Polish visas granted after 1989

I'm doing some research and was wondering if anyone is familiar with the process of applying and types of visas available to Poles immediately (within 2-3 years) after the fall of communism. For instance, could a young man apply for a student visa or a business visa? If so, would the application process be the same as it is currently?

Thank you for any help!!

In spring 1990, as a uni student, I applied for a student visa at the American Consulate in Krakow. I received it and went to US to study at a college in New York.

I don`t know what the application process for an American visa looks like currently. But I think it is more or less the same it was 20 years ago.

Thanks for your reply. Was your experience easy and do you remember how long it took to receive the visa? Thank you again!

Thanks for your reply. Was your experience easy and do you remember how long it took to receive the visa? Thank you again!

It wasn`t easy because I had been turned down a year before, when I was applying for a tourist visa. After a consulate clerk looked through my index book and saw grades which weren`t too good, :):):) he probably thought I was planning to stay in US for a longer time to improve my bad English.

The second time was more successful because my grades were much better!

The waiting time was short - people learnt about their visas on the day of the appointment.

Interesting! May I ask two more questions, and then I won't bother you! :-)

1. Had you already been accepted to study at an American university when you applied for your visa?

2. How much time did the visa grant you?

Kind regards,

J

1. Had you already been accepted to study at an American university when you applied for your visa?

Yes, my mother who was staying in US at the time had arranged all formalities and I had the nesessary papers to present to the clerk. That is why I got the F-1 student visa.

2. How much time did the visa grant you?
I don`t remember well but I could stay as long as my college education required. In case of leaving the college, the visa time expired after a month or two.

May I ask two more questions, and then I won't bother you! :-)

You don`t bother me. It is a pleasure to answer your questions. :):):)

Thank you very much! You're very sweet and very helpful!! :-)

pawian wrote:


after you finished college, how did you stay legal?

after you finished college, how did you stay legal?

I stayed legally for a month or so and the rest of my stay was illegal. :):):) I worked hard and after a year I came back to Poland and bought my own apartment in Krakow at the age of 24. :):):)

pawian wrote:


how long was that?

Problems with reading comprehension fuzz?
I'm not surprised.

my bad. sorry for that Pawian.

You're very sweet and very helpful!! :-)

I love being helpful. :):):):) All Poles are like that.

As for being sweet, yes, my wife thinks so too. :):):):)

There was an issue in 1990, as Poles had visa-free access to East Germany and by extension, West Berlin. The Schengen Agreement meant that Germany was obliged to ask for visas from Poles after unification on the 3rd October 1990, but for that period between the fall of the PZPR government and German unification, Poles were free to travel to West Berlin.

Poles didn't gain visa-free access to the signatories to the Schengen Agreement until 1991 - Germany had pledged to give access, but they had to get the other signatories on board as well.

Does anyone know when Poles gained visa-free access to the UK?