News / Who are you voting for in the 2010 Poland's presidential elections and why? [82]



I love you too, honey :-) How about a good kompot at the milk bar?

News / Who are you voting for in the 2010 Poland's presidential elections and why? [82]

I'd vote for PiS if I could. But I ain't Polish yet ;-)... At least I'll have to wait until local/European election. PO reminds me too much of things I don't like in Western Europe, which more globally concern the Union.

Love / Ten things to remember when you have a Polish girlfriend [79]


You forget the Aga and the Asia. There are billions of them.


It's on March 8th and is celebrated in many countries. It is an international day.



You're both correct. Polish women have so much class, they actually are princesses and it makes any man want to respect them. Usually with pleasure you will comply to this. But on another hand, you must also be quite affirmative as a male, otherwise they will perceive you as a wimp and stop respecting you.


You're absolutely correct and this is devil's strategy! Everytime my girlfriend put her arm around mine in town, I could expect to be quickly taken back home and raped :-) in a delicate atmosphere of perfumed candles, dimmed lights and sexy underwear.


Correct. In my case I'm essentially an all-purpose pillow.


who is usually a king-size mother in her role of watchdog, lowering your defense by cooking for you the best Polish food ever.


Actually my food was always my own but I wonder why they order so small dishes. The first time, she wanted to pay for her dish, probably to show me that she didn't want to just profit of me. But I insisted on paying. And the following times she would just order rosól while I was having a starter then an Argentinian steak. Go figure...

Actually the Poland education system is still the typical European one. She will only look smarter if you're from the U.S., where it's considered normal not to learn anything that has nothing to do with the U.S. or where the traditional cursus in average school will be 15 minutes of math and 5 minutes of geography stuck somewhere between 2 hours of football. A bit exagerating but you got my point.


Yes you are, because the last one is one the most important: she has a religion. Poland is catholic, and king-size mother will make sure that you follow the rule, or are something as close as possible to it. I know well 4 Polish girls: one colleague from work, one true friend, and two girlfriends. In each case, we developped a good relationship, with fun, comments on our private life etc.. but it's ONLY after having a conversation about religion and they learnt that I' a catholic as well and I sometimes attend church that they really became fully open, relaxed and trustful. The difference before/after was striking. I experienced it again last week with my new girlfriend. We know each other for a few months. The same evening where she put the religion into the conversation was the evening where we kissed for the first time. Maybe the generation accounts for something. She is in her early/mid thirties and i'm in my late thirties.


Thanks for posting this! ;-) And congratulations on your wedding. All the best for both of you...

Law / How to register a new business in Poland [129]


You can listen to the good advise from Delphiandomine.

I also recommend this official website, full of interesting economical data about Poland. The "Polish Law" section will also tell you everything you must know about starting and running a business.

paiz.gov.pl/en

Law / EU citizen residency certificate to live in Poland [34]


Belgium has it as well. This procedure does not apply to immigrants only, but natives as well. And it even goes much further than that. When you move to another house, a police inspector comes to check you and your place. He will do the following:

- check that you actually live there (and that the former tenant left).
- read your contract for renting the place.
- ensure that you are not the victim of an unscrupulous landlord (for example who makes you pay a huge amount of money to live in a rotten place).

- he will inform you about regulations applying to your street (for example when and how to put your trash bags on the sidewalk, where you can park your car) and give you a booklet published by the City full of useful informations (in some cities).

- he will give you his visit card so if you need help or information in the future, you can contact him/her at the police station.

- if he feels like he needs it, he has the right to interrogate neighbours.


It was not directed at you. I took the opportunity to make these comments, as we were in one more thread about migrating to Poland. And this forum is full of complaints from "candidates" who get lost, confused, or just can't make it professionally once they are in Poland. So, better warn one more time and make sure people have a clear mind about what they want and what they need do to get it. ;-)


When I pay ZUS every month, I do it via internet banking (I do it myself as I'm running my own business). I select "Payment to ZUS" and I make 3 different payments as you mentioned: Ubezpieczenie spółeczne, Ubezpieczenie zdrowotne, Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia. Altogether they cover pension and medical care. But they all fit under the ZUS label even if they are different organizations.

