I just had a very interesting conversation with my family and friends here in Poland. They are telling me that it is next to impossible to get a US Visa. They say that you have to spend hours on the phone to get an appointment - and every minute they are on the phone they have to pay $$$. Then once you do get an appointment, they are denied. Even worse is a story I heard that the Visa was not denied until the Pole got to Chicago - where he was not allowed to enter for no reason at all.
I know that it's not the easiest thing in the world to get a Visa to the US, and quite frankly, I don't mind it being difficault for security reasons, but are Polish people being discreiminated against?
Is this true, or are my family and friends blowing this out of proportion? Have any of you applied for a US visa lately, and if so, how did it go and what are your suggestions?
I just can't believe that with all the ways Poland has helped the US over the years that we would treat them like third class citizens.
American authorities are correct in this case. Poles cheat. While we in Poland a ready to object to illegal Romanian immigrants, and want them out of our country, we want a special priveledge to go to the US and stay there illegaly on a tourist visa.
US has said that when they the statistics improve they will change their policy.
Were you thinking of seeing the Grand Canyon and then coming back?
From recent personal experience: my friend has a good job in Poland, has some money in the bank, and she wanted to visit some friends in the US. After the interview with the consul her visa was approved for 10 years.
There should be balance in mutual international relations. If USA demands visas from Polish citizens, we should also introduce visa system for Americans.
American authorities are correct in this case. Poles cheat.
Some do, most don't. The problem is that Yankee twats treat all the Poles as potential illegal immigrants and often refuse the visa even If there's completely no reason for that. And then they claim that we can't get a visa-free status because the refusal rate is high. F*ck them.
While we in Poland a ready to object to illegal Romanian immigrants
Nonsense. Romanians can't be illegal immigrants in Poland.
There should be balance in mutual international relations. If USA demands visas from Polish citizens, we should also introduce visa system for Americans.
It is unlikely that Americans want to come to Poland and work illegaly.
It's irrelevant.
If any Pole is in America illegaly - he/she should be dealt with by appropriate authorities.
If instead of that - US introduces visa system for EVERY Pole who wants to go to America then we should do exactly the same thing for Americans wanting to visit Poland.
If they assume that we are all cheaters and they impose a strict visa system on us then I don't see why we shouldn't return the favour.
Also - if Lithuanians, Estonians and Czechs are more welcome to USA than Poles then maybe Lithuanian, Estonian and Czech armies could help Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of our boys? Just a thought...
because they don't have the cheat rate of 30% like we do.
No, you don't get It... It's not the cheat rate, It's refusal rate... basiclly they refuse our people visas and then claim that we can't have a visa free status because the refusal rate is high...
Exactly! It's a cute game they play - "the refusal rate is too high,so we can't give you a visa,and the more visa's we don't give,the higher the refusal rate is"
I posted a related topic on this forum about a week ago. As a US citizen who is currently living in Poland,I can only say that I am appaled at this process.Ashamed.
I grew up in New York City,where I work construction,so,let me say that I am very familiar with illegal immigrant workers,and immigrants in general.While it may be said that Poles were likely to stay illegaly about ten years ago,the situation has changed dramaticly within the past 6-7 years.Poles are most likely to go to the UK/Scottland/Ireland/Holland to TEMPORARILY seek employment,if at all.
While I agree there is a need for a stringent immigration policy within the US, it is clear to me that such policies are being applied to the wrong people. As a New Yorker,I am VERY familiar with the events of Septemebr the 11th 2001.When I hear bureaucrats use this as an excuse to treat people like ****** really irritates me.The majority of the US labor/service market is saturated with illigal immigrants from Central/Latin America and the Carribean,(NOT Eastern EU countries).
To apply this degrading process to Christian,educated,mostly English speaking Europeans is nothing short of obscene.If you go to any major city within the US,you will quickly see that this policy has done little/nothing to stop people from TRUE third world countries,who do little to assimilate and will not speak English.
When Bush inducted several Eastern European EU countries into the Visa Waiver Program,he heralded it as a true end to the last remnant of the cold war - Pretty amazing that they let everyone else in under that pretense (even Slovakia!) and left Poland out in the cold -WHEN IT WAS POLAND WHO PUT THE END TO THE COLD WAR TO BEGIN WITH
the situation has changed dramaticly within the past 6-7 years.Poles are most likely to go to the UK/Scottland/Ireland/Holland to TEMPORARILY seek employment,if at all.
True.
To apply this degrading process to Christian,educated,mostly English speaking Europeans is nothing short of obscene.
Well said indeed.
Too bad the American authorities don't realize that people in Poland are slowly changing their attitude to USA because of this senseless discrimination.
Oh, well - the Americans have sooooo many friends in EU that they can afford to lose such an insignificant little ally as Poland. "Fair play" to them.
One more thing - I consider myself to be pretty patriotic (I was Honorably Discharged from the United States Marine Corps) - However,the immigration policies in the US are a form of totalitarianism. Completely arbitrary,no accountability,and out of control.I've spoken with older Poles who have said plainly,that they weren't treated this badly since the PRL days of communism,and the secret police.After seeing my own girlfriend JAILED at JFK airport and held without criminal charges for no less than 26 hours without food,water,or a phone call - I would have to wonder if the PRL's secret police wouldn't have treated people better.
