Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]


Either this or the opposite - the official price and the real price were different. Your explanation sounds sadly credible though.


Assuming any sort of probate was done at all. It depends what was on the Akt Notarialny for the sale and how the sale was done.

The OP needs to see the actual documents relating to the sale. A Polish lawyer would be a good idea.

If the amount of land was large, or close to a city, or close to a main road, the value could be high.

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]


See post 16 - something's indeed wrong, and it's probably all about tax. basically the relative is expecting Richie to do something illegal and risky at the airport.


This is another issue.


Yes. It isn't impossible that he'll say he needs to hold some back for 'tax', etc. If you like, I can recommend a Polish lawyers practice in Warsaw, one that I've used. They're commercial lawyers but will either handle it or recommend an associate who can. They aren't the cheapest (but in UK terms aren't dear). If there's anything dodgy expected of them though, they wouldn't get involved.

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]


Yes. You should ask for contact details for the lawyer who processed the sale of the land. I suspect they may not be forthcoming, however at the very minimum he should explain why he expects you to collect the money in person, and whether it will be cash or a cheque and how much the exact amount will be.

It may just be that the 'official' sale price of the land is far lower than the real cash amount. This can happen for tax evasion.

You shouldn't worry too much about carrying cash - people do it all the time - though there are potential risks at the airport. You may wish to have the money changed at a kantor into 100 euro notes - this will make it more portable, and split it up among your luggage and on your person. Still risky though, unless you've got a letter explaining where it came from.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]

The newspapers say it is the worst loss of life on a British road for nearly 25 years.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]

The original reports didn't give any details about his identity or nationality. Whether Polish, British, Mexican or Martian, what sort of person would get in to a huge truck after drinking alcohol and drive it down a motorway?

If he's found guilty, he'll be looking at a very long spell in gaol.

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]


It would be very wise indeed - basically a letter from the lawyer who completed probate. If this is a cash thing, It should be in high denomination notes, and carried in a wallet, to avoid issues at customs (very rare between PL and UK, but best to be careful). People do carry larger amounts of money, however those who can also carry proof of the money's origin generally have less stress going through the green channel at the airport.


You should ask him why he can't do a bank transfer. If he maintains he can't, ask about it being paid via WorldFirst or Transfer. If he won't do that, you should make sure he gives a clear explanation why. I cannot think of any honest reason that you would need to travel to Poland to collect cash personally. If they need a signature at a notary's office, it should still be possible to transfer the cash in the normal way.

I suppose a lot depends on how well you know and/or trust the relative in question, and whether or not the money is in a bank or for whatever reason in cash.

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]

As with any issue to do with UK tax, it's best to be belt and braces careful - this is a link to the Inland revenue helpline who will advise if anything is liable. It shouldn't be, but you might want to check rather than receice an unwelcome surprise later gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/probate-and-inheritance-tax-enquiries

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]

When you receive the bank transfer, you may be asked for additional information due to the size of the transfer - this is to comply with money laundering regulations. Usually they just want to know very basic details about yourself and the source of the money.

You should also check with your bank whether or not it can receive and hold money in PLN and not automatically convert it into sterling at their rate. If they do automatically convert it (as mine do), consider using one of the larger transfer services like WorldFirst (I've been using this one for a few years and they are efficient and reliable - they usually also give the best exchange rate. Transfer is their main rival - they advertise a lot, but generally aren't quite as good). The reason for this is that most UK banks generally don't convert cash at a good exchange rate, hence transfer services existing in order for people to make international transfers at a better rate.

One benefit of using a transfer service (please stick to the larger ones, like the two I mentioned - avoid smaller ones) is that they will talk you through any paperwork needed. With WorldFirst you get a named contact in their head office that you deal with directly by phone or email - no call centres etc.

It is unlikely that you will have any UK tax liability for this amount.. If any tax is deducted within Poland before you receive the cash, you will need to mention this in your tax return to make sure you aren't taxed twice on the same gross amount.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


No it isn't - free movement is likely to continue, and it doesn't affect me anyway. Not that this is particularly relevant to the thread which is about someone outside the EU who would like to claim Polish citizenship but is having potential issues due to lack of documents.


I agree with that. There are plenty of people round the world, in non-EU Europe, India, the Middle East, Africa etc who would meet those criteria and could settle in Poland.

