Visa red tape, how to move to Poland from the USA?

Hello!
Has anyone gone through the application for a long term visa for stay in Poland? I'm an American looking to move there for a bit, either for school or just to enjoy. The visa application seems to have alot of red tape, bank statement proof, health insurance proof. Are these absolutely necessary? How long in advance should I apply for the visa? Could I just go with a passport and follow up at the immigration office?

It's necessary if you want to legally stay for more than 90 days (I assume you are a holder of US passport).

These and so much more. You have no idea the hassle you are in for.

Yes you can come here with just the passport and apply for a residency card at the immigration office (there is no extended visa or visa at all for US citizens really...just the 90 day entry stamp and the residency card)

Probably the biggest obstacle is you need an official reason to apply...one the Polish government accepts. These are normally Marriage with a Pole...a job or job offer from a company operating in Poland...being a full time student at a Polish university...or a few other rare situations such as being a refugee etc. You can't just get one because you 'want' to stay here. Even if you have one of the above reasons you are in for a whole mess of required documents and things you have never even heard of and will have no end of trouble getting.

LOL. This reminds me the time I applied for American visa decades ago. I guess it works both ways. :)

Ah, thank you for the warning. I will be going to Jagiellonian so I would hope that should ease the process of getting approved. So is the residency card different than the long stay visa? seems I will need both.

That's something the Poles don't "get" when coming to the US, so you should be OK.

You need to get a job teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). Some schools in smaller areas will hire an American, I have been here 8 years now, but I came before the EU so they allowed me to stay because I had a permanent contract. It's expensive to hire an American, they have to pay more taxes, but you can try as Poland needs teachers. IF you have a degree, or can get ESOL certified by taking a one month class, then you qualify, depending on the schools. Check this website tefl dot com

Good luck, its great here!
Kathy

I got a friend, she wants to move from US to Poland. Anybody knows where to find any clasifieds with job offers??? ....in Poland of course.

search the forums. there are threads with links to all kinds of places to look for a job.


and it all better be translated to polish by an official translator.