Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]

Hi, I'm new to these forums and am not sure how to quote individual responses....so here goes my caveman method of replying to people:

@Lyzko - I will only start to learn the Polish language if I know there is a path forward that will enable me to live there and run my business from my Polish apartment. I'm going to take the advice of the person who commented above you--it sounds like the surest path to find answers. I speak a few languages (including basic Czech)...and while learning Polish will be challenging, I have a desire to do so and integrate in Polish society as much as I can. So, that should help out.

@PolAmKrakow -- Thank you, will send a PM in a few.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]

@Lyzko

Thanks! I have heard there are such things as "false friends" between Czech and Polish language. Once I realized I would rather go to Poland than Czech Republic--I immediately stopped studying Czech language at night time for fear I would confuse the two languages while I'm learning Polish.


That's only $108/mo. for the best plan...does that cover dental as well? Where do I get Medicare? Or are you talking about the American Medicare (for poor people? I'm on Medicaid right now...completely free healthcare here in the U.S. but I'm getting older and want access to better and cheaper healthcare than I can afford in the U.S.)

I'd rather not do a visa run....I have two cats. My fear is one day I will get the proverbial Polish border guard who's girlfriend just broke up with him the night before and he will be in a pissy mood and just not let me back into Poland. The first person told me that I can hire a Polish immigration attorney for a few thousand bucks and have them do the legwork for me.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]

I'm self employed. What I make here will afford me a very nice lifestyle in Krakow---not BMW and Mercedes rich--but enough to have a nice flat and save $$$ at the end of the month for marriage and retirement.

That's all I have ever wanted. A comfy middle class lifestyle with enough $ to raise a kid or two.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]

@delphiandomine

Thanks for your response. Did not take that into consideration originally. Does the Polish government allow business write-offs like they do in the U.S.?

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]

Then I'm on Medicaid. I get the two confused.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]


I need at least 110m2 size 2 bedroom apartment--yes I know apartments of this size (and in relatively new shape) are a unicorn in Europe, let alone Poland. But I have seen many in Krakow for rent. The 2nd bedroom is for my home office.

What exactly do you invest in Poland to get that kind of yield? I'm looking to save for retirement in 20 years from now.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]

OP here. I'm hoping my income will be 228k PLN next year (in 2020). What concerns me is what one of you guys said regarding the fluctuation of Zloty to USD. Do you think there is a chance of the Zloty climbing in value and me losing a lot money on the exchange rate? Or does it all even out over the period of 1 year?

I would plan on billing my clients in USD, then collecting that money in my Wells Fargo bank account, then transferring those monies over to my Polish bank account (once a month and on the days when the dollar is stronger). Between that and my monthly invoices that I save...this way there is a paper trail that the Polish government can use to confirm I'm paying what I owe in taxes--that's one area I refuse to screw around--I don't want to do anything that would cause the Polish government to deport me back to America. Would rather overpay on Polish taxes out of an abundance of caution (that's "old man me" speaking).

The reason I'm not wanting to move to a cheaper part of America is because I was born in Southern California and I really don't fit in politically with the far left or the far right in America and it seems like that's all there is nowadays. I'm as middle of the road politically as they come--technically a-political if you want to get nitty gritty. I tried living in a "flyover" red state for a few years and I just didn't fit in. I'm currently living in a very diverse blue state and it's just the same. People are too extreme nowadays.

Things have changed in the U.S. and it's never going back to the way it was, so if I have to start all over, might as well do it in a country that has a decent quality of life and is semi-affordable. Ergo Poland.

I should have also mentioned my plan to move to Poland rests entirely on me making that 228k ($60k USD) in 2020.

I have a marketing plan that will hopefully get me up there in income. 2019 was a real ****** year for me income wise.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [46]


Yes, I used to live in Boise Idaho and we had "inversions." They were obviously not as bad as the photo you showed....and that would bother me a tiny bit...but it's now 2020 and hopefully the Polish government will do something to mitigate the worst of the worst.

@cms neuf

I have an uncle who moved to Tennessee and he said "don't even think about it, you won't fit in here." I like middle America...but anywhere I go I will stick out a bit.


This is exactly what I had in mind. Screw the historical sites for the time being...I was planning on renting an Air BNB and then pretending I just moved there---meaning wake up 5am, work until 12noon, go grocery shopping for dinner, come back and market. Then on Fridays I would pretend to go out and try to meet some friends.

Life / Are Poles flashy? [11]

@Joker

If heels on ground, Comrade found.
If heels in sky, is Western spy.