Law / Are foreigners with kids on work visa in Poland eligible for the "Family 500 PLN" benefit money? [36]

Gumishu, I agree, It's only a matter of time before Poland runs out of money and everything comes crashing down around us, to reverse the question, what about the approx. 35,000 Polish children that live in Poland but because 1 of their parents lives in the UK they can claim child benefit in the UK, it's a universal benefit and you don't have to be working to claim it. I wonder if anyone has thought of this, Mum lives in Poland and claims the ''500'' plus money, dad lives in the UK and claims the UK child benefit for the same 2 children, possible?

Life / Withdraw Europe money in Poznan [16]

Wincig, I don't want to turn this into a bun fight but he's not talking about either Switzerland or Turkey, he's asking about getting Euro's out of an ATM in Poland and then going to a Kantor to change into Zloty, cms has got it right, just go to the nearest cash point, stick your card in and take out your cash, what a hassle just so you don't lose a couple of Zlotys' on the exchange rate, like cms said, factor in your time, bus ticket or petrol, is it really worth the hassle.

Life / Withdraw Europe money in Poznan [16]

Unfortunately you won't, you're in Poland, we don't use the Euro, are there any ATM's in France that dish out the Zloty?

Life / Immigration Free Poland is Not Being Racist [194]

Johnny reb, 100% right. Funny how it appears only ''white'' people can be called racist, by far the largest number of deaths has been of Muslims, usually by other Muslims, they don't even like each other, multiculturalism doesn't work, the various nationalities end up grouping together in ghettos because it's ''nice'' to live in a little Somalia or Iraq, I understand the reasons, safety, language, culture but by doing that they distance themselves from the local communities

I wonder how a ''white'' Christian would be received if he moved to Iraq, wearing a cross and if he didn't agree with some decision went outside and burnt their national flag.

2000 migrants were recently moved from some ''camp'' in the centre of Paris, only 149 were women or children, that tells you everything.

Law / How to bring your savings to Poland [9]

radoslav, as terri states, 10,000 is the max on your person, if you were stopped you would have some serious questions to explain away the rest.

News / Poland - Third World Country?? [300]

polishinvestor, bang on, let some in so that we appear to be ''helping'' give it a couple of weeks at most and they will be on their way.

Regarding the question of the thread, a good way to measure it might be to ask or get comments from people between 45 and 50, just old enough to be adults in the pre communist era but old enough now to compare the different periods in Polish history.

There is no doubt that due to Poland's history over the last 70-80 years they are in terms of development, infrastructure, business enterprise, etc... obviously playing catch up and the EU funding is helping to do that, how quickly would these ''improvements'' take without EU funding.

I personally think That Poland is a great place to live, culture, people, history, food and my the only joke I ever say is that the roads (some) are terrible and the drivers even worse but that's just me, overall getting there.

News / Poland - Third World Country?? [300]

dolno, I'm loving it, a slander a day made me chuckle, maybe what we all need to do is start some sort of global campaign suggesting that Poland is a terrible place to come to, maybe we can arrange for 500 footie fans with ''welcome immigrant'' signs to meet them at the train stations when they start to visit (I use the word ''visit because they won't be here long) I actually think it is an amazing place, people, culture, food, etc....... but don't tell the ''immigrants''

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Not being an expert of Polish politics, a quick question.

The speed at which the recent changes have been made by PiS, Law, Media control, civil service changes, etc....what things from their election manifesto have they changed, implemented, altered as quickly, if anything.

Sorry, 2nd question, were the things that they have changed part of their manifesto or were these changes unknown to the voters?

News / Do you believe that western Europe (ie EU) won`t punish Poland if Poland try to go out of EU? [44]

Hey, all, as this benefit grabbing only seems to be one way I have an idea, an EU citizen, NOT from the UK, lets say Estonia, goes to the UK, claims some sort of benefits, he/she only gets the equivalent to what they would receive and for the same period of time in their own country, what do you think????

The welfare state as we know it in the UK came into being in the late 1940s (although it has been around informally for much longer) and was intended as a safety net for all when they fell on hard times, I can remember the stigma felt by my father when he was unemployed for a couple of months and would have to go down to the ''labour exchange'' now it's more like a cash cow for all and sundry.

Ironside, I agree, my mistake, never say never.

