No US Visa Waiver for Poles

US President George W. Bush signed a
congressional act waiving visas for certain
countries, but not for Poland.
The new legislation, aimed at reducing
the threat of terrorism, allows visa waivers
only for those countries whose citizens
enjoy a rejection rate of less than 10 percent.
But while the new guidelines open the
door to visa-free travel for Czechs and
Estonians, Poland’s rejection rate of 26 percent
disqualifies its citizens. The Bush
administration had reportedly supported
waiving visas for Poles due to the country’s
strong support in the US-led wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, but failed to win congressional
backing for the move.
The news came as a blow to Polish hopes
of having visas lifted following a visit to
Washington by Polish President Lech
Kaczyñski in July during which the visa
issue was discussed during talks over the
US’s planned missile defense shield.

gloiosThreads: 15 Posts: 88 Joined: Jun 12, 07	Aug 10, 07, 08:47 / #
When are we voting this guy out?? US President George W. Bush signed a congressional act waiving visas for certain countries, but not for Poland. The new legislation, aimed at reducing the threat of terrorism, allows visa waivers only for those countries whose citizens enjoy a rejection rate of less than 10 percent. But while the new guidelines open the door to visa-free travel for Czechs and Estonians, Poland’s rejection rate of 26 percent disqualifies its citizens. The Bush administration had reportedly supported waiving visas for Poles due to the country’s strong support in the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but failed to win congressional backing for the move. The news came as a blow to Polish hopes of having visas lifted following a visit to Washington by Polish President Lech Kaczyñski in July during which the visa issue was discussed during talks over the US’s planned missile defense shield.

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Aug 10, 07, 09:05 / #
So? Many Poles don't like the US anyway. They say that since it joined the Union they get better pay in European countries.

gloiosThreads: 15 Posts: 88 Joined: Jun 12, 07	Aug 10, 07, 09:23 / #
But even just for vacation or holiday / visiting family. Just stupid

joepilsudskiThreads: 44 Posts: 2,529 Joined: Apr 27, 07	Aug 10, 07, 10:25 / #
Hillary Clinton & Barrack Obama will change everything...they love Polish people.

friendThreads: 7 Posts: 58 Joined: Aug 7, 07	Aug 10, 07, 10:31 / #
they do?

ZgubionyThreads: 21 Posts: 2,037 Joined: Oct 20, 06	Edited by: Zgubiony Aug 10, 07, 10:38 / #
Quoting: joepilsudski Hillary Clinton & Barrack Obama will change everything...they love Polish people. Neither of them will be elected. Obama isn't ready and Hilary is taking crap for Bills mistakes.

friendThreads: 7 Posts: 58 Joined: Aug 7, 07	Aug 10, 07, 10:39 / #
I want kucinich

BubbaWooThreads: 46 Posts: 4,438 Joined: Sep 26, 06	Aug 10, 07, 10:50 / #
Such BS.....I don't see why the Polish shouldn't have the waiver.....ridiculous if you ask me....Ranj

friendThreads: 7 Posts: 58 Joined: Aug 7, 07	Aug 10, 07, 11:03 / #
I thought the US and POland were allies?

snugsoho	Aug 10, 07, 11:03 / #
Quoting: gloios But even just for vacation or holiday / visiting family. The problem with that is that this is how the many of illegal immigrants enter the States, visiting on tourist visas then vanishing into society and working illegally. I'm not saying that Poles would only visit the States to stay and work but you have to see this from the prospectives of members sitting in Congress having read statistics from Europe regarding economic migration from Poland.

portaThreads: 24 Posts: 354 Joined: Jul 16, 07	Aug 10, 07, 17:30 / #
This is just stupid, I think maybe there was some truth to the film Idiocracy by Mike Judge! :)

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Aug 11, 07, 07:40 / #
Quoting: glowa yeah, a real kiss-ass alliance Why should the Poles not have visas? The English always had to have them when traveling to Poland and when you watch Polish television we are reminded every single day about Polish Airman and what they did in the war from English airstrips. You bull now I am afraid to say!

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Aug 11, 07, 07:41 / #
Quoting: krysia d. But they overstay their tourist visa, at which Then they should be thrown out. Worst thing the British did was allowing the Poles to work here without visas.

