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Posts by Monitor  

Joined: 28 Feb 2013 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 21 Mar 2015
Threads: Total: 13 / In This Archive: 12
Posts: Total: 1810 / In This Archive: 1585 		From: Germany, Munich
Speaks Polish?: yes

Displayed posts: 1597 / page 9 of 54
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Monitor   
26 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Contemplating moving to Poland with the intention of buying a property out-right and living there [36]

Does it depend than on his declaration??

Yes, I think so. But if they prove you cheating, for example because you're legally employed in local company for longer than 1/2 a year, then you will have to pay fines. And as inWroclaw pointed out in case of UK they have it easier to control than inside of Schengen.

take all my things with me to Poland will be a huge and expensive operation

You would be surprised how Polish competition drove prices down. I guess that transport from UK to Poland is the cheapest on so long distance out of all other countries. First google results:

whole Van up to 1300kg 4200zł 800GBP
½ Van Do 650kg 2100zł 400GBP

atrans-paczki.pl/pl/uslugi/6,przeprowadzki-poska-anglia-europa
or here
euro-paczki.pl/index.php/przeprowadzki

But you better find some opinions about these companies before entrusting them your possession. In Munich where I live I would have to pay min 100GBP(120EUR) for 1/2 of Van for few kms.

Also, it is complicated by the fact the company I work for are not happy about me being "based" in Poland.

And that is an advantage of living in richer country.

I thought food was cheaper in Poland - certainly my experience so far.

Cheap food and all types of pork products are cheaper in Poland. Imported goods, higher quality food, like good cheeses not necessarily. Restaurants are definitely cheaper.

it may be my number 1 reason for moving to Poland

we all have known that

The gentleman works in petrochemicals like me so I can say that the situation of coming to Poland may be very advantageous for him.

Yes, I wanted to mention, that more important than tax free allowance is effective tax rate for given salary. And there are few ways to optimize it in Poland (umowy cywilnoprawne for example)

it's not easy to find landlords who do 2 just months,

he can continue staying in hostels like now or rent through airndb.com
Monitor   
25 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Contemplating moving to Poland with the intention of buying a property out-right and living there [36]

so the most import is where is your company situated

No, the most important is where you spend most of the time during the year: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_residence
If someone works only 5 months in UK, but live 7 years in Poland, then will be tax resident of Poland. Although probably he is considered employed in UK for 12 months, then his tax residency will be probably there.
Monitor   
25 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Contemplating moving to Poland with the intention of buying a property out-right and living there [36]

So the question is where would his tax residence be. It's defined by the place where he live/works for most of the time during a year. If the oil company defines work place as UK territory, then he should pay taxes to British government as he spends over 183 days (half a year) working there. But if offshore means, that it's not UK anymore, then probably the place where his house is would define tax residency.

Here they say that oil rigs are treated as UK territory for tax purposes.

accountingweb.co.uk/anyanswers/question/oil-rig-workers-and-tax-liabilities

So it seems that he would have British tax residency and would pay taxes there. Except if workers there are employed as subcontractors. Then it's more complicated.
Monitor   
25 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Contemplating moving to Poland with the intention of buying a property out-right and living there [36]

his grandparents on both sides were all Polish!!!

So it seems that you could get Polish citizenship through him. Not that it would be useful, but you could call yourself official Pole :)

Some things I take for granted in the UK such as simple things like adhering to queues when lining up for a bus don't exist it seems hahahaa.

That leads for example to complainant about lack of seats numbering in PolskiBus. It's a copy of British MegaBus, owned by the same person. The method of selling unnumbered seats which works in UK, doesn't work in Poland, because people cannot queue and in consequence complain that they have to fight for a place instead of being able to choose it during reservation.

I worry about how people will perceive me upon first impression

I think that they will be able to distinguish you from "tourists", especially if you make an effort to learn Polish (except if you're not white). Do you know some foreign language already? It usually helps with learning next languages.

hoodie culture and violence

is it something like Polish Dresiarze? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dres

It is only a matter of how much money I require.