News / Do you believe that western Europe (ie EU) won`t punish Poland if Poland try to go out of EU? [44]

Poland leaving the EU, never likely to happen, would the rest of the EU punish Poland if they did, I doubt it, I'm no expert on Polish politics but I'm sure that PiS know which side their bread is buttered as a net recipient of EU funding.

InPolska, I couldn't agree more, let me give you an even better example. A story I have been following for about 18 months.

Child benefit in the UK is classed as a ''universal'' benefit, all are entitled to it irrespective of the parents salary although recently there was a small tax payment implemented for parents with a salary of 50,000 GBP or more per year, also, as it's classed as ''universal'' you don't actually have to be working to claim it. There are approx. 27,000 Polish children who live in Poland but one or both of their parents live, not necessarily working in the UK that currently receive the full UK child benefit payments, the weekly rate is, 20GBP for the 1st child and 13GBP for all subsequent children, so Polish guy/girl in the UK, 3 children in Poland = 1x20 + 2x13 = 46, lets just say the exchange rate is 5zl per pound, = 920zl every 4 weeks, lets say the parent is working in a warehouse on minimum wage, take into account the working tax credit and the child tax credit they would be ''entitled'' to, now we can see how much milk we can get from the cow.

Now lets give it a comparison. I am a single male living in Poland, I have never claimed a penny in UK benefits, imagine I get into some sort of financial difficulty, can I claim any benefits from the UK, NO I don't live there, can I claim any benefits from Poland, NO I've never had a job here and paid into the Polish system, I thought we were all European?????? Is It a case of ''we're all equal brothers but some are more equal than others''

I understand that David Cameron is trying to make the UK unattractive to people, His problem is that he has 27 other countries and a mountain of EU legislation to wade through.

Just an after thought, of the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004, people from those 10 countries on JSA (job seekers allowance) in the UK total almost 31,000 people, UK citizens living in any of those same 10 countries claiming the equivalent benefit total just 62 people ???????

Work / Is it possible to work whilst studying in Poland? [20]

Cheers delph, I think I'm getting it. I think in the UK, foreign students can work a maximum of 16 or 20 hours a week, I watch some of those ''border patrol'' type programmes when Mr Khan is found to be working in his ''uncles'' factory for 60hrs a week and has enrolled to study at some seat of learning that turns out to be a P.O. box number.

Work / Is it possible to work whilst studying in Poland? [20]

Thanks InPolska, I think I may have the answer. Mr ''student'' goes along to the Polish consulate (in his home country I'm assuming) completes the application form and waits for their decision, lets say 2 weeks later he gets an answer, yes he can study in Poland. He's then called into the consulate and told, your course is for 3 years, the cost is 15,000zl per year and the visa is another 1,000zl, total 46,000zl, when that money is deposited with the consulate we will issue your visa. When/If the money is received the consulate then deposit the 45,000 with the appropriate university and bank the visa fees, too simple???

An interesting question might be, If the Polish consulate, lets say in Islamabad issue 1,000 ''student'' visa's, how many of the 1,000 students actually turn up to learn.

I suspect none of the students from the Middle East or Asia could speak any Polish and would expect to be taught in English, maybe some sort of language test might be appropriate.

The daughter of one of my friends is in the UK at the moment working, she had to take 2 English tests just to get a job chucking boxes for UPS.

Work / Is it possible to work whilst studying in Poland? [20]

Sorry to bang on but it has to be said, bhupi, what language do you think your going to be taught in? or is this a wind up.

InPolska, maybe you can help. Lets say a foreign student from a non EU country wants to come to Poland to study, lets say Physics, how does it work, how do they apply, who do they apply to, who says yes or no, who issues the visa they get granted.

If no money is paid upfront and if the ''student'' gets granted some sort of visa, what's to stop them just disappearing right from the get go, land at Wroclaw airport, picked up by a ''friend'' and just gone with no intention of setting foot in a university.

Finally, I'm sure there a different course costs depending on the subject but what would be the rough average cost of studying at an average university.

Work / Is it possible to work whilst studying in Poland? [20]

Easy answer, foreign student wants to study in Poland, pay for the full course upfront, no cash, no visa, pretty simple solution I would say.

InPolska, bang on 100% right. Foreign student comes to Poland, fiddles about for a couple of weeks/months at most then one day, gone. If the student pays for all their course upfront 2 things might happen, 1) likely to encourage only genuine students to apply and pay, 2) cash upfront, student less likely to ''disappear''

How many more times are we going to see the same dumb, stupid questions, If I study can I work.... what is the pay for........ and the best one ever, How do I get a job if I study, these students are the ''future'' and they can't work that one out, what hope is there........