Law / EU citizen residency certificate to live in Poland [34]

Maybe it would also be interesting to make a more general comment about migrating to Poland. Sometimes, when I read comments on this forum from people who want to move to Poland, I wonder whether they are walking on the moon or just smoking too much pot ;-).

1. Ask yourself the question seriously: why exactly do you want to move to Poland? Like every country, it has fantastic aspects, but other aspects can be a nightmare. As some members pointed out in other threads, Poland is not a country for everyone.

2. Do you speak at least a little bit of Polish? It's insane to move to another country, all by yourself, without knowing anything to the local language. It's a suicide. Stop assuming that everyone here, including doctors and civil servants, speaks your language whichever it is.

3. If you move, get a job BEFORE. Stop assuming that Polish employers will give you a job at once. Poland doesn't need us.

4. Take with you as many official documents as possible from your native country. You never know exactly what Poland will request from you. It may vary according to your "profile" (sorry if this looks discriminating) or where you come from (European Union, Schengen zone, non-E.U.). Read the different stories on this forum. In my case I took the following documents, all made during the last 6 weeks before my move (that means the end of 2009):

- certificate of birth
- certificate of residency
- certificate that I have the right to social security in my country until the end of 2010 (not 2009)
- European card of social security
- passport valid until beyond the first 3 months of intended temporary residency
- certificate from the Police stating that I was never convicted
- history of my business from my country's equivalent of KRS+REGON, to show that my business plans in Poland are just the continuity of what I was doing for the past 12 years

- certificate from a language school that I succesfully attended Polish classes for the past 2 years
- college (university) diploma
- blood test to certify that I don't have AIDS or hepatitis

The only document that was in fact requested from me was the blood test. I must have minor surgery on the eyelid to remove a sty and the Polish doctor told me that, before any operation, the patient must have received a vaccination against hepatitis. To prove that I didn't have hepatitis yet I had to present her with a blood test.

5. Once you are sure that you have residency permit, a job, and the right to benefit of Polish social security (and only after that), you can do the procedure to "resign" from your country and disconnect completely if you want.


The guy at the Foreigners Office told me I had to keep it with me all the time along with passport or identity card. It was later confirmed to me by an employee of the embassy.


You must be right, and I simply forgot. I had in mind that PESEL was required in order to register at ZUS.

Law / EU citizen residency certificate to live in Poland [34]

Here is how things worked for me when I settled to Kraków last December. Might be useful for new candidates.

1- On arrival day I kept the boarding pass of my flight to testify the first day of presence on Polish territory (no identity check at Kraków Airport). I was staying at a Polish friend's flat (owner of the flat) and we went to the "urząd miasta" together with the notary deed proving ownership, and my passport. I was registered at this address and got a residency certificate for 3 months (Potwierdzenie zameldowania).

2- One week later, I got myself a flat to rent, and had to show my passport and Potwierdzenie zameldowania to the landlord.

3- Six weeks later, I went to the Foreigners Office in Kraków. It's not at the "urząd miasta", this time it's the building of "województwo".

I requested a residency permit for beyond 3 months and, as Delphi pointed out, it costed 1zł. The form you must fill-up is written in Polish, English and French.

The staff at the Foreigners Office speaks Polish and English. I was given the "code of conduct" for foreigners which is available in Polish, English or French.

They asked for 4 documents: passport, Potwierdzenie zameldowania, European card of medical insurance, and work-related document to prove an income allowing to pay for a living in Poland. In my case, work-related document was the registration at KRS of the company I established the month before. Actually they checked it for me, because I hadn't been notified yet by KRS that my company was "accepted" so this is how I got to know about it :-).

Since I hadn't yet modified the Potwierdzenie zameldowania with my new address, they refused to write my new address on the residency card and told me they would update it later.

I was not questioned by any policeman, as opposed to what some forum members experienced.
I got my residency card 8 days after I applied, with no limit date on it.
It is printed on an A4 paper on both sides, within a frame. You must actually cut it yourself, fold it in two and keep it in your wallet.

4- Armed with my residency card, passport and contract for renting the flat, I went back to the "urząd miasta" to unregister my previous address and register the new one (yes, these are distinct operations involving different papers) and I also applied for a PESEL number.

They printed a new Potwierdzenie zameldowania showing my new address.