Just last summer! She's been coming in to stay with me in New York since 2000 (she had a two week overstay in 2003) but had since travelled in 2005 without incident on tourist visa
Her flight arrives an hour late at JFK in New York - I'm waiting anxiously but not anticipating anything serious - after 2 hours of waiting I approach "security" (the guy was form West Coast Africa and I could'nt understand a thing he said) -
Eventually,after about 6 hours I get a call from my girlfriend - hysterical and crying,clearly tramatized - saying that she has been shackled (hands and feet),and placed in a 'detention facility' in New Jersey - her clothes and personal effects were taken,she was made to wear an orange jumpsuit,not fead,not given so much as a bottle of water,and told she would remain in custody until the next flight,which due to weather conditions would not depart until almost two days later - If she didn't have the return portion of her ticket,she could have rotted in that place for almost a month,or until a relative sorted out a ticket
The only reason she could call me was because some "gaurd" let her use his mobile
I tell people ,(my family,friends) about this and they all think I'm putting them on or exadurating....I'M NOT THIS **** IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE US
The irony of all of this is - when I explain my situation to the consulate officers at the US consulate in Krakow,they advise me to apply for a fiance visa -an immigrant visa - when my girlfriend has absolutely NO intention of immigrating or settling/living in the US - she genuinely only wants to come over for the summer,and they advise us to lie or cheat the system. They contradict themselves.
There is no consistency with the policy.No set rules.The rules are subject to the whims or moods or character analysis of any consulate officer,or customs agent.Completely subjective,and even with an experienced and trained official - faulty. It's a faulted system,that is harming good people,and doing NOTHING to stop people who abuse the system and "bad guys" into the US.
Too bad the American authorities don't realize that people in Poland are slowly changing their attitude to USA because of this senseless discrimination.
Actually ist not that senseless at all. Poles have a tendecy to overstay thier visas and not return home when they are suppose too.
If people followed the rules, the government wouldnt have to be so cautious with Poles.
There's no discrimination. The problem is that poles overstay their visa's. In comparisson, czechs do not and therefore have less problems getting visas - actually i think they don't need visas to travel to the US.
well according to this: washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/18/poland-excluded-from-visa-waiver-list
"Mr. Kotowski said the refusal rate for Polish applicants was 25 percent last year but is now down to less than 14 percent. "
not sure if its accurate, but i can't find anything else. well if it was 25% in 2007 and 14% in 2008. then there's a chance it can go below 10% in 2009-2010(i think :/).
There should be balance in mutual international relations. If USA demands visas from Polish citizens, we should also introduce visa system for Americans.
I agree with that completely.
If anybody ever wants a good laugh, go over to one of the EFL websites and read the posts from Americans whining about all the paperwork they have to get in order to work legally in Poland!
The rejection rate is high because of people abusing the system, I know a few from my home town who came here on tourist visa and never left. Poland will be added to the VWP(visa waiver program) when the rejection rate hits 10% its 14% last I checked. There have been a few Senators who introduced legislation to get Poland on the VWP, it just now need Obamas seal of approval.
Maybe if they don't put the missile shield in Poland, for a consolation prize they will put it on the VWP
There should be balance in mutual international relations. If USA demands visas from Polish citizens, we should also introduce visa system for Americans.
While I agree unfortunately that's not the answer, many Poles in the US have family in Poland and travel there in the summer. The Polish economy is dependent on the American tourism. Issuing visas to Americans would greatly reduce the number of tourist spending money in Poland. The Polish government won't show their teeth to their new masters.
Well, if Americans choose to introduce a strict visa system for ALL Poles instead of dealing with those "few bad apples" individually then it's nothing short of discrimination.
Proper authorites should deal with those Poles who overstay their visas without discriminating ALL Poles beacuse of their nationality.
Well, discriminate would imply that there is a systematic bias applied toward Poles who apply for visas. Yes. I believe that there is. To suggest that other EU members (UK,Germany,France) impose less of an inherent risk to the security of the US,is absurd.
I know from personal experience,that the UK,France,and Germany are host countries to a considerable Muslim population.I'm not implying that all immigrtant Muslims within the EU are millitant,but a significant number are known extremists,openly preaching "death to America" - These subjects enjoy citizenship,and EU status of said host countries,making it all the more probable for them to enter the US on the Visa Waiver Program granted to western European countries who benefit from a relaxed status.
Point is,it is absurd that Poland,a country that is 90% Chatholic,should be treated with more scrutiny than other "western" EU countries,which,frankly,impose a far more considerable threat to Unite States national security.
Getting a Visa to the US is very difficult.! It took 10 years for my father-in law to get a Visa. Reason: He was a recent widow, relatively young early 50's and they didn't think he would return? On his last visit, he was detained for two hours. The US couldn't or wouldn't believe he came to visit his family? It was extremely stressful. Good luck getting one if your young: same reason-may not return. Discrimination= VISA. It's a very subjective process.
Maybe if they don't put the missile shield in Poland, for a consolation prize they will put it on the VWP
You've lost me? "If they DON"T put a missile sheild,they will put them on VWP?" It would seem to me,that if they don't need Poland for a missile sheild,they won't do anything for them - and the ***** of it is - If they DO use Poland for the missile shield aginst Russia, they STILL won't put Poland on the VWP
The Polish economy is dependent on the American tourism.
Sorry but I think you find there are more Brits in Poland spending money than there are Americans, I saw a hand full the first time I went (height of summer) none the other 2 times I was there...so I dont know what you mean by Poland's economy is dependent on American tourism....
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