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Aug 11, 07, 08:10 / #
Quoting: gloios but not for Poland. Simply because too many Poles break the rules. I don't get the whole thing. Why is It so important ? Dollar is so weak that there's no sense to work there anymore. Tourism ? Most of people, who can afford that will get a visa without problems. Visiting relatives ? Make them come here and spend cash here, that's a better deal for us. Look at Israelits. They need visas too but instead of crying about that they suck out cash, Bush only a week ago decided to give them $35 billion - that's exactly the same what we should do instead of making a mess out of some 3rd rate issue.

glowaThreads: 1 Posts: 305 Joined: Apr 6, 06	Aug 10, 07, 14:07 / #
Quoting: friend I thought the US and POland were allies? yeah, a real kiss-ass alliance

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Aug 10, 07, 14:38 / #
Other nationalities overstay their visa too. Too many illegal mexicans, muslims and others who deal with drugs and form gangs. When the Polish people come, they work very hard. But they overstay their tourist visa, at which they're not suppose to work and the US goverment is not happy about this.

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Aug 11, 07, 08:12 / #
Quoting: Michal Worst thing the British did was allowing the Poles to work here without visas. Worry about your job in Tesco ?

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Aug 11, 07, 08:41 / #
You should all understand that passports and visas are not important and that traveling is really overrated anyway. Many years ago I packed my bag and took my passport and went and visted my Uncle in South Africa. A few years ago, I took my family to Las Vegas to see my cousin, who lives there. More recently, I took my son to America and we went to New York and we went to the top of the Empire State Building. Last year we went to South Korea and liked it but after a while we headed back to the airport and took yet another plan as far as New South Wales in Australia and looked around the Sydney Opera House. If you ask me, a British passport and international travel is overrated like hell, just think about it, with a Polish passport you can all go for a day trip to Lithuania and do some shopping!! Bondi Beach? What can beat a day trip to Wroclaw?

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Aug 11, 07, 08:51 / #
Quoting: Michal Many years ago I packed my bag and took my passport and went and visted my Uncle in South Africa. Don't forget about that super duper 3 days trip to France. Just wow.

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Aug 11, 07, 08:53 / #
Quoting: porta his is just stupid, I think maybe there was some truth to the film Idiocracy by Mike Judge! :) Not really, it was economic power linked to military power many years ago during empire building that created the divisions. I know that there were Dutch and Swedish (probably Danes too) in America in the early days but the English became dominant. The Poles are a slav people with close ties to the Russians and that is the sphere of influence like it or not. The British Queen is still the Head of State in Australia and Canada because of our mutual historic ties. The ties with New Zealand are still very strong indeed even though it is right round the other side of the world. I am jealous to hell, I want a Polish passport and want to hold my head up high. Nevada, Death Valley in Caafornia, Washington D.C. are all very overrated, a day trip to the salt mines at Wieliczka! Now you are talking!!

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Aug 11, 07, 08:55 / #
Quoting: Grzegorz_ 3 days trip to France. Just wow. Four day trip and yes it was wonderful, stress free and cheap. I was in La Rochelle and I have been several times to Szczecin and I would not think twice if I was asked where I would prefer to live if I had to choose between the two.

svengoolaThreads: - Posts: 84 Joined: Jan 14, 07	Aug 11, 07, 22:48 / #
Quoting: Michal Nevada, Death Valley in Caafornia, Washington D.C. are all very overrated, a day trip to the salt mines at Wieliczka! I'd rather go to the overrated places.

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,238 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER	Aug 12, 07, 04:43 / #
Quoting: Michal You should all understand that passports and visas are not important and that traveling is really overrated anyway. How can you say this and then list a load of places that you have visited with the freedom of a British passport? At least us being British have the choice when Polish people do not have this choice!

Zeze	Aug 12, 07, 04:43 / #
Quoting: svengoola I'd rather go to the overrated places me too !!!

No US Visa Waiver for Poles - 8/9/07

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Aug 12, 07, 14:49 / #
Quoting: ukpolska e choice when Polish people do not have this choice! That is exactly why Poles want British passports.

seatbelt blue	Aug 13, 07, 18:08 / #
Does the US really get a lot of illegal _Polish_ immigrants? If anything, I want to me _to_ Poland. Still gotta get the language down, though. Troche rozumiem.

FISZThreads: 31 Posts: 2,607 Joined: Jun 14, 06	Edited by: FISZ Aug 13, 07, 18:13 / #
Quoting: seatbelt blue Does the US really get a lot of illegal _Polish_ immigrants? Found this article. I'm not sure about the accuracy though :/ Seems like a bit much.

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Aug 13, 07, 19:06 / #
Quoting: Michal That is exactly why Poles want British passports. I wouldn't touch It with a 10 foot pole.

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06	Aug 13, 07, 19:48 / #
Good decision. Stop getting yourself in trouble :)

Justyna69	Aug 13, 07, 21:36 / #
Quoting: krysia So? Many Poles don't like the US anyway. They say that since it joined the Union they get better pay in European countries. So you base the sympathy to some country or people on where we can make more money?