An Australian girl living in Poland: Residence permit, please help!

How do you suggest she does that? We have a points based system, she will need a visa for 6 months, possibly a sponsor, the rules have changed...

Everyone that has had to deal with Polish immigration know that regardless of what they are "obliged" to do it rarely works that way. They do not follow their own rules often. Trying to do something about this with a lawyer is equally as frustrating and unreliable. It is the nature of the Polish way.

AFAIK Australians can still visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa.

I've never had a problem entering the UK... I don't understand these stories of people being hassled by customs officers about how much money they have and the like.

Well, I have information from 2 people that were once in my situation.

They simply went to the Czech Republic and back.
They successfully got their resdidency after doing this.
Obviously there is no stamp in their passport to prove they did, and even so it's still in Schengen. But I have two first hand accounts of this actually happening. All they had to do was produce their ticket, they didn't necessarily have to actually use it.

Now this is strange, but at this point it seems to be my only hope.
Theories?

Good luck. You've already received the correct answer, along with some shady ones which could work.

Yep, as long as they're satisfied that you're doing it for tourism. Be aware that UK immigration officers will often refuse entry if they think you're doing it simply to gain extra time in the Schengen zone.


Yes, it means they were lucky. Remeber - someone checking your passport in the Foreigners Office can easily alert the Straz Graniczna to an overstayer - and as you have to have a legal address, bang.

It's simply not worth trying to get round it - you won't succeed. Even if you do, then you can easily be found out at a later date if the stamps in the passport don't add up.

Yes, but if they do not, no action can be taken against you. I know an American who immigration wanted to deport but couldn't be deported because he'd got his application in within the right timeframe and it was the foreigners office who had f*cked up the paperwork. I know an Italian who was taken to court (pre-EU days) for refusing to pay a fine for overstaying his visa (again the foreigners office had screwed up the paperwork): the judge told the prosecution off for wasting court time.

And did the judges make the Immigration Office pay for the victims' legal costs and other related expenses?

I chuckle whenever I hear someone talk about "rules" and "laws" in Poland. They are selectively applied and rarely helpful to the individual. Sure as you said sometimes you can get something done about it but unless the court made it all right by reimbursing all costs and forcing Immigration to follow through and the right then it changes nothing.

Shrugging your shoulders and making excuses is step #1 in all Polish government manuals. Poles have a cultural aversion to taking responsibility for anything. This is not anti Polish this is realism and if anyone doubts it spend a few years there and see. For all the imperfections about my country I feel like I am on a different planet when it comes to getting stuff done here...meaning I actually CAN without hassle most of the time. I hadforgotten what things like "customer service" and "integrity" felt like.

mademoiselle!!!!!

she want some advice for how she can get a karta pobyto for stay in poland and she will have right to move in shengen area without visa.

she dant need a opinion from polish poeple she want advise , she is very smart , she know what she will do .
you have to know mademoiselle , that polish people till now they dant know them right they stil remember about passte, maybe you have to ask them about price for votka , wine, pork , zapikanka!!!

good luck

hey kate, don't you know somebody who's polish and can help you with everything here? go to correct authorities and ask for a proper advice? i would gladly help you if i could, but i don't understand the rules myself, if i go somewhere on my own or if you do the same they will treat you differently, you know...where are you? i reckon you're somewhere in the south, is it true?

what do you need for your permit, i don't understand?

comlecated and strict rules for immigration

Well, I'm still in Poland. Krakow to be exact. An illegal alien I have now become. I'll post the outcome of my situation when I leave Schengen as nobody seems to know exactly what the punishment will be.

@KateFromSydney; An illegal alien
Alien to Alien. Are you still alive? You haven't posted anything. How was the outcome of yours situation 2010 ?

You are very smart to live in Poland. Australia goes to China obviously,