Law / Working in EU countries and in UK with Poland's Residence Card (Karta Pobytu)? [51]

Residence permit in Poland - used to take 3 months (from day you apply to the day you receive a card). But things may have changed. Concerning how to apply, have a look at this website:

mazowieckie.pl/en/for-foreigners-1/residence/temporary-residence-pe/residence-with-family

EEA Family Permit: I don't know, but the UK gov has detailed and up to date information here:
gov.uk/family-permit/overview

You need to ask UK authorities whether you will be allowed to work or not. Don't assume anything.

Finally a piece of advice. If you intend to live in the UK and not in Poland then do NOT apply for a residence permit in Poland, for two reasons:

1. If the reason you are thinking of getting a residence permit in Poland is to facilitate travel to and from Poland (or Schengen zone in general) then you will fulfill the same purpose by getting a Schengen visa. If you are married to a Polish citizen then upon applying you will receive, free of charge, a multiple entry Schengen visa, valid for 2 years and allowing you to stay up to 90 days within a six month period. On the other hand, applying for a residence permit in Poland means you both have to travel to Poland and stay for the duration of application processing, plus you will have to pay for the application and for the residence card.

2. If you get a residence permit in Poland and end up not living in Poland then renewal has the potential to be very problematic (I heard stories...).

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


I couldn't agree more... Exactly my thoughts.

Law / Working in EU countries and in UK with Poland's Residence Card (Karta Pobytu)? [51]


No you don't need a Polish ID card.

Work / Are Indian dental qualifications recognised in Poland? [22]


Aap kaisee hain? Remember that English is not an official language in Poland. There are many jobs for English speakers in Poland, but mostly in IT, call centers and teaching English.

Some people don't know this, but English is an official language in India, and every educated Indian I ever met spoke English fluently.

May I ask why Wroclaw? Is your husband from there - or maybe he was offered a job there?

Work / Are Indian dental qualifications recognised in Poland? [22]


I would encourage you to do this as well. That way you keep busy, build a social network (which should come in handy when you look for a job for example) and earn additional professional qualifications at the same time. You can take Polish lessons concurrently with your studies to maximize time utilization.

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


You need to apply in person.
Other subjects are not followed consistently. Better call and check with the embassy.


Quite late but since I just saw your question... Since you are already in Poland and I assume you are staying legally here then you don't need to go back home and apply for a visa. You can simply collect your work permit in person. I heard that they merged work permit and residence permit into a single document but do ask just to be on the safe side.

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


And we are saying: go ahead, move to Belarus :)

News / Warsaw no longer the most congested city in Europe! [16]

Still, Warsaw is in the top 10 most congested...

But they did not take into consideration some major cities from South and East Asia or even certain African cities - which is like the "traffic" equivalent of " ranking the world's top football teams" without taking into consideration European and South American teams.

Traffic any given day in Cairo is at least as bad as Los Angeles (I say this from the commuter's point of view since I spent time in both places), and let's not get started with cities within the Indian subcontinent...

News / Warsaw no longer the most congested city in Europe! [16]


The virus of Warsaw roads I would say... Requires a cheap and easy fix and would improve things for thousands of people yet the total lack of will to do it is just appalling!

News / Warsaw no longer the most congested city in Europe! [16]


I agree about traffic jams, and I add environmental cost in terms of added pollution, but what about the places they rent or buy in Warsaw, aren't these properties taxed by the city? What about their employers in Warsaw, don't they pay some taxes?

News / Warsaw no longer the most congested city in Europe! [16]


That is disconnected from reality. People don't have a preference for the long commute in and out of the city; they live further away and commute long distances primarily due to budget constraints. It is simply cheaper to live further away from the city. FYI: the asking prices for rentals of newer 50 square meter 2BR apartments in Warsaw today exceed the average net income of a Polish family. So you would specifically like to make people with lower income pay more and people with higher income pay less?

Another aspect, businesses in Warsaw NEED people from outside to come to work.

On the other hand, synchronizing traffic lights is simple and cheap but there is simply no will to do it...

News / Poland have the 3rd best Education System of Europe [49]

Good analysis by DominicB.

USA, Canada / Traveling from US to Poland with maiden name in my passport and renewing it there [16]


Please clarify, did the marriage take place in Poland and the divorce took place outside?

Food / Is brain-damaging vegan fad growing in Poland? [176]


Great organization, and they link to this vegan internet shop:
vegekoszyk.pl (here you will find a variety of vegan products that can be ordered online and delivered in Poland, but website is only in Polish).