Why is it a condition? If you earn out of UK, then you can move to Poland and rent something here. Rents in Poland are much cheaper than in UK on average. For example studio in small town can cost you only 800zł/month with all costs included.

I also see no one has mentioned the tax situation. UK single person tax free allowance GBP10K (10 thou) approx. Poland GBP600 (six hundred) approx.

For that reason perhaps you would like to buy/rent something next to Szczecin on the German side of the border? I've heard prices there are cheap and you could pay Germany taxes, have German 8000 EUR per year free allowance and commute to Szczecin for entertainment.
Monitor   
25 Nov 2014
News / UK to send tanks to Poland. [36]

Is he hoping for the expat UK Polish vote come May?

Polish emigrants usually don't vote. Maybe those who live for 10 years do, but they're minority.
Monitor   
24 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Contemplating moving to Poland with the intention of buying a property out-right and living there [36]

In addition, a lot of it lies in the financial side of things (I have to spend a LOT of money renting in an expensive British city).

From what I've heard, smaller cities, especially in north of England have very similar prices to Gdynia or Kraków.

Some people say one can find a 2 bedroom apartment in the Tricity (near the centre of whichever of the 3 cities) for £30,000 total (many Polish people I work with from Gdynia, Gdansk confirm that at this moment in time it is not far off the mark).

Here you have average apartment prices in few Polish cities. It's from this summer. If the price which you find is substantially lower, then there is something wrong with this apartment. Could have tenants which don't pay the rent and you cannot easily evict. Could be far away from the city. Could be in bad condition. There are also so called TBS apartment, they cost half, but you buy the right to live there, but not to sell it. From my knowledge 30000 GBP buys you new apartment max. 50 m2 in 60k town in Poland.

Apartments prices in Poland for square meter in major cities.

Look how apartment prices changed in Slovakia. Basically most of growth happened in years before adopting euro. I think nobody knows that, but currency doesn't seem to be the main reason of prices growth. It's not sure if Poland will adopt euro in 5 years.

What sort of things would foreigners face that locals necessarily would not?

Probably would need to use translator. If you would like to take mortgage, then Polish law allows it only in the same currency as your earning. There may be no banks offering mortgage in GBP.
Monitor   
24 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Australian citizen - Inheriting studio apartment in Warsaw [3]

Why would tax outweigh the value of the property? It's possible only if your grandma has some debts and then you would inherit debts with the apartment. And why are you afraid that your grandma will die before she passes you her flat in inheritance. To do that she has to simply write a will witnessed by a notary. Notary can even come to her house.

Moreover in Poland closest family don't pay any tax from inheritance. Grandson is considered close family:

The law on inheritance tax and gift exempts entirely from tax the acquisition of property or property rights by members of the so-called zero-tax group. This is a spouse, descendants (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren ...), but also (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents ..), stepchild, siblings, stepfather and stepmother. Adoptive family also benefits from discount.

These individuals do not pay tax neither from inheritance or from donation - but only if they notify the fact of the acquisition of the assets to the competent tax office. For make such a statement, the entitled to relief generally have six months from the date of the tax obligation. So either 6 months from the validation of the court's decision on the purchase of the estate, or 6 months from the date of registration of a notary act of succession certification.

ksiegowosc.infor.pl/podatki/ulgi/podatek-od-spadkow-i-darowizn/88524,Najblizsza-rodzina-nie-placi-podatku-od-spadku-ani-darowizny.html

But because you're not resident of Poland, probably you will have to pay inheritance tax according to Australian law.
Monitor   
22 Nov 2014
Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

It is very unlikely that somebody will bother to apply for your work permit if you will not present some exeptional skills. So don't count on legal work as a cleaner. Also work permit is for this only job, so if you will want to change it for a better one, you will be treated as person without work permit again. So even work as an English teacher may be not available for you as you will face competition of British native speakers who don't need work permit.
Monitor   
21 Nov 2014
Law / Polish Governmental Bureaucracy on Permanent permit of stay. [4]

It's normal procedure to find out if the marriage is not fake, just for the permit. If you have children together, then they should be convinced, but it's probably they do it. Read for example that:

Nigerian wife spoke to her husband in sign language. For the fictional wedding she took 2 thousand Euro - so much pay the capital gangs for hired spouses. Checking applications for temporary residence reveals more and more fraud.
In Mazovia the number of marriages increases from year to year. More and more often officials also reject applications for issuance of a temporary settling foreigner after marriage.
Nobody saw the husband. The prosecutor of Ochota and Pruszkow just completed two investigations regarding gangs, which specialized in finding money for foreign brides.
The findings of Ochota investigators shows that by 14 fictitious marriages brokered 44 year old Congolese citizen who lives in Warsaw.
A man searched for young women, which agreed for money to enter into a marriage with a foreigner. Frequently there were no education, unemployed, and without any assets. They married Nigerians.
Together with Tony K. B. who was head of the group, on the dock will sit 19 other people, including women, which the gang gave the money for the the wedding. - For the favor they received several thousand zł. Most of them pleaded guilty and wants to voluntarily submit to punishment. They face up to five years in prison.

cudzoziemiec.eu/?q=papierowe_malzenstwa
Monitor   
21 Nov 2014
Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

If you don't have better ways of investing money than 5 - 6% per year interests, then it's not bad idea. But the appartment cannot be too big, because it's harder to sell bigger apartments.

Also in regards to me working will I be able to receive the benefits of a maternity leave?

Yes, but you must be employed wit "Umowa o pracę"
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urlop_macierzy%C5%84ski

Are there any benefits that the government provides (my fellow canadians might understand this....beneifts like the baby bonus or the universal tax).

If any then it's small money.

I was really under the impression that there were soo many natives applying for english tutoring/teaching that i had no chance so with that being said

That's true, so in a bad case you will be working part time.

Once again, will you have work permit? Because as a Canadian you have no right to work in Poland. I am not sure if as a wife of a foreign student you can, but probably no.
Monitor   
21 Nov 2014
Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

I am not a blogger, but I can try answering few of your questions.

I am willing to wash dishes if I have to.

You will need to know at least basic Polish for that.

Do you think finding a job will be a major issue? apart from english I am fluent in Spanish.

If you decide to be a part time English teacher, then probably not. (As long as you have work permit)

In Poland schools are regional, so only if you rent apartment in given neighborhood your son will be able to learn in school located there.

Fast googling shows me this website:
goldenline.pl/grupy/Miasta_regiony/poznan2/dobra-szkola-podstawowa-w-poznaniu,1186942

Somebody suggests following primary schools: "na Rawickiej (Świerczewo), 70 na Pięknej (Ogrody) i 38 na Brandstaettera (Cytadela)"

There are also private schools teaching in Polish, definitely cheaper than English language schools. But IMHO good public is good enough if you don't have too much money.

Use translate.google.com for reading Polish websites.
Monitor   
20 Nov 2014
Travel / Gdansk - where to go and what's cool to see? [25]

Find somebody through couchsurfing.org/n/places/gdansk-pomorskie-poland to show you around. You can check this url:
en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Gda%C5%84sk
Monitor   
19 Nov 2014
Life / Least doctors per capita in Poland? [4]

Seriously though, they do train a lot of doctors and I wonder where the data came from - certainly there seem a lot in PL.

In 2012 it was 3000 people on the 1st year.

The project will develop further places in medicine and dental faculties - informed the DGP Isabella Życzkowska, a spokesman for the Silesian Medical University in Katowice.

The university, according to the draft regulation, will adopt 508 people in October on a stationary medicine (about 58 more than at present). Such an investment performs Medical University of Lodz. Medical school here in day mode will start 480 people (about 60 more than this year). More places for medicine will also be at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (20) and the Medical University of Warsaw (8). Other medical schools admissions quotas will not change.

