Getting a VISA to USA by a Polish person nowadays

atlanticThreads: 17 Posts: 56 Joined: Dec 8, 07 ♂	Oct 1, 08, 22:53 #1
Hey, just looking for opinions. What is the chance of a Polish person getting a VISA to the US nowadays? How about someone working in the UK, and wanting to apply for a VISA at the embassy in London? Anybody with opinions? comments? Thanks, Paul

dcchrisThreads: 11 Posts: 687 Joined: Oct 29, 07 ♂	Oct 2, 08, 09:40 #2
if u have money in the bank and a stable job as well as assets to return to then you have a good chance. one of my students went recently without a problem but that is from warsaw

polishgirltx	Oct 2, 08, 09:42 #3
atlantic: Getting a VISA to USA by a Polish person nowadays easy...all my friends and family members got their visas to visit me... (consulate in Krakow)... dcchris: if u have money in the bank and a stable job as well as assets to return to then you have a good chance true

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Edited by: Hunto Oct 2, 08, 11:54 #4

I have found it to be very hard to get a VISA. A few months ago I booked a 5 night Holiday to New York in December for my Polish Girlfriend. Last weekend we traveled to the American Embassy in London (We live in Edinburgh) for her Tourist VISA interview. I didn't think much of this at the time as we came prepared with: Proof of address, UK bank account details which had sufficient funds for the trip and that she had had for the last 4 years, Proof of employment, proof of UK pension, Proof of return flights and Proof of Hotel in New York. Her Polish sister is married to a British citizen and lives and works (For the Police) in Edinburgh and we currently live with them. We had also just got a joint mortgage together in Edinburgh.

After being kept waiting for three hours she was asked three questions. What her Partner does, What her Sister does and how long she has been in the UK? (Her answers were as follows: Her partner is British and works for an international Oil and Gas company, Her sister works for the Police force in Edinburgh, She has lived in the UK for 4 years with two trips back to Poland to complete her studies) The interviewer then told her that she has been refused entry. When she tried to explain about her current situation and show the paper work that we had brought the interviewer dismissed it (with out looking at it) and told her she didn't have enough social and economic ties in the UK and thought she planned to stay in the US illegally and no matter what evidence she had to tell her or show her, her decision was final.

Foreigner4Threads: 22 Posts: 1,990 Joined: Nov 18, 07 ♂	Oct 2, 08, 12:03 #5
just go to mexico then sneak across the boarder, if i were an entrepreneurial mexican you can bet i'd be making a killing at making that happen for people.

polishgirltx	Oct 2, 08, 12:20 #6
Foreigner4: just go to mexico then sneak across the boarder as you can say Rio Grande is not that deep ;)

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07 ♂	Oct 2, 08, 12:22 #7
polishgirltx: as you can say Rio Grande is not that deep Wade in the Water eh? Good track, must go play it now

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07 ♂	Oct 2, 08, 12:27 #8
Hunto: her decision was final any right of appeal? I suppose the money you paid for the holiday is down the drain if you don't get the visa too?

polishgirltx	Oct 2, 08, 12:35 #9
Hunto: The interviewer then told her that she has been refused entry. When she tried to explain about her current situation and show the paper work that we had brought the interviewer dismissed it (with out looking at it) sometimes the decision depends on this person mood...which sucks... sausage: any right of appeal? not to appeal but she may try again.... but the result is still 50/50...

micko	Oct 15, 08, 16:34 #10
suprising I had no problem with me visa last year in Dublin. From I have heard it's much easier to get it here than in UK. I even talked to a polish women who has been living in Eire with her family for the last few years and she was refused visa 8 times back in Poland. Her parents live leagal in States so does her sister. But she got easly in Dublin.