Speaking of successful vegans, I am sure you heard of Leilani Munter? She was here in Europe not too long ago.

I would like to see reliable research that suggests that a balanced vegan diet can damage the human brain. Preferably not something done by or paid for by some meat farmers' association.

It is worth highlighting that there is research that suggests that meat production has a huge environmental cost - here is one example: pnas.org/content/111/33/11996

and there are many more if you just google.

Also, a personal opinion, veganism is not a fad, it is a way of life supported by strong science and common sense, and will undoubtedly be the norm in the future as sustainability becomes a deciding factor for more and more people.

Law / In Poland on National Visa, want to visit London - how can i apply for travel visa to UK [22]

You can apply for EEA family permit - it is processed much faster than a regular visa (usually 2 working days). Visit the British embassy with your wife and state your case to them. From personal experience I say they are very helpful. Take with your all the relevant documents.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]


You have reduced an entire country to a driver experience actually.

Answering the actual topic, for the most part, a Pakistani in Poland is like any other foreigner in Poland. Most Poles that have not travelled have never interacted with anyone from Pakistan before so there might some shy curiosity but that's all. There is no reason why a Pakistani investor cannot successfully start a business in Poland.

Life / Vandalism on cars in Poland [64]


Totally agree. If they don't reply or take action within 30 days then upgrade the issue to the next prosecutor up the chain...


Have you heard back from the prosecutor?

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]


I specifically said Poles that have not travelled.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]

And you have interacted with them and determined so? Dude I live in Poland and the average person here knows very little about Pakistan other than what is in school curriculum.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]

I own and run a business that offers made-to-order B2B products and services in Poland, and it is not an online business, so in short I know a lot of people, plus over 1000 that follow me on LinkedIn.

In terms of Pakistanis, I know a few as well, and every one of them is in either engineering or IT, and they are all tax paying and productive individuals. I am sure there are exceptions, I just don't know any of them.

In general, there is no established negative (or otherwise) stereotype of Pakistanis in Poland, despite the best efforts of some people to state otherwise.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]

Immediately before moving to Poland I lived in Doha, Dubai and Muscat for 12 years combined. So I too have lived in cities with 300,000 Pakistanis or more. I even know a few words in Urdu.

How many Pakistanis in the places I mentioned rely on state welfare? They were generally very hard workers, doing jobs from driving trucks and heavy equipment to top end engineering consulting jobs. Again, there are always exceptions and there are bad people from every nationality with no exception. And Pakistanis coming to Poland are no exception.

Law / Polish Visa, Work Permit, Residency for Spouse of Polish Citizen [69]


If you are married by then, and your marriage is registered in Poland, then it should be straightforward.

First he needs apply for a Schengen visa, which shouldn't be a problem and will be free for spouse of Polish citizen. It would be very helpful if you could be with him when he goes to apply. You have to remember that almost by default authorities assume that this is a marriage of convenience, therefore you being present helps alleviate their suspicions.

Second, once he is in Poland, you need to register him as a resident at your address (zameldowania) for which you need either proof of ownership or rental contract. You will take proof of address registration, together with your marriage certificate (the Polish one) and copies of his passport (every page except blank visa pages) and your ID (dowód osobisty), photos and filled application forms, plus birth certificates of your children if you have any, and apply with these documents for his residence permit. Unless there is something wrong with your application, he will receive a temporary residence permit valid for 3 years.

Love / Does anyone know of a good marriage counsellor/therapist in Poznan or Wroclaw area? [4]

Visit this website: pocieszka.pl/index.php
(Polish Institute of Integrative Psychotherapy - a method that deals with everything you mentioned and more).

Scroll to the bottom till you see a mobile telephone number (kom.) Call this number and ask to speak to Prof. Andrzej Nehrebecki (you can see his profile here in Polish

pocieszka.pl/index.php?page=Andrzej&menu=onas&item=zesp_inst)

He speaks English, and he should be able to refer you to an English speaking therapist in Wroclaw. The institute itself is based in Krakow but they have graduates all over Poland.

Typical therapist (English speaking) charges PLN 120 per hour in Poland.

Law / I have D Type Cel Wydania 10 visa? What EU countries can I visit with it? [17]


Refer to this link: ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/e-library/documents/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/docs/visa_sticker_comments_section_en.pdf

Law / Poland's Temporary residence card after marriage; I entered Europe without visa, the officials are stalking me [48]


To answer you better, I need to know the following:
1. Where did you get married, and have you completed the registration of your marriage in Poland and received a Polish marriage certificate?
2. Have you applied for refugee status or asylum in Poland or any other country? If yes, when did you apply, in what country, and is your application still under process or have you received a decision? If you have a decision, what was that decision?

