History / Poland - problem for Germany? (historically continual hostility of German state on Poland) [154]

Please. The Poles I work with and employ would string you up for saying there is no big problem. Its GERMANY for Christ sake. Every person with Polish blood should take issue with any German who does not visit a death camp and understand what happened. History can not be ignored.

Law / Anybody adept in requirements for non-EU citizens to start business in Poland? [39]

Yes. Hire an attorney. The VAT process is complicated and you need one to do it right. Also banking can be an issue. I am American and went through all of this, no way I would do it alone.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

We will have to disagree. I have had many frustrations with Polish red tape in business. Banking laws, among other things change quite frequently without notice.

Anyone seduced by coffee and comfortable chairs isn't a business person, they are a sucker. Anyone can rent an office and hang advertising for services. What they cant easily do is be members of the BAR in the United States and Poland, have translators in the office, and have won awards for their practice.

While I will admit money doesn't buy everything, money and appearances do matter. You are right about ZUS though. This is critical now. And for foreigners it is no longer as inexpensive it was even a year ago.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

Laughably low requirements? Residency permits are not mere formalities any longer. Proving you can actually afford to live in Poland is critical. Making 50K a year in the USA isn't going to cut it. Having a 4K pln per month job lined up in Poland isn't going to get it done either. Poland wants real investment. Real people with money. Not pretenders.

Proving you actually have ties to Poland other than a visit one summer also makes a difference. One of the reasons they want photocopies of every page in your passport and complete travel documentation for the last five years.

Of course you can do the paperwork yourself. You can ask for appointments, or you can stand in line for hours. Spending the money on real experts is always the best way to get things done. Spending money on these experts alone shows the processing people that you take the process and application seriously enough to hire them. It also shows you have the financial ability to pay them.

You may very well be intelligent, and capable of doing the work yourself. But to believe everyone is treated the same is naïve at best. Money talks and B#11$### walks is still an accurate statement in Poland.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

Of course. You must be right, and my colleague's experience was just a fluke. I am sure I will get denied as you say and have wasted my money. It is completely unreasonable to think that Poland, its legal offices and officials could be influenced by money being brought into the country. My apologies. I do not know what I was thinking when I believed that business investment and experts with these matters could influence the project. I should probably not wait for my decision and just pack my things and go back to the States because it is after all the land of milk and honey according to many here. I cant believe they let me graduate from college being this stupid. Miracle I have survived this long in life. Many thanks for the wisdom.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

Indeed. People who blindly trust and do not do a thorough research of the professionals are usually deserving of getting screwed anyway. I have been here almost a year now and no problems. Anyone who blindly trusts anyone, anywhere in the world, in business is likely going to get screwed. Poland is not special in that regard.

Proof is in results I guess. Having seen a colleagues results in a reasonable time frame I will trust in that process and preparedness. This said. If you think getting some cheap hack attorney to help you is going to get things moving, that's the first mistake. Real work costs real money. Plan on spending a minimum of 100 Euro per hour for legitimate professionals in these matters.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

Let me guess. You believe Trump is good for Poland too? I trust professionals with experience, not what's said here.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

Funny, that is not what my attorney told me, it is what they told me when they stamped my passport. I can pick up the decision in person in 30 days. Considering my company was set up legally and every other action completed by my attorneys has been exactly as promised, I will go with what I have seen and has been proven. Considering another colleague just went through same process with same attorney and received his TRP in less than 6 months in Krakow, I will trust that they know what they are doing.

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

I recently completed temporary residency application with attorneys in Krakow. Your application time will depend on how prepared you are and how complete your application is. I was also told it will depend on what country you are from. I was told a decision in 30 days, and from there it may take as long as 6 months to get actual documents.

This said, I did get my PESEL and have been paying ZUS for months, and those two items will go a long way in easing the process. While I can not comment directly in the work permit experience, I have looked into it because of bringing my employees over from US to work for our Polish company. The process in Krakow, according to very reputable attorneys is taking roughly six months.

Love / Foreign Older vs Younger Relationships In Poland [20]

Older with younger is entirely possible. But looking for that is a mistake. I met my GF 8 months ago purely by accident, and she is much younger than me. She has zero interest in ever going to the US, and is full of Polish pride, a trait that I admire. Look for a person, not any person of a certain age if you are going to look. If you want a real Polish beauty, inside and out, you had better be prepared for a strong, educated and opinionated partner. If you cant take that, then you probably need to look elsewhere.

Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]

I can tell you as a non EU citizen it was impossible for me to open a Polish account until I purchased a company with existing accounts. EU citizens should have no problem.