5- I got the PESEL number 10 days later. For this I went back again to "urząd miasta" and they printed a new Potwierdzenie zameldowania indicating my PESEL number.

5- I went back to the Foreigners Office with all my papers and asked for an updated residency card. For this I paid again 1zł.

I got the new card a week or so after applying, still no limit validity date (so I assume it's the regular 5 years). The new card indicates my new address and PESEL.

6- Finally I went to the ZUS office to register for social and medical security.

7- I also unregistered remotely (by registered mail) from the population books in my country and when the mayor's office sent me the confirmation, I asked for a new identity card to my embassy in Warsaw. I sent them copies of all documents and they didn't even asked me to come and fetch it personally.

I got my identity card 1 month after applying. But these are matters with my native country, not with Poland.

8- Still one thing to do: exchange my driving licence. Yeah, I really look young on that old picture :-).

As a conclusion:
- It's horrible how much time you waste at the Polish administration with their bureaucracy!
- I would recommend, when you settle in Poland, to bring with you a birth certificate and a residency certificate from your native country. It is not required but it makes things easier. For example when they ask you in Polish (if you're not good at all in Polish) to spell the names of your parents, dates and place of birth, original address and things like that. You just put the documents under their nose and point with your finger.

- SeanBM, how can you live without a PESEL? It makes things so much easier. Can you actually benefit from Polish social security and medical care if you don't have a PESEL?

Real Estate / PLN 2,500 the going rate for an apartment in Poland [210]

2500zł for a 60m2-flat in Kraków with everything paid ? Hmmm... given the crazy prices of estate in big Polish cities, it is not a rip-off by a specific owner, it's the just the exaggerated prices of the market considering the average Polish salaries. Personally I wouldn't pay for that.

I managed to find such a flat in Kraków Bronowice (not the outer part of Bronowice, but the part closer to the center) for 2000zł in a luxurious new block. It also included TV and internet, very convenient as everything worked on my day in and I avoided the hassle of signing up for my own "abonament", not even knowing whether I'd want to stay there after the first 6 months.

I wonder how estate prices will stay so high. I was told that in Kraków they went as high as 12000zł per square meter in some districts. That's insane because nothing justifies that. Kraków is great but it's only Kraków. Besides, new constructions are crap with cracks in plaster appearing after a year or less. My ex-girlfriend bought her flat in Krowodrza Górka in 2005 at 3000zł per square meter (paying cash with money she made working abroad). She was lucky for it was still correctly built. In the summer of 2008 she was telling me that now it went up at 7000-8000zł in her district.

Travel / Dinner place suggestion in Krakow [17]

SeanBM, I was thinking for a long time that I should try one of those Jewish restaurants in Kazimierz, and wondered about Ariel. If you recommend it, I'll give it a try. Actually I went once to Szara Kazimierz right on the opposite side of Ariel, but haven't had anything typical Jewish there, though it was good.

CK Browar near Bagatela? Never paid attention, but I'll give it a try as well.

And to original poster, I also recommend Miód Malina, in ul. Grodzka, on the corner of Grodzka and a small street where there is also an excellent corsican restaurant.

Food / To find veal scalops in Kraków ? [8]

polkamaniac
Are you talking specifically about the market on a small square with a round building in the middle of it ? (forgot its name) Yeah, I know the place. I bought broad beans there once. Very expensive in Poland though :-(

Food / To find veal scalops in Kraków ? [8]


Jesus :o Poor meat !
Well, thanks for the info. I like to shop in an old market from time to time. I love Nowy Kleparz, especially in the summer, so I'll give a try to your butcher. By the way, you're the person who posted about lamb some time ago. Does your butcher still provide lamb as well ? I love lamb chops from time to time and prepare them in a pan with rosemary.

Language / About: w tytę [12]

It's definitely w tytę, as I mentioned this link above : define.pl/termin,Osz_ty_w_tyte,1798.html

Somebody gave the answer with the translation of tyta, and also the general meaning of the expression and its variant. So I think it's OK now ;-). Have a good weekend all.

Language / About: w tytę [12]

OK thanks

Language / About: w tytę [12]

Thanks for your replies. But one last thing :
how should I understand the expression "Ja Cię w tytę" ?