3. What is your nationality?
4. How did you enter Europe and when did you enter Europe?

Without knowing answers to my above questions, in general, yes it is normal but not common. They do it because you got married rather recently, and they need to make sure it is a real marriage and not just a marriage of convenience, and the risk of it being a marriage of convenience is somewhat further highlighted by your status in Europe.

You need to know that if they approve your residence permit as a family member of Polish citizen, that will automatically void your asylum status if already granted, and if not already granted they will instruct you to withdraw your application for asylum before a residence permit can actually be issued. If you have a negative decision on asylum, for sure they will perform as many checks as possible to satisfy that your marriage is not a marriage of convenience.

Law / Poland's Temporary residence card after marriage; I entered Europe without visa, the officials are stalking me [48]


Your application for residence permit as the spouse of a Polish citizen cannot be rejected solely for being in Poland illegally.

Four more important questions:

1. On what basis did you apply for asylum in Germany? (for example, are you from Kashmir and running away from fighting or...?) Please give as much details as possible.

2. Why was your application for asylum rejected in Germany? This is important because, for example, of several possibilities, if the reason for rejection is "applicant provided false statements" then your application in Poland is likely to face increased scrutiny.

3. What happened after your application was rejected in Germany, did you appeal against the decision, were you told you must leave and failed to leave, or were you told to apply instead for a temporary residence permit, etc? It is important because being instructed to leave and failing to leave or take further legal action moves you from being an illegal resident to an illegal resident who failed to obey a court order. This can be problematic in Poland.

4. Have you been charged or convicted of any crime since you entered Europe in 2012?

Law / Poland's Temporary residence card after marriage; I entered Europe without visa, the officials are stalking me [48]


Any chance you can give me a better idea about the content of this document, especially issue and expiry date if any. It sounds like instead of recognizing you as an asylum seeker, they decided to allow you to stay on the basis of tolerated stay or something similar to that.

That should not be a hurdle in the way of your residence permit in Poland, but like I said before, they are being "extra careful" because your history is somewhat complex.

I am aware of a couple in Poznan that was interviewed twice also, once at home and once at the office. He is from Poland and she is from Philippines. She entered Poland legally and did everything "by the book" but still their procedure dragged on for about 6 months. The only common factor between your case and their case is that they also got married shortly before applying for the permit (about 2 months).

One small advice, when you go for the interview next month, take with you a doctor's note confirming your wife's pregnancy. A child (or potential child) being in the picture tends to smooth things considerably.

On a different subject, I am very curious about your life in Opole.

Law / Poland's Temporary residence card after marriage; I entered Europe without visa, the officials are stalking me [48]

All I can say is: explain (politely and humbly) during the next interview that your wife's health is shaky and the length of the process and sense of doubt is making her stressed and nervous. Make sure you have a good translator with you if you don't speak fluent Polish. Good luck and good health to you, your wife and future child.

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


Very valid question that PiS dodged religiously so far. I guess they think they can just print money.

Law / Poland's Temporary residence card after marriage; I entered Europe without visa, the officials are stalking me [48]


Wrong.

There are legal provisions that allow people who have broken certain laws (including people who have been charged and convicted of criminal offenses and even served jail time in EU up to a certain limit) to obtain residence permits for a number of different reasons.

For example, in Poland, being in Poland illegally is not solely a reason to reject a residence permit for a family member of a Polish citizen - this is what the law says, not something subject to what you or I think shall be basis of examination.


Also wrong.

For example, in Poland, "other compelling reasons" shall be taken into consideration when examining someone's application, and in this case, he has a particularly strong compelling reason which is a Polish citizen that is dependant on him to provide care due to health conditions. Several Ukrainians have residence permits in Poland exclusively for that very reason.

Finally, EU law guarantees the right of EU citizens to live with their families (and by definition in each and every single EU country that includes the legally wedded spouse, and in some countries a civil partner as well).

Pretty much the only reasons an application can be rejected even on appeal are:
1. Person seen is a potential risk (usually terrorism links, organized crime links or subject to EU sanctions). This CANNOT be argued against.
2. Person has served a long jail term for a crime committed in EU (usually longer than 2 years). This can be argued against.
3. The marriage is proven to be a marriage of convenience. And if there is a child, this possibility is automatically eliminated - by law. This can also be argued against.

4. Person has been ordered to leave EU and failed to comply or legally appeal against such orders. This can also be argued against.