I will be moving to Warsaw, Poland in May, and have a passport that is still good, and am now told, that I may need a Vista, is this the case, and if it is why do I need one? Where will I get this, if I need it.
Valpomike
Valpomike
Have an American passport and moving to Poland. Do I STILL need a visa?
Harry
17 Mar 2013 / #2
told, that I may need a Vista
You'd do better with Windows 8.
Seriously, which citizenship do you have? And what exactly are you coming here to do. Those questions will affect whether you need a visa and what kind of visa you will need, if any, and how you go about getting it.
I am coming from Valparaiso, Indiana, in the U.S.A. my home, I am American, and plan on living out my life in Poland. I plan on retiring in Poland, a place in my visits I learn to love, and many friends and family there.
Valpomike
Valpomike
Harry
18 Mar 2013 / #4
Yes Mike, you will need a visa. I'd strongly suggest that you consider hiring an expat assistance firm to help you. Try ProRelocation
prorelo.com
prorelo.com
I am American,
I am not very certain about what exactly you need but you can email the Embassy of Poland in Washington D.C.
washington.mfa.gov.pl/en
Good luck
Yes, you will need a resident visa to permit here. Generally not much of a problem to get as long as you do not plan to work here and have sufficient demonstrable income/savings. Otherwise, major hassle from someone for the US.
Notice that you have two Polish grandparents. You could try applying for citizenship. You qualify for repatriation. Documentation can be a problem; you have to prove that your grandparents were from Poland.
Best contact an immigration lawyer and ask his advice.
Also, noticed that you were inquiring about apartments in Warsaw. Warsaw isn't cheap, as are the other larger cities in Poland. Frankly, it's a lot cheaper to live in rural Indiana. If you want to make your retirement dollars stretch, consider living in a small town near Warsaw, like £owicz or Skierniewice, for example. Rents are much cheaper. From Skierniewice, you can take the train to downtown Warsaw and get there faster than many people who live in Warsaw itself can. Train connections are very frequent- hourly at least.
Also, I see that you expect to live off of $1200 a month. That pretty much rules out Warsaw, and definitely anything in the heart of Warsaw (walking distance). A small one bedroom apartment alone is going to cost at least $800 with utilities or more (anything less, and you're getting into substandard housing territory). You'd have to live a very frugal existence. Nothing worse than living in a big city and not having the money to enjoy it. You'd be a lot better off living in someplace like Skierniewice. Rents are less than half of what they are in Warsaw, and the commute to Warsaw is convenient.
If you plan on working here, definitely look into citizenship. Otherwise, it's just not going to be possible, especially since you don't know the language.
Notice that you have two Polish grandparents. You could try applying for citizenship. You qualify for repatriation. Documentation can be a problem; you have to prove that your grandparents were from Poland.
Best contact an immigration lawyer and ask his advice.
Also, noticed that you were inquiring about apartments in Warsaw. Warsaw isn't cheap, as are the other larger cities in Poland. Frankly, it's a lot cheaper to live in rural Indiana. If you want to make your retirement dollars stretch, consider living in a small town near Warsaw, like £owicz or Skierniewice, for example. Rents are much cheaper. From Skierniewice, you can take the train to downtown Warsaw and get there faster than many people who live in Warsaw itself can. Train connections are very frequent- hourly at least.
Also, I see that you expect to live off of $1200 a month. That pretty much rules out Warsaw, and definitely anything in the heart of Warsaw (walking distance). A small one bedroom apartment alone is going to cost at least $800 with utilities or more (anything less, and you're getting into substandard housing territory). You'd have to live a very frugal existence. Nothing worse than living in a big city and not having the money to enjoy it. You'd be a lot better off living in someplace like Skierniewice. Rents are less than half of what they are in Warsaw, and the commute to Warsaw is convenient.
If you plan on working here, definitely look into citizenship. Otherwise, it's just not going to be possible, especially since you don't know the language.
Harry
19 Mar 2013 / #7
A small one bedroom apartment alone is going to cost at least $800 with utilities or more (anything less, and you're getting into substandard housing territory).
Not really. A friend rents a decent one-bedroom (40m) in the city centre and pays 1900zl all in. But with that said, I would not like to try and live here on $1200 per month.
Can I get my Visa after living in Poland, and am sure, I want to stay? If yes, where and how will I do this?
Valpomike
Valpomike
If you are of Polish ancestry just apply for citizenship.
@Harry: I'd consider that a pretty lucky find, especially if your friend recently signed the contract and is a non-Pole.
Read this page carefully: polandembassy.org
USA is on the list of Visa free countries so you can come to Poland just with your passport:
msz.gov.pl/en/travel_to_poland/entering_poland/visa_free/visa_free_countries
So it means that you can come for 90 days. For longer you have to get some Visa.
traveltips.usatoday.com/tourism-visa-poland-39906.html
USA is on the list of Visa free countries so you can come to Poland just with your passport:
msz.gov.pl/en/travel_to_poland/entering_poland/visa_free/visa_free_countries
So it means that you can come for 90 days. For longer you have to get some Visa.
traveltips.usatoday.com/tourism-visa-poland-39906.html
Is this hard to do? Which can I do, without a lot of work? What are the cost for either? Where can I do either?
Valpomike
Valpomike
You really need to talk to a lawyer who is familiar with Polish residential visas. There are plenty in Chicago. Or at least visit the Polish consulate. Citizenship is definitely worth considering. Sorry, but you are not going to get the detailed answers you need on a web forum.
Harry
19 Mar 2013 / #14
I'd consider that a pretty lucky find, especially if your friend recently signed the contract and is a non-Pole.
Signed last week and he's British. It's a fairly good deal but it's not a killer deal (it's maybe 100 or 200zl below the market rate).
You really need to talk to a lawyer who is familiar with Polish residential visas. There are plenty in Chicago.
Very sound advice. Although a relocation company might be a better choice than a lawyer.
Citizenship is definitely worth considering.
If he's retirement age and the claim is from his grandparents, getting citizenship would be a long and difficult process (if it is even possible).
I don't know if this website comprises all possibilities but it's good to know general view about migration policy to Poland For more details is embassy website of course.
antor.org/poland/immigration.html
antor.org/poland/immigration.html
With each passing year it becomes more difficult to immigrate to Poland. While on television, and you can hear all kinds of simplifications in obtaining visas (use visa services) and documents for the visa is still considered more carefully now, and quite a long time. And the stamp in the passport is not free any more. To a greater extent this is due to the European status of Poland and its accession to the Schengen zone. The old Soviet proverb «Chicken is not a bird, Poland is not abroad» little relevance...
Immigration to Poland is so attractive that we have a similar mentality with the Poles and languages. Affected joint Slavic roots. Only in my view, our neighbors respected the laws strongerer, there is more order and culture.
Immigration to Poland is so attractive that we have a similar mentality with the Poles and languages. Affected joint Slavic roots. Only in my view, our neighbors respected the laws strongerer, there is more order and culture.
If he's retirement age and the claim is from his grandparents, getting citizenship would be a long and difficult process (if it is even possible).
Citizenship is granted automatically if you can prove that two of your grandparents were Polish. Again, he would have to discuss that with the consulate and get expert help, but, if he has the proper documentation, it wouldn't be a long and arduous process.
Harry
19 Mar 2013 / #17
Citizenship is granted automatically if you can prove that two of your grandparents were Polish.
Since when and on what legal basis? Unless the law has changed recently and the process has become much simpler, it doesn't work like that. Things like grandfather/father completing military service and neither serving in a foreign army nor taking foreign citizenship before a certain date come very much into play.