Travel / Is there a healthy expats scene in Poland? (drinks, food, golf, etc.) [143]

Could have been not a teacher, but someone else connected with them. They essentially exist as a "jobs for the boys" type organisation without being directly employed by the UK Government.

But yes, not convinced as well that a teacher with the British Council would manage to live the kind of life involving a nice house, golf, etc spoken about here.


If the group in Poznan is anything to go by, they're horrible people and best to be avoided.


Can't see it happening personally - not unless he's doing some sort of office-related job with them and not teaching.

Travel / Driving from UK to Poland in Christmas Time - winter tyres? [46]


Riiiight.

I've driven nearly 50k in Poland and never seen a single horse drawn cart anywhere near a main road, let alone a motorway.

News / More punch-UPS ON 11th NOV in Poland? [56]


Now why wouldn't they choose to take part in an official independence day march led by the President of Poland?

Perhaps Bobby can explain why he chooses to affiliate himself with Nazi supporters over those that support the President?

News / Polish bishop caught with 2,5 promille [45]


I think celibacy does cause much of this - the guys have no (legal) partners and no-one to talk to, so they hit the bottle instead. It's a shame - I can think of at least 2 priests who clearly have had problems at some point in the past.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


Satellite internet is utter crap, in my opinion. I've got friends who have it, and it's just unusable for anything other than normal browsing. Skype is unusable, for a start.

Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]


Would anyone bet on the Zloty at the minute? It already took several tumbles without any justification whatsoever and has appreciated randomly, too.

UK, Ireland / Dying Polish woman in the uK whose last wish is to spend last few weeks back in Poland [50]


What government will?

I can only speak for the British one, but it's well known that they won't get involved in such cases as you're expected to take this sort of thing into account.

Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]

Been on the sauce tonight, have we?

UK, Ireland / Dying Polish woman in the uK whose last wish is to spend last few weeks back in Poland [50]


thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4386927/.html

Her parents did. British, too.

Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]


Which is very easy to do for anyone that has half a brain.


Actually, it's more that there are no candidates for the job within the EU, not just Poland. But in practice, work permits are issued easily provide you know what you're doing on the form.

Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]


It's not difficult if you can find enough work to pay you the minimum monthly wage. However, your chances of finding that in January are remote in Gliwice.


Except that medical reasons would have to be pretty serious to get a residence permit based on that - it would need to be long term care. No doctor is going to issue such a certificate unless it's genuine - they will check it out.

Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]


From what I know, they basically won't entertain such applications unless you can prove a significant amount of funds and a purchased (not rented) property.


The work permit takes about a month to come through, so you're already in trouble with the time limit there.


No, you aren't allowed to work on a tourist visa. You need to have the work permit *and* an application under way for a residence permit.


They might, but it's not automatic - it's up to the decision makers. It's a risky strategy.


What I mean by paperwork is the requirement for your diploma to receive an Apostille, notorized and put through the Polish nostrification process. Not easy at all, and takes a considerable amount of time.

Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]


Work (real work - it won't be enough to work 4 hours a week) or studying (but you'd need to have all the paperwork sorted before applying - unlikely in 90 days) - or on the basis of marriage to an EU citizen. Worth pointing out that working also requires you to be in possession of a valid work permit for each job.


In theory, yes. But if they refuse to grant the visa extension (which isn't in law anywhere - it's at their discretion) - you'd have to leave at 90 days. The only way to guarantee that you'll get a decision is to apply before the 45th day in the Schengen zone.

And just so you know - getting caught over 90 days is an instant 1 year ban from the entire Schengen zone.

Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]

Yes, but you must apply for the residence permit - you've got 45 days to apply, although there are reports that you can apply at any moment up to the 90 day limit and receive a visa extension while your application is under consideration.

Worth pointing out that residence permits require a reason - you can't just stay longer because you feel like it.

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


Why? Every single insurance policy will have a clause regarding the roadworthiness of the vehicle. Mine certainly does - and using summer tyres in diabolical winter conditions certainly means that the car isn't roadworthy.

As for taking them to court - the Polish courts, really? The system that comes up with insane judgements every day based not on facts, but on the whims of the court?

If someone owes you money and it's clear, the Polish courts are fine. But in a case like this?

News / Upping the speed limit in Poland [92]


The A1 from the A4 towards the airport in Katowice is a cracking road - well engineered, 3 lanes and absolutely empty (and toll-free).

Travel / Polish or British passport (child traveling to Poland) [51]


Hello Puzzie. Drunk again?

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


I spent a night on the motorway here once after that happened to me - the rain started coming down, I decided to stop for a coffee (it was about midnight) while waiting for it to pass. Turned out that it was a full on storm and the rain was going to come down for a long, long time - so climbed in the back and went to sleep for a few hours. Sure, I could've continued - but it just wasn't worth it. The wind was blowing heavily, the rain was lashing down - and I didn't fancy driving 60km more in such conditions.