PDGWThreads: - Posts: 14 Joined: Oct 15, 08 ♂	Oct 15, 08, 16:37 #11
why not get a visa to go to canada, and than go from there. just sayin

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Oct 15, 08, 17:26 #12

It is hit and miss. So many Poles stay illegally in the US that Immigration is very tight on selection. I know about 5 people in the last year who went on 3 or 6 month visas and just stayed. I asked them what they were going to do and they didn't seem worried at all. The figure worst case they will just be deported and go back home. And they KNEW they were going to do this when they went.

If you can establish some ties to the states...family...a friend who will write a letter of sponsorship for your time there...a job offer there (even if it is just on paper) you may have a better chance.

I am glad immigration does its job and tries to keep certain types of people out...but sadly honest and decent people get caught up in the wide net they throw.

Good luck!

PS maybe I can find a cousin somewhere to marry you ;) Is it ok if she is a convicted felon? Nice girl though....kidding kidding.

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Oct 16, 08, 15:26 #13

PDGW:

why not get a visa to go to canada, and than go from there. just sayin

You still need a visa to enter the US from Canada.

Unfortunately, a lot depends on the mood of the immigration officer at the time of the interview. Some have lots of ties to a country and get rejected for a non related answer.

I remember fighting the refusal of a visa to the US for my (at the time) boyfriend. I wrote an email to the embassy, I called. I was furious. All I got back was "We're sorry but XXX didn't show strong enough ties, should his situation improve in the future, he can schedule another interview"

The only que they asked him were "What careers do your parents have"... his mother a gov't worker, and father a stable job for 30 yrs.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07 ♂	Oct 17, 08, 12:58 #14
"President George W Bush has announced that the United States is to cancel visa requirements for citizens of six European countries and South Korea." Mr Bush said Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea would be added to the US visa waiver programme in a month. BBC news Poland NOT included of course!

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Edited by: Dice Oct 17, 08, 13:04 #15

Can you imagine how many Polish Citizens would want to come to the US looking for illegal jobs? Probably millions. You can't really blame them for that.
Most of them wouldn't speak any English. Some of them wouldn't have any money for the return ticket. They would have to compete for the illegal jobs with Mexicans, and that wouldn't be so easy.
IMO it's better for us and the Poles to let Europe absorb the Polish workers for now, and open up the Borders in a couple years.

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Edited by: Krakowianka Oct 17, 08, 13:10 #16

He announed this earlier in the year which caused the EU to give him some smack.

EU said that if Poland is not included on the next list of countries to be added on the visa waiver program, that EU will make it a requirement for all US citizens to have visas to any european country, not just Poland. Finally! Someone has spoken up for Poland.

The ironic part is that by the time PL will be on the VWP, no one will want to come to the US. As it is right now, lots of Poles are leaving the US.

"Can you imagine how many Polish Citizens would want to come to the US looking for illegal jobs? Probably millions. "

Are you kidding? You must be, or blind to the economic situation for sure. Poles make almost the same amount they would in the US. Why would they want to come here & be illegal? Take the equivalent of the crap money they make in the US cleaning toilets or doing construction jobs. They can make the same or better and stay at home. This is not the 1990s.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07 ♂	Oct 17, 08, 13:12 #17
Krakowianka: no one will want to come to the US lots of cheap property there...

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Oct 17, 08, 13:15 #18

A Polish friend of mine kept trying to get a visa to US for a few years! She wanted to visit her Sister living in US - she finally managed to get the document but...!

I agree, at times decision depends on person's mood (unfortunately), but nowadays - I would generally say that getting a tourist visa to US is not a problem.

If you have friends/family living in US that is good to have so called "invitation" written by them - as a "supporting tool" - even if you travel as a tourist only.

Hopefully, visa requirements will be cancelled for Poles at some point! Poland considers America as its friend but America does not really help wee Poland...

KrakowiankaThreads: 2 Posts: 272 Joined: Oct 16, 08 ♀	Oct 17, 08, 13:15 #19
sausage: lots of cheap property there... cheap property doesn't mean illegals will flock.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07