People who try to claim they have existing Polish citizenship which in fact they don't and wish to avoid the normal procedures are a different matter - by all means let them take the same route to citizenship as the rest of us.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


This doesn't impact on giving passports to Americans with no real connection with Poland, only a great-grandparent who left a century ago.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


Not really out of date - the law still stands for their descendants.


He isn't Polish.


I'm sure that will make all the difference.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


None of which involve the 1920 citizenship laws. Nor are they likely to continue.


That's a whole other question.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


There's never been any suggestion by any political party to change the requirements for proving cotizenship/


If such documents even exist, or, if they do, back up a particular case. Renouncing citizenship, having it renounced on your behalf, bearing arms against Poland or having citizenship stripped are all pretty conclusive.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


This has always been the case. Some people just don't fit the requirements.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


None at all.


Good luck with that. 'The matter' has been 'addressed' already, and the result was the status quo.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]

The law is very clear on the matter - there are no grounds for the current citizenship laws (far more relaxed than most in Europe) to be overturned; this has already been tested in court


You realise you've just asked the OP to ignore you?

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]


In all terminology. And they hated all religion except the cult of race - their leader believed it would wither away.

The right never has much use for faith, except to exploit religion as a tool to achieve their ends.

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]


A senseless phrase. Nazis were far-right.


Of course. There are some who deliberately ignore this.

History / For what the Germans owe Poland one trillion U.S. dollars? [299]


Hair-splitting, I-S. Any issues of reparations were settled decades ago and no amount of online sniping from those who have no say in the issue will ever change that.

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]


Exactly. They hated church people too, and tried to exploit some of the passivity and goodwill present within that community.

Have you noticed how some of the posters here have tried to turn this discussion round to the migration issue - it's almost every thread here. Some people are truly odsessed.

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]


No, I-S. They loathed His teaching.

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]


No, you deliberately mistook. A big difference. The opposite of reality even.

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]



They weren't. They were (and are) far-right.

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Study / Studying English in Krakow, private tutors, schools or universities [49]


The graded readers go much further than you might be used to at your level of the profession. Additionally, there are ungraded books with notes (and questions) for learners. There are also lengthy (and ungraded) news articles with similar treatment - The Guardian Weekly does them well (and The Weekly Telegraph has or used to have this).

From my reading of his written utterances here, his priority should be (and probably is) stylistics.

Study / Studying English in Krakow, private tutors, schools or universities [49]

The OP in Krakow, should be able to buy some graded readers there, as well as online from Amazon etc.


The 'Easy Reader' series, and its rivals, aren't usually used as teaching materials; they are mostly intended for self-study (although some courses for young learners occasionally incorporate the ones aimed at kids - most don't). Authentic materials can (and should) be used at every stage of a course, even from day one.


Poland has a Matura (rether like Le Bac) rather than A levels.

The British Academy is the UK's national body for the humanities and social sciences - the study of peoples, cultures and societies, past, present and future. It is based in London, not Cambridge and has no role in the various A levels in English; that is a matter for the respective exam boards that offer them.

Life / Is Poland split into two religions: catholicism and non-believers? [103]


In this thread? No. You prefer to try and switch threads round to your fixation with Muslims. There's actually a thread dedicated to such things.


I see none there.


Yes, but this one eats empanadas rather than kwaśnica, so they don't listen to him as much as a certain other one.

Study / Studying English in Krakow, private tutors, schools or universities [49]

The Cambridge easy reader series - they're quite good for learners


Yes. They also tend to use the 8 words a page rule.

Study / Studying English in Krakow, private tutors, schools or universities [49]


Yes. In literature, realism is the best - very clear contexts that learners can relate to. The first Polish book I read was a kid's book (albeit non-fiction) - the diary of a Jewish child living in wartime south Poland. A sad book, and it stops dead mid-sentence when they took the family away.

There are exceptions - The Alchemist is a classic book for low level learners of any language, due to the deliberately simple structures and vocabulary.


This is also good.

One rule of thumb, is that a book should have up to 7 or 8 new words on a page to challenge a learner. More than that, they should select an easy one. Much fewer than that, it isn't challenging enough.

USA, Canada / Thousands of undocumented Poles in Chicago [33]


So it's probably those undocumented immigrants in other places that should worry most about contact with the authorities. Plus people like the poster here, PolishUltras who was put on a plane straight from a short jail spell.

Law / Poland's temporary residence permit through a consultant [5]

It's always important to look at online reviews, use a reputable service, and make sure that any visa agency you use is respectable and well-established.