I met a polish woman online about six years ago and we have just started talking about me possibly coming to Poland (Warsaw) to visit her for the first time. The thing is, I don't know what I need for official documents to go there or how/where to apply even if I did. I don't have a definite time frame of how long I am going to stay with her because I want to see how we get along in person before I decide. Assuming we get along great like we do online, then I could foresee staying indefinitely. So my question is, do I need a passport and how do I apply for one? How long does it take? What id/documents will I need to get it? How long before it comes in the mail? And answer anything else I might be leaving out...
I googled 'get a polish passport' but after clicking on one of the links, some guy told me to pay $50 for his 'legal advice' on how to obtain one. So after being scared off by the scamming sound of that, I thought I would directly go to these forums to get FREE advice instead..lol
any help/info much appreciated..thanks in advance,
If you're an EU citizen, you can come here and stay for as long as you like. You should get formally registered in the country, but in practice, no-one cares about EU citizens. You'll need either a passport or a national ID card.
If you're non-EU, then either you need a visa or you don't. Either way, a passport is obligatory. If you access Poland visa-free, then you'll only be allowed to stay for 90 days out of every 180. You can stay longer if you apply for a visa/etc - or you can just overstay. But there are quite tough penalties associated with that, so be careful.
If you will stay in Poland less than 90 days you do not need visa. If you are planning to stay longer you should contact polish consulate. They will give you all information you need. .polishconsulatechicago.org/
I am definitely going to be staying longer than 90 days.
So I see there a number of different ways to get a passport. Online or via my post office/courthouse. I wonder how much it will cost if I get a passport...say...that would expire May 1, 2009.....or January 1, 2010...Anyone know much about the pricing..how they price it, etc.?
You’d better get started. In these new times of terrorism, no fly lists and background checks, the process has become longer. I believe what used to be a couple week process now takes up to six months. Be prepared to explain any even minor criminal marks in your past.
I googled 'get a polish passport' but after clicking on one of the links,
If you are not Polish, you are not eligable for a Polish passport.
So I see there a number of different ways to get a passport. Online or via my post office/courthouse. I wonder how much it will cost if I get a passport...say...that would expire May 1, 2009.....or January 1, 2010...Anyone know much about the pricing..how they price it, etc.?
If you are an american citizen, you will get an American passport, I am assuming that like most passports it will be a 10 year passport. As already stated, if you plan to stay for longer than 90 days you WILL need a visa.
Please remember that you have to register your place of domicile once in Poland, it is obbligatory. Theoritically without registration you can be up to 3 days in a location.
Going to visit Poland for long period of time - need passport?
Sounds like you have been living under a rock your whole life. Here is some reading material that should help you understand what passports and visas are:
Just go get your passport. You will need it at a minimum. Just got my Grandparents their first passports, they did not pay extra for the "expedite" service, but they still received them within 2 weeks. Of course there are warnings it could take much longer but I have not seen this happen to anyone I know.
Jermaine, If you have never had a passport, never traveled anywhere, then you are in for a suprise my friend. You are taking off to possibly live forever in Poland? In a country whose language you do not speak, customs you dont know, and you just ready to live there forever? Odd.
Get a US passport, you can file at any post office for one. Go for the 90 day max to Poland. Don't overstay, its not recommended.
You will not get a Polish passport, since you are not a Polish citizen.
Have you mentioned this same train of thought to the lady you are going to visit? If you are so behind in times, I wonder if she is as well.
Krakowianka, you are too harsh... many Americans do not have a passport, even tho it's obvious that it's needed to enter an another country (US-Europe in this case)...
Jermaine, just go get the passport and while being in Poland try to get a visa if you want to stay longer then 90 days... all the info you can find online (Polish consulate)...
USA is roughly the same size as all of Europe.. no need for a passport to travel.
until recently an american didn't need a passport to travel all of the continent too. one actually still doesn't need one to do that but one has to have it to return to the states.
LOL..yeah..i don't think Krakowianka really understands what it's like to live as an American..a lot of us haven't traveled abroad our whole lives. It has nothing to do with 'living under a rock' as a caveman, and has a LOT more to do with not having enough money to do so. Believe me, if I had a better job, I would've traveled the world by now if I could have afforded it.
Also, where in my post did I ever mention I don't know any of the culture or language? You pulled that one out of your ass..
Remember if you are a US citizen you can stay only 90 days in the EU and then must be out of the EU for 6 months before coming back, unless some how it's possible to get a residency card. This will be no easier for you to get in Poland than it would be a Polish citizen to come to the US as a visitor and then get a visa to stay. We Americans need to remember we have to play by the rules of the host country.