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Not an expert on Polish politics but maybe someone can clarify it for me.

The recent changes made by the PiS party, legal, media and others, were they all known by the electorate prior to the election as part of the PiS election manifesto, if yes, then voters new what they would be voting for, if no then surely the voters have been conned.

As I said, I'm not an expert on Polish politics but is it a case of campaigning to do A but actually end up doing B. If this is the case then I can fully understand the recent demonstrations around the country.

Surely a way to measure this is to ask PiS supporters if they think they were tricked and the party has failed them or ask non PiS supporters if they think PiS got it right and see if either of their opinions of PiS have changed.

News / WOSP Poland charity - is it value for money? [60]

Let's all meet up at Woodstock on the 14th of July and chillax, see you there.

Law / Dependant Visa for Non EU national parents of an EU National living in Poland [6]

Have I understood correctly, your an EU national (which country of birth?) but your parents are not ???????

News / Poland to end state funding for IVF treatment [102]

Chemikiem, I agree with everything from your earlier post (20) apart from one thing, I have 5 sons, that said I do agree with you, Yes if given a choice most couples would want a child that is genetically theirs, I was just thinking of an alternative, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and heartache these couples must feel almost to the point of consuming them.

You mention that currently 17,000 couples are undergoing treatment, for the government to give a cut off date makes me feel it was simply done out of badness and like you say, the pressure they must be under is immense to say the least.

Interesting thought, any members of the government currently undergoing IVF? law of averages says there's maybe 1.

News / Poland to end state funding for IVF treatment [102]

So state funding of IVF is to be stopped, have they thought of the obvious option ''adoption'', how many orphans in Poland or children permanently removed from their parents for various reasons. I know the child would not be theirs genetically but surely it would be a win/win, the couple get a child to care for and the orphanage costs would reduce, just an idea or am I missing something.

Work / Studies In Poland, is it easy to survive on part-time jobs? [259]

Hi maf, 2 good points. Maybe you can help with more. How does it work here in Poland for an overseas student, for example, do they simply apply, get an answer yes/no, If yes just pay before they start their degree or is there some sort of process to sift out the wheat from the chaff. , also, if their degree is say 3 or 4 years do they pay the full fees upfront or do they pay before the start of each year?

Work / Studies In Poland, is it easy to survive on part-time jobs? [259]

Maybe It's just me. It seams that most/all of these overseas ''students'' are interested in is, jobs, jobs and more jobs, how do they pay for their tuition, accommodation, etc..... I feel as if they all think Poland is some sort of educational paradise. Many others have stated the obvious, don't come here unless you have a big bag of cash to last the distance.

My only advice to you all is do your research before you apply to study here, the same questions being asked over and over again, can I do this, how much is that, enough already.

Just another thought, I'm guessing most if not all of these ''students'' have zero Polish language skills so I assume they are going to study in English, WOW, I would love to be in that room, a Polish, English speaking tutor educating an Indian, English speaking student. Their written English is at best bad to very bad and with the very strong Asian accents even I struggle to understand them sometimes.

What a strange choice of country to choose to study. Is this a case, has been proven many times in the UK, of a ''student'' coming to Europe under the pretence of studying and then just disappearing off the radar and heading to the UK where they most probably want to be.

Law / UK National Insurance and Polish ZUS and tax issues [11]

Currently, to qualify for a full UK state pension you have to have made approx. 35 to 36 years of contributions, I spoke to the tax office before I left, not sure where your getting the ''pay 15 pounds and get 600 per month pension''

Law / UK National Insurance and Polish ZUS and tax issues [11]

No chance. Why would anybody want a British NI number but continue living in Poland, let me see....... You would also have to provide your right to reside from British Immigration.

Life / Brits on benefits in Poland? [38]

Something new that I wasn't aware of, from March 9th 2015, after ''being on benefits'' for 3 months it is the ''intention'' that these individuals are re-interviewed, if they cannot show any reason that they are likely to become employed in the near future they will loose their rights to benefits and also the right to reside in the UK, I suspect that it may take a lot longer than the 3 months stated due to the number of people claiming, at least a step in the right direction.

Billy9999, I don't disagree but keep your chin up man, I know it's frustrating but think of your self pride and the example if you have children.

