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Posts by grspring  

Joined: 10 Feb 2012 / Male ♂
Last Post: 7 Dec 2018
Threads: 11
Posts: 55
From: USA Maine
Speaks Polish?: Learning now
Interests: Photography

Displayed posts: 66 / page 1 of 3
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grspring   
22 Mar 2018
Law / Karta Pobytu - how long can i stay temporarly out of Poland? [30]

Merged:

Poland's Karta Pobytu - Pobyt Czasowy (temporary residence) - being outside of Poland for more than 6 months



I have a Karta Pobytu/Pobyt Czasowy, expiring in 2019. My wife (Polish citizen) and I had to go to the USA for her knee replacement surgery. What we thought would be less than six months has turned into seven months by the time we return.

Will my card be invalid for being away from Poland too long?
grspring   
17 Jun 2016
Law / PESEL or NIP in Poland for an American married to Polish citizen [22]

I am an American and have a residence card based on my marriage to Polish citizen. I am also retired and my Social Security payments are deposited into our Polish bank account and Polish taxes are withheld. The bank has asked me for a PESEL number saying that I would need it to pay taxes.

I went to the PESEL Number issuing office and was given an application to take to a different office to get a NIP number.

So far I've been told, I automatically get a PESEL number because I registered my permanent address, I need a PESEL number, I don't need a PESEL number, I can't get a PESEL number and now I need a NIP number.

There does not seem to be a definitive source of information. Can anyone help.

Thanks
greg
grspring   
11 Mar 2016
Law / Health Insurance Requirements for Poland Residency [7]

We arrived in Poland for 5 months ago. My wife is a Polish citizen and I obtained a short stay visa based on our marriage. She is eligible for government health insurance and I read that as a family member (husband), I am entitled to apply for it also. Currently there are no problems and I am using Enel-Med for prescriptions and check-up on pre-existing conditions.

Is it true that I can apply. If so I can't find forms to do this.

Thanks
grspring   
8 Sep 2015
Life / Where to buy a clothes dryer in Poland? [16]

Got a bit of string and a bath?

My place is real small, 2 people and the drying rack never leaves the middle of the room. Since we're staying for more than a year (usually only 2-3 weeks) I just can't take it.
grspring   
8 Sep 2015
Life / Where to buy a clothes dryer in Poland? [16]

Merged: Appliance Stores In Krakow

I need to buy a washer/dryer combo, ventless unit for my apartment in Krakow. Is there an appliance store other than Saturn where I might find one?

Thanks
grspring   
10 Aug 2015
Law / Health Insurance Requirements for Poland Residency [7]

Thank you for the information.

I'm having a difficult time defining my category on the migrant site.

I am the retired husband of a retired, newly granted polish citizen. We are coming from the US. We own property in Krakow (an apartment) and would support ourselves with retirement investments and US government Social Security Benefits. We are also putting a two year max limit on our travels for my wife to explore her family's homeland.

We will not have/need jobs but we will need insurance. I guess my wife can get a Polish Government plan and supplement that with private insurance. Can I just pay the government for insurance or do I go the private route. We are arriving in September so I'm trying to get as much information collected before arrival.

Thanks
grspring   
8 Aug 2015
Law / Health Insurance Requirements for Poland Residency [7]

I have been looking for information on health insurance requirements for myself to go along with my long stay visa application. My wife is a Polish citizen and I am from the US. We will also be traveling to other EU countries.

It seems like I have to have insurance before submitting my application for long stay? If that is the case can someone advise on health insurance requirements and comment on which companies are considered best for and that non-citizens prefer.

Thanks
grspring   
3 Aug 2015
Law / Long Stay Proof of Income with an application to support myself in Poland [6]

I am retired and married to a Polish citizen. Based on the current exchange rates my monthly retirement benefit in the US is 5800pln a month. This money would be deposited in my Polish bank account. I don't need to pay rent as I own an apartment in the Krakow city center. Is that figure enough to show the government that I can support myself or should I include other assets with my long stay application.

Since I understand all documents have to be translated into Polish, I'd like to not pay for extra translations if I do not need them.

Thanks
grspring   
3 Jul 2015
Life / Apartment Painting in Poland [4]

I am returning to Krakow in September and would like my apartment painted before I arrive. I want to have it painted the same color. I was told to send a paint number but don't know if the numbers match world wide. Who are the major paint makers in Poland. In US there's Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. Any hints appreciated. Thanks
grspring   
12 Mar 2015
USA, Canada / Shipping personal possessions from US to Poland [11]

Merged: Shipping Items for Personal use to Poland

My wife and I (She now has her Polish Citizenship & Polish Passport) will be moving to Poland for possibly a two year stay. I will have to work out a residence after we arrive (unless I'm told I can start the process in the United States).

We have an apartment, in Krakow, we purchased three years ago and it will be our permanent residence. We would like to ship some of our personal items for the apartment, including a couple of pieces of furniture.

Should we expect to pay any import fees or taxes for doing this?
grspring   
24 Feb 2015
Genealogy / Waiting for confirmation of citizenship through Grandfather - have birth certificate [17]

Interesting that my wife got her Confirmation of Citizenship first from Warsaw and several weeks later, her Polish birth certificate. Her next step is a trip to the consulate for a passport application.

The process too about a year to complete. Even though she is a Polish speaker, she needed allot of help from her (born in Poland) Polish friends.

When we get to Poland, we are staying for a year or so, we will work on my long stay visa.
grspring   
1 Dec 2014
Life / IBAN/SEPA international transfer fees [3]

This is a tough question. When we purchased our apartment and put money into the sellers bank, we added our bank charge but didn't know the receiving bank charged us also, so seller thought we were trying to cheat them. There was also the buy/sell price along with exchange rate. It's allot to compute. If possible I would suggest opening a bank account in Poland. Until we got the bank account we were in the same situation.
grspring   
26 Nov 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

one and a half years of learning Polish and I am beginning to understand just some to the rules of the grammar.

