res (green card). He wants to travel back to Poland to visit his mother.

It is my understanding that if he goes back to Poland, the Polish Army will make him join for a period of time. Will he be able to get back into the US?

He does not have a polish passport, he is not a US citizen, and all young men have to join the Polish Army. He is very homesick and wants to go back for a visit but he has a new wife and a life here in the States. I really hope someone knows what he can do. Thank You

First he would need to have an updated passport before he could travel in and out of US, or any other country, for that matter.....have him check with the Polish Embassy in regards to what his military status would be in Poland, upon visiting. As for returning to the US, I would assume if he has permanent resident status, than he would be allowd back into the US, although you should check with the State Dept. to verify. Good luck to your son-in-law....hope he gets to go back to Poland without any hassle.

In theory, the army may snatch any healthy man.

In practice, it is not so easy to draft an American Pole. They surely won`t snatch him upon his arrival in Poland.

Firstly, the army must learn somehow that he has come back to Poland. There is a big chance they won`t as it would require a very sophisticated computer system to fish such people at airports. I don`t think they have it already.

If by some accident they learn about him, the procedure will take quite long. They have to notify him about their plans. It is done by mail and takes time. To be properly drafted, he will have to undergo a medical examination to receive a category. Then there is time to appeal against the doctors` decision.

So, it will take weeks or even months for the army to draft him. He will be able to visit his mother several times.

If I am wrong, let some American Pole who experienced a similar problem correct me.

Thanks for the posts!
Another question, if they found out that he was in Poland and started the draft process, would they make him stay in Poland until it is resolved or would he be able to get back to the states before they get him? He has a job and his bills and life here in the states. Thanks again for all of this imput. It puts me more at ease. Q

possibly. he is polish only, right? he can travel to poland with no passport but he wouldn't be able to return. from my understanding, he would need a visa to return to USA on a polish passposrt but i am not 100% sure of that. it's somewhat hard to find out. you need to talk to HSA to make sure. if you find out, please post up as many here are wondering how it all works.

Border Guard and also Military Police are sometimes checking people on the airports but they are rather looking only for these, who were clearly avoiding military service.

Besides If he left when he was 16 then that must have been before "registration of pre-conscripts" (which happens when a guy is 18 years old) so the army probably doesn't even know that he exists.

they know.

How ?

listen if a guy is due to do national service then he should do it, or be considered a diserter, thats nothing personal against the poster, its just my belief. I would hope even if he was taken for a period of time that he would be allowed back in the US. After all he went home to do what all proper men should do, visit their mums :) Good luck to him and i hope it all works out

Thats what I was thinking too. The wojsko thing starts when they're 18, and this guy will be 25 now. I doubt he'll be snatched up as soon as he gets there, especially if he's considered a visiting American-Polish person.

Buehehe, your son-in-law is completly safe ;). I have experience with army right now. They have such a mess in the papers, so they don't know he exists ;). He left poland while 16, so he wasnt verificated while 18 so he has no status cattegory (like A - able to duty, or D - unable etc). don't worry ;).

ps. probably even if he'd came to army commission and said "hi i want to be in polish army, im smart and healthy and very patriot" theyd kicked him out ;p.

I wouldn't count on mess in the military offices, but it would still be safe to travel to Poland and back (if he has a green card indeed).

The only advice I'd give would be to NOT fly directly to any Polish airports. Go to Berlin, or Prague and then take a train, bus or rent a car. Germans and Czechs have nothing to do with Poland's military service, and there are no border checks between Poand and those countries. Provided your son in law doesn't get involved in any funny situations which would prompt some official scrutiny about his person, he'll be just fine.

Oh, and one more suggestions. Better not accompany the visit by extensive advertising, fanfares.