Poland Work Permit Visa Processing Times

Hello again everyone!

Just wanted to check in about another issue. How long does it take to process a work permit for Non-EU residents (coming from the USA). We were told that it may take about 3 months, is that true? Can anyone share their experience here? Thanks :)

We've been at it since August and still don't have one! Have to go out of the country every three months until we get it. Yesterday I learned that once we get it, it's only good for one year. So, a few months after we get it, we have to start the whole process over again for the next year! We've lived in other countries and never experienced ANYTHING like this. Requires lots of patience. Good luck. :-)

Thanks for your reply Bev - I dont quite understand about leaving every 3 mos and coming back, we arent allowed to enter until we get the work visa in the US, and he cant really work until he has one (my husband's company is sponsoring him), anyway it does seem quite tideous...

that's the price for keeping the nasty visa system for Poles in the USA (many rejections, 100$ fee not refundable even if your application gets rejected by th US embassy, many other annoying things during the processing of your application).

I just finally got a work permit after living in Poland for a few years. My advice is to get a lawyer to help you. I only had to visit the various offices a couple of times, the rest of the work was done for me. I just had to provide the right documents and get some of them officially translated. The total cost including the lawyer was about 3000 PLN, but as Bev07 pointed out, the permit is only valid for a year. The application process took about 3 months, but I was collecting docs from my home country long before this.

Sorry to hear that Krzysztov, yes unfortunately the visa system is the US is quite tideous as well, but one has to consider that it was due to heightened security after 9/11. Visa to the US at one point used to be quite an easy thing, work, study or visit. Now unfortunately the times have changed.





Thanks for your reply Andy, we are also hoping that since my husband's company is arranging for everything, it would not take longer than 3 mos. Oh well, atleast we'll get there with the winters behind us..hopefully ..:)

I should clarify that the price I mentioned (3000zł) was for both a work permit and residence permit, and that the applications were submitted concurrently.

No need to be sorry, I never even considered going to US because of this bureaucracy, but I heard/read lots of complaints from normal people who wanted to go (in Polish we say they "had to prove that they are not camels"). And I think the problem had existed long before 9/11.
But it's quite offtopic, so I stop here, because I have no helpful information to offer :(

No worries Krzysztof :), I was not really defending the policy either, just merely guessing what the reasons could be...and ther's no such thing as "off-topic" if it matters to you, then this would be the place to make it heard :)

Thanks Andy and good luck with everything on your end :)

That would be the maxmum if you are having it done by your company (i.e. they either have a person who is dedicated to this or, more probably, use an agency). It's certainly not going to be less than 6 weeks because the company will need to advertise the job and then get no Polish/other EU applicants.

The good news is that after the first 0ne-year permit, the permits usually go to two-year validity.

*Phew* Thanks so much Harry!! Once again you've provided invaluable information! Actually I had been reading up on this and what you're saying is the closest to what was my understanding, I guess that's why I got a bit confused when it was different for some people here. Yes, my husband's company is taking care of everything from soup to nuts and they did suggest approx 3 mos, so I was wondering if it could take less..See in the US, its pretty much the same and but it depends on the city/state and how fast the applications are being processed..then there is also the fast track application ie. more money less time..So maybe thats the case in Poland as well..?

My company arranged everything and I started process in Nov, got everything done in December 15 for residence, then work permit took a week and then karta pobytu should take a month, thats what they told me. good luck, be patient but not careless

Hey guys,

I'm going to be traveling to Poland to intern for someone for 7 months. It seems like the easiest solution might be for me to just leave and come back periodically. Do you know how long you have to be out of the country for on each occasion?

-Alex

Now that Poland is in the Schengen zone you can only stay in the Schengen zone on a tourist visa for three out of any six consecutive months. So after you have been here for three months, you have to leave the Schengen zone and can not come back for three months. The Schengen zone is Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Or at least that's the law, practice might be rather different, nobody really knows because Poland hasn't been in the Schengen zone for three months yet (joined end of December 2007). You might find that you can nip over to Ukraine and come back the same day with a fresh 90-day visa. Or you might be told that you have to stay in Ukraine for the next 90 days. I'd think it would more probably be the latter. Alternatively you might find that you can nip over to Ukraine and come back the same day with a fresh 90-day visa but then be stopped at the airport on your way out and asked to explain how you've been in the Schengen zone for seven months without getting a residency permit/visa and when you can't explain, you might be hit with a ban on visiting the the Schengen zone for ten years.

All things considered, it'll be best to get a visa really.

Hey

Whats the process with polish work permit? Once the company applies then u get a letter stating that you are authorized to work from the polish counsel?? After that letter you have to apply for a visa in your home country.... Is that the process.

I was hoping that the company just gives you a card which is equivalent to the work permit and thats it... please help

Regards
Hemendra

Actually its even easier than that... the company simply waves its magic wand, sprinkles some fairy dust and make it appear out of thin air ;)....

*sigh* unfortunately its not that easy...anywhere...

The whole process can take about 60 days (sometimes more). The company applies a request for a work permit and after 30 days or so they recieve the approval which one has to then take to a Polish consulate outside the country and get it stamped on the passport. This is what was explained to us, my husband is currently undergoing this process and I'll update you as soon as we hear anything..Good Luck :)

I heard that once you have applied for Work Permit, you can not enter that country on any other Visa (i.e. Business Visa or Visitor Visa). Is it true for Poland as well?

Regards,