Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

@Dougpol1
I actually thought of that Visa tit for tat idea. But was told by the investigator that is was actually simply because it is so uncommon for an American to request residency that they are surprised when it happens. The Visa situation is likely to change for Poland. If your understand the Visa approval process, and who actually is processing the Visa's, the waivers are based on successful application numbers compared with denials. Once successful applications reach a certain threshold, which Poland is now approaching, the waiver will happen. It really has very little to do with Poles over staying their Visa's now. I know this because I do a lot of Visa work for athletes going to the USA and Canada in my business.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

As with nearly everything political there are some hard line issues. I am a legal resident of Poland, pure Polish ancestry on both sides of my family. I pay taxes in Poland, have moved my business to Poland, and employ Polish people. I am learning the language, and assimilating. Yet according to hard liners, I am not Polish because I do not have a Polish passport.

Yet, the person who refuses to assimilate, and has a Polish passport by birth, is "Polish"? If you take the same argument to the USA, then everyone born on USA soil regardless of their assimilation should be a USA citizen. Yet in USA we want to drill down further and look if their parents entered the country legally.

The difficulty I went through in getting Karta Pobytu even with my ancestry, I was comfortable with. Irritated, but comfortable with the process and the thoroughness of it. This came across as a country being protective of who lives in the country, which is something I like.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

While I agree with many of the discussion points on many topics in this forum, I cant agree with the theory or rule of being born on Polish soil or of Polish parentage making you Polish. Polish, in my opinion is the assimilation into Polish society and the acceptance of those traditions, language, and customs of the country.

While Poland is not a widely multicultural society, examples of this assimilation or non-assimilation can be seen everywhere. I recently met an Asian who is a Polish citizen by birth, but does not participate in traditionally Polish customs, or share conservative viewpoints, and prefers to speak Thai or English over Polish. This to me is someone who may live here, but is not really part of the Polish society.

I have also met Poles from London who don't speak Polish but carry Polish passports. To call them "Polish" is a stretch in my opinion when they only return to Poland for weddings or funerals.

As an American, living in large multicultural communities in the past, it was assimilation into "American" life that made "foreigners" not seen as being foreign by the community.

While I understand there are strong opinions on "walls" and immigration on this forum, I believe part of those opinions are formed because of non-assimilation of those foreigners that have helped create those arguments.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

What about foreigners who have Polish heritage seeking to reclaim that heritage or citizenship? Are their distinct differences in types of foreigners? What about foreigners that are descendants of those who fled one of the great wars?

I ask because as a "foreigner" legally living in Poland, the native Polish people I know say that being Polish is not simply a matter of having been "born" on Polish soil. Many instances of those born on Polish soil yet not being accepted as "Polish" have been pointed out to me in person. While yet more instances of people being accepted as "Polish" yet not having been born here are also pointed out to me.

Some have gone so far as to say that being Polish is about living Polish, and not as much about being born in Poland.

Travel / What is the weather like in Poland where you are now? [211]

In Krakow its certainly been hot. But, its definitely better than cold. Heading to Krynica Zdroj tomorrow and it is supposed to be a little cooler.

USA, Canada / Will U.S. Citizens Need A Visa To Visit Poland Starting In 2021 [11]

This is an EU money making opportunity. Nothing more. The whole process will almost be instant on line clearance and it will cost 7 to 10 USD. That's a nice chunk of change in the EU coffers.

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.