Through a combination of tools some grammar is falling into place. I noticed that I can read and comprehend much better than only weeks ago. Having just turned 68 there are plenty of things on the "Bucket List". Communication is one and if I live long enough maybe fluency.
grspring   
15 Oct 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

Starting to sound like the chicken-egg argument.

I have several friends in the United States who are from Poland and are only slightly younger than myself. Though they have lived here and are now citizens they do not speak the king's English. Sometimes they make a statement that sounds more like a question, because they are in some way asking if they said it correctly. I let them know that I understood exactly what they were saying and then offer a better choice of words or sentence structure. What I read seems to be true. They are more interested in their English than in my Polish.

I understand all of the suggestions offered for learning so I'll move on to motivation so there is an understanding where I am coming from.

A few years back at the tender age of 64 we purchased an apartment in Krakow. We have visited many cities but for several reasons we chose Krakow. We wanted to travel Europe without the burden of having to return to the USA after only two or three weeks. Relocating to Poland was the best solution considering my wife's eligibility for citizenship and her being a fluent speaker.

Though language is certainly the most important item on the plate, I am also familiarizing myself with Polish history and culture from the middle ages to modern day.

I have seen advertised many Polish language courses and will get (need) help when I'm there selecting the right one for me.

Thanks
grspring   
12 Oct 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

I learned Polish through years of evening classes

OK everybody calm down. I am concentrating on vocabulary to be able to communicate as quickly as possible, even if my sentence structure is incorrect (which my wife corrects me on all the time). I will be attending some Polish language classes when in Krakow but at my age I certainly won't be spending years learning.

OK but this way your Polish will still be on a kindergarten level or years to come.

One more thing. Everyone should be happy that an American is actually trying to learn another language. When I traveled in France I learned basic greeting and what I needed to find my way around. Did the same in Portugal. I'm one of those who take the time and make an effort. Give a little credit to those of us that make an attempt.
grspring   
11 Sep 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

Are you just learning Polish to communicate with your wife or do you live there? How long have you been learning for ?

I started learning about two years ago and got no where until now. My wife also speaks English. We are moving to Krakow next year for a 1-2 year stay. So I want to get around by myself with a translator.

How are you finding the pronunciation?

I am understanding how combinations of Polish letters sound making it easier to pronounce. Hearing them each time from a card certainly helps. Two things I can't do is roll "R's" but I have a Czech friend who can't do it either and spell correctly. I keep spelling as pronounced with English letters.
grspring   
11 Sep 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

Are you learning things relevant to everyday conversation from it

Yes. I've made categories for food items, clothing, directions, things in the home, in specific rooms, colors, days weeks times of day, weather. When I return to Krakow I will be taking a course. For now I am mostly concerned with small sentences that will get me what I need. "Excuse me,where is the milk?". My wife being a native speaker understands my short sentences even with incorrect grammar. She says, "they may laugh but will understand what you need and probably not correct you. As this would seem rude".

Note on ANKI. It rotates the words out as you learn. You determine the rotation. I you don't remember a word tell it to do it again in 10 minutes or 1 day. I think adding pictures and sounds are primary to learning. From Google images I got swatches of all the colors I was learning with Polish pronunciation. You stop thinking in English and only associate the color with the polish word.
grspring   
11 Sep 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

Can you put sentences together with it?

Yes, however I use a Google to get the pictures and connect sound, I keep the sentences simple so Google won't screw up the translation. I've learned when translating with Google do not include articles in the sentence being translated.

I'm only creating simple sentences making changes in gender mostly so the ending are correct. My big problem comes from "diminutives" but you can make cards with pictures and sound for this also also.
grspring   
11 Sep 2014
Language / Learning Polish but not focusing on the grammar, good idea? [37]

First, I'm not an expert at learning languages. I've tried several book and dumped allot of money into Rosetta stone. Still I struggled. Just so you know, I'm not selling books. Just saying what is finally working for me.

Recently I purchased one more book, Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner, which introduced me to the program ANKI. ANKI is free (Charge for iPhone,, iPad, Android etc) and used to make flash cards. You can create cards with Polish on front and English on back. I've even added audio for the Polish word and also a picture. Now when I look at a picture or look at the word there is an association. I am starting to skip translation and immediately know say what the work means.

It takes a little time but is worth it. I even created a category for conversations where I use the vocabulary I've learned in a sentence. This way I can put my vocabulary into a context and this is what is helping with grammar. Good email support and a good manual. All for free.

There are also plenty of language lists already made that you can download to get started.
grspring   
20 Aug 2014
Law / Received confirmation citizenship was approved from Polish Embassy. What's next? [25]

It has taken sometimes weeks to get a call-back or an email from the embassy. There appears to be only one person there handling this type of information. The first time the application was delayed and an expensive trip to New York was required to explain the documents submitted in person. I just thought maybe someone knew what type of paperwork you get in the mail.

Thanks
grspring   
20 Aug 2014
Law / Received confirmation citizenship was approved from Polish Embassy. What's next? [25]

I think my question was misunderstood because of the way it was asked. What happens after you are told citizenship is approved, do you get an official letter? Do you have to show up somewhere with it? We are not sure what happens at this point in the process.

1-A month ago my wife received (via email) notice from the embassy in New york that her Polish citizenship had been granted (based on parentage). We have yet to get anything in the mail (at our Polish address) confirming this. What should we expect next and how long should it take?

2-I plan to apply for residency based on her citizenship. We are both retired and will not seek any employment. Will I still have to travel on American Passport or are there Polish travel documents I can get, so we're not always in different lines at the airports.

Thanks