Thanks in advance

Language / About: w tytę [12]

Actually it's "w tytę". I found it here : define.pl/termin,Osz_ty_w_tyte,1798.html

But I was curious to know exactly what the word tyta means. And the second expression :
"ja Cię w tytę".

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]

jonni

Thanks for your input. I talked to my lawyer. But here is a copy/paste of his e-mail reply, so you get the situation:

"Because of a resolution of the Supreme Court issued just two weeks ago, it's null and void to conclude a labour contract between a limited company and its sole shareholder being at the same time the only member of the board. In such case a solution would be to conclude a contract for manager. But still, according to paragraph 210 item 2 of Commercial Companies Code, in case like yours such contract (legal action) requires a form of notary deed.

In other words: you - acting as general assembly of shareholders - are authorized to make a resolution setting a salary for you, without notary deed. But in order to let your accountant make money transfer (salary), a legal basis is needed. And this would be e. g. contract for manager, but in your case it has to be undersigned as notary deed."

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]

Teemu, Jonni

The thing is that, on the akt notarialny, indeed there is no mention of a salary for the "prezes". When we wrote the umowa spółki, my lawyer had foreseen for me, that I would later sign a contract as employee with my firm. I talked again to the notary on Friday. He told me there are 2 possibilities. I can do a "kontrakt menedżerski" (or whatever it is called in Polish). No need for akt notarialny or registration. So it wouldn't cost anything. Or another contract (can't remember all the details, because anyway I discuss that kind of details with my lawyer) which requires akt notarialny, sworn translator, and registration at the court by the kancelaria.

Can you give me precisions about the contract with your own firm, without all those cost and hassle? I'm obviously interested in a similar solution...

Anyway, with the original umowa spółki, I just followed the recommendations of my lawyer. If it appears I just wasted time and money because of ill advise, I'll grab him by the balls and stuff his nostrils with them!!!

News / Kaczynski to be buried at Wawel ?! [289]

Question to all:
When Lech Walesa will die, where do you think he would/should be buried ?

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]

Actually it's more than just shareholder. I'm the only person in the company. So, I'm both unique shareholder, president of the board and legal representative. In these conditions, my lawyer told me (and the notary confirmed it), the contract must be a notary deed and be registered at the court.

Life / 3G availability with iPhone in Poland ? [4]

Actually it's OK now. I went back to the Orange shop and they told me to a hard reset . After the reinstallation from iTunes, it worked perfectly.

News / Kaczynski to be buried at Wawel ?! [289]

facebook.com/group.php?gid=108999352469162&ref=nf

LOL :-)

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]

Thanks a lot.

Life / Feeling ashamed of my Polish heritage. [237]

Sebastian

Poland has great things, which justify the visit of many tourists every year. I'm not Pole but migrated from a comfortable Western-European country recently for professional purposes and I can assure you that I love living in Poland, and I love Poland which I discovered 3 years ago. Every country has its ups and downs. Be proud of the specificities of your native country but don't spit on the neighbour, I think that's the rule of a sane self-appreciation.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]


And that's the problem. You should have accepted to eat pork in order to show respect to them, not the other way round.

USA, Canada / My boyfriend is being deported to Poland because his US visa expired, help needed [53]

No, it was a few years before we met. Sorry if the way I wrote it was not clear. She was with the Pole and expected him to become the man of her life, so she fully trusted him.

USA, Canada / My boyfriend is being deported to Poland because his US visa expired, help needed [53]


It's very high. Mine is on "electric chair stand-by" ;-)

Worried. Don't do anything stupid and don't ever try to use somebody to stay, if you have some morals. Respect the country you pretend to like.

And I'm taking the opportunity to quote a story that happened to my ex-(Polish) girlfriend. She was legally working as a doctor for 2 years in the U.S. a few years ago. She met a Polish guy there and thought that she had found the man of her life, expecting them to get married and have children, happily going to church every sunday together. But he found himself in an illegal situation (probably expired visa). He wanted so badly to stay in the U.S. that he met an American girl of Brazilian origin which he married after 3 months, dumping the Polish girl straight away (but telling her he still wanted to have sex with her on the side because she was the one he loved). The poor girl was so devastated and just got back to her mother in Poland, with an emotional shock from which, I suspect, she never fully recovered, and a complete distrust in men.

Some people are just ready to do anything to stay in the so great America :-/ It's disgusting.