Worth pointing out that I had a 7 hour exam that day in Berlin and had spent a few hours after it fooling around in Frankfurt (Oder) - sleepiness and stormy weather was just not a good mix at all.

News / PKP buys Alstrom Pendolino trains for € 665 million [60]


Braindead stupidity to say the least. The Pendolino's only attractive feature is the tilt - apart from that, they're cramped, horrible trains.

News / Poznan's Citizens Budget - expenses for the year 2012 [8]


Four :D I voted for those three, plus the hospice - and for the weekend pedestrian-only streets.

They did a really good job of getting people to vote - there were stands set up all over the city on different days and they were actively getting people involved.

It's a lovely idea, I think - it isn't a huge amount of money, but it makes people think about their city. I'm really happy that the hospice will get funded, too.

But...isn't there already a cycle path along Strzeszyńska?

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


Yep. They take it into account - if your tyres aren't appropriate for the weather, then they can get you on that if you cause an accident/are involved in one.

The police can too - while winter tyres aren't an obligation, if you're caught slipping and sliding around the place on summer tyres, then they can get you under various driving laws. I don't remember the name, but there's a specific catch-all offence to do with unsafe driving.

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


Not yet, this weekend is supposed to be the warmest in autumn :P


That's when mine got changed too. I'll probably change them when it starts being cold all day, or it goes below 0c at night.

Travel / Polish or British passport (child traveling to Poland) [51]


Wrong. You must only use a Polish passport/ID card to identify yourself should you be requested to do so. If you cross a Schengen border using a (for the sake of argument) Czech ID card, it doesn't matter - it only matters if you are requested to identify yourself and you use the foreign document.

It's quite fair really - you're a Polish citizen, and adults are obliged to have a Polish ID card when on the territory of the RP. Therefore - it's quite rational to expect them to identify themselves using a Polish ID card rather than a foreign document.


You can be, as there's no law against dual citizenship. The only issue is that you'll be treated as a Polish citizen if you are one - exactly the same as in most countries.


Since when has Polish citizenship been an affliction? It's certainly far more useful in certain areas to be Polish than British - the British are widely disliked, after all - whereas the Poles really don't have many enemies.


Why is it a gamble to have Polish citizenship?


The Straz Graniczna are no different to any others, they operate under the relevant laws. It's not a matter of "knowing better" or "imagining something" - it's a matter of applying the law to a decision.


A nice story, but still, a story. The Urzad Stanu Cywilnego deals with marriages and the paperwork - why would they ask for a declaration from anyone else when they're the ones who deal with it legally?

News / Papal Day in Poland JP2 [26]


They must do, he's written plenty of ridiculously biased articles for the Polonia newspapers too.

Strange how he's toned down the insults recently, isn't it?

News / Papal Day in Poland JP2 [26]


He's making stuff up as per usual - either he's not telling the whole story, or he lied about it.


You mean he contributes to more than extreme right wing Polonia rags?

Life / Russian Language - is it offensive if I speak it to Polish people? [69]


That's the thing - I've seen this happen a few times, and no-one has any problems with this.

But again - I use Polish in Ukraine because I don't know Ukranian (except hello/goodbye) - and I've never had any issues with people being mad. In fact, they always seem quite happy that an obvious foreigner is trying to communicate with them somehow.

Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

Pretty much. It's not going to collapse, but with the banking conditions at the minute, prices can only go down a bit more.


Buying now just wouldn't seem sensible at all. If the Government refuses to let the banks ease up on lending, then prices could keep going down slowly for a while. It's no secret that in some areas, prices were ridiculously overvalued - Krakow centrum would seem to be one of those.

Law / I am married to a Polish citizen. How can I get residency? [36]


Wrong. The PESEL comes after you obtain the relevant residency documents.


Wrong. In fact, you cannot apply for a working visa if you're eligible to enter Poland on a 90 day tourist waiver - you need to apply for residency from within Poland.

Law / Poland Residency, Marriage, Divorce, Kids [3]


Once you've got permanent residency, it can't be withdrawn. Even if you stated that you no longer live there, you would need to de-register - but that still wouldn't change your permanent residency status.


The law has changed, and you now need to pass one of the State examinations in Polish. That's the first thing.


Citizenship now, but the criteria has changed. Best to go to the relevant Foreigners Office and talk to them to see where you're at.


There is absolutely no difference between having permanent residency and citizenship - except for one thing - voting.

Heck - I haven't encountered any trouble at all with the temporary EU residence certificate.

Travel / Polish or British passport (child traveling to Poland) [51]


Not quite. The law states that they must identify themselves using a Polish document to the Polish authorities - which means in practice that you only need produce a Polish document upon demand. To cross the border, you can carry whatever passport you want - it only becomes a requirement if you're stopped and asked to identify yourself.

In practice, no-one is going to bother children for not having a Polish document, particularly as there's no obligation for them to actually have any form of ID except when crossing the border.