This means that in five years on the labor market will come at once over 6 thousand doctors. Those who begin their studies in October, complete it in fact a year earlier than previously. Graduates cease to apply a year training in hospitals. Immediately after graduation will be able to start learning the choice of specialization. By this, however, in 2017 for residencies, or specializations funded by the state, will be running at the same time two annuals (currently the first year of medicine and the one which just starts their studies in October).

serwisy.gazetaprawna.pl/edukacja/artykuly/617510,wiecej_miejsc_na_studiach_medycznych_ale_trudniej_o_specjalizacje.html

Out of 134 000 doctors 19 000 is above 70 years old. I mean to tell if the number of graduates is big one should compare it with the number of doctors retiring each year and take into account that in next years this number will be increasing.

Also for comparison 70 000 people were studying Computer Science last year. If simplify that each of them spends 5 years in school that around 14 000 students of 1st year. Much more than on medical studies.
Monitor   
18 Nov 2014
Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]

I know it can be unblocked but she is scared of any financial penalty coming her way!

She should not be afraid. I think for a few years they don't put this locks anymore and some operators take them out for free (Play)
Monitor   
18 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's green card for American, and citizenship question [16]

100% agreed Monitor and no one wants to work under 10 bucks an hr even as a cashier

And in USA nobody would even think of working for 10PLN (3USD) per hour. But in reality probably you think that nobody wants to work for 10pln/h because you live in big city while most of unemployment is away from agglomerations.

wiking.edu.pl/upload/geografia/images/Polska_bezrobocie2010.jpg
( 2010, so now it should look little bit better )
Monitor   
18 Nov 2014
Travel / What is the cheapest way to get from Modlin airport to Warsaw? [106]

Here you have prices of 3 companies: modlinairport/taxi.html

Here you have a cheap company: globcabtaxi/transfer-lotnisko-modlin-warszawa

For sure there are taxis waiting in front of the airport. Just ask about the price before entering car, not to be surprised later. If the price is too high, then call for globcabtaxi.
Monitor   
18 Nov 2014
Real Estate / Home loan for foreigners (not from EU) in Poland? [10]

Recent regulations forbid Polish banks granting credits in different currency than the salary. I don't think that there are any banks giving credits in AUD. It must be quite hard to prove to Polish bank that you have any job in Australia too.

This year, the sparse foreign currency loans found their way only to a very wealthy Poles. This happened because the banks gave them to people whose monthly income was substantial, ranged even 12-15 thousand. zł net. This is far more than required in previous years. The analyst told PAP that the average value of these loans was high - approx. 500 thousand. zł, while the average PLN loan for an apartment is 200 thousand. zł.

The decrease in the number of foreign currency loans in Poland is a result of Recommendation S of the Financial Supervision Commission on the mortgage, which entered into force in January 2014 to reduce currency risk. It has increased significantly after the financial meltdown in the US in September 2008.

In July this year, came into force last of the recommendations in Recommendation S. As stressed Sadowski, from the beginning of July, the banks can not give foreign currency loans to those who earn in Polish zlotys. In contrast, loan in our currency will not get persons or family that receive such income mostly in eg. euros or dollars.

He added that the people earning in foreign currency will not have easy life, because the euro, dollars or British pounds credit offers is not much on the market. - For example, about eight banks intends to provide loans in euros on a new basis - he explained.

tvn24bis
Monitor   
18 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's green card for American, and citizenship question [16]

It's not called green card in Poland. Rather there are work permits, residency cards or blue cards. This website has a lot of information concerning foreigners stay in Poland. There is residency permit for people opening business in Poland.

From what I remember you can get permit for stay in Poland if you open a limited liability company.

migrant is not for profit organization and you can call them or send an email if you have any questions.

In few EU countries you can simply buy a house to get permit to stay there. With permit to stay from other EU country you can freely travel to Poland (but not work here I think).

Are taxes really 40% of income after expenses?

The highest rate of income tax is 32%, but with costs of employer and obligatory insurances it's around 40-50% (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Poland). But I think you're interested with Corporate income tax and it is 19%: paiz.gov.pl/polish_law/taxation/cit
Monitor   
18 Nov 2014
Law / Consumer credit rating from US to PL/EU [12]

I think you're clean. But that would also mean that you may not get any credit card at the beginning, or just one with low limit.