Life / Brits on benefits in Poland? [38]

I have read this article a number of times and to give you some real numbers, of the approx. 30,000 Brits claiming benefits in other EU countries, 26,000 of them are in just 5 countries, Ireland 12,000, Germany 6000, France 3,000, Spain 3,000 and Italy 2,500. The number of people from the 10 countries that have joined the EU since 2004 that are claiming job seekers allowance in the UK is approx. 33,000 (16.000 of which are Polish) the number of Brits living in those same 10 countries claiming the equivalent benefits is just 62 people.

For anyone to claim that Brits just sign on, get their jobseekers and disability payments and high tail it to Poland is very much misguided, the 2 things to bear in mind are the rules regarding jobseekers, you may be called into the DWP office at a moments notice, attending back to work programmes (Serena Russo for example) signing on every 2 weeks and the other thing is the old British ''stiff upper lip'' most will do anything so as not to fail, there will be some chancers that will try it on but they won't get far.

So a question, If as some people on here think this it what the Brits do, why wouldn't someone from Poland go to the UK, doss at their mates for 3 months (residency test) sign on for their jobseekers and return to Poland, for those of you that thinks it's that easy, my challenge to you is, try it, please let me know how you get on.

Something of greater concern is that there are approx 28,000 children that live in Poland that are paid the full UK child benefit because 1 or both of their parents (having passed the 3 month residency) live but not necessarily working can claim this as child benefit is classed as a ''universal benefit'' so lets work it out, 1 guy not working with 2 children living in Poland, 1 jobseekers + 2 child benefits = 2508zl per month.

Travel / Trip to Wroclaw, Poland - seeking for a company which organises city tours there [7]

Hi cindy5, a good suggestion from chemikiem. The tours usually start by meeting at the Alexander Fredo statue in the main market square, between November and March they start at 10.00 everyday for a tour of the old town, about 2.5 hours. There is also a daily tour starting at 13.30 that tours the Jewish quarter, just arrive a little earlier and look for the ''free walking tour'' stick, if for any reason they can't meet at the statue they meet about 50 mtrs away between Main square and Solney square, if you are with a group of friends (7 or more) you do need to phone them up. Have a great time in Wroclaw it's a beautiful city.

All they ask for is a donation.

News / Poland - land of uni students? [11]

Monitor, totally agree with your comment ''learning by work'' In the UK something like 85% of graduates end up working in a job that isn't connected to the degree they obtain.

So many of my friends here in Poland say similar things, such as, they have a degree in accountancy but work for IBM or IKEA etc.... The one thing that I am amazed by is that almost everyone I talk to appears to have a degree, how do employers looking for new staff choose if 10 applicants have the same level of education, is it just a lottery or luck or of course the ''who you know'' comes into play.

Of course from 2004 many ''graduates'' from Poland went to the UK, people with degrees working in warehouse's but this obviously was purely financial, many people would tell me that they had a degree in business management (for example) but could earn 2 or 3 times more box chucking for UPS or FedEx.

Unfortunately in the UK there is still ''university snobbery'' where degrees from certain university's with the ''old school tie'' networks still carry a lot more weight in the work place.

The unemployment level in Poland is currently about 8% with youth unemployment at close to 19%, It seems a good idea to educate people but appears the jobs are not available when they have finished their education.

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]

Good one jon, transference errors, easy to spot.

Question for AllenZ (the English guy) What are the names of the Queens 4 children, you have 10 seconds. GO

Life / A rant on customer service in Poland [42]

Hey all, easy answer, lets all go and live in Belarus, no coins, paper money only.

Life / A rant on customer service in Poland [42]

Tesco in store customer desk, ''need to change the address for my clubcard'' sorry sir you need to do it by phone, the number is on the back of the card, great, easy NOT, I make the call and explain, ''sorry sir you need to do it online or in store'' WHAT!!!!!! I then go online, to be greeted with, ''sorry this service is currently unavailable'' AGHHHHHHH.

Something similar but different I guess. Iphone wifi stopped working, I visit the local repair shop in Wroclaw, the guy makes a phone call, comes back and tells me the price is zl480. The next day a Polish friend goes into the same shop, (I'm hiding around the corner) talks to the same guy about the same problem with the same phone, guess what, no ''special'' phone call and comes back with a price of zl135, I go into the shop and say to the guy, ''remember me from yesterday'' his answer, ''I've never seen you before in my life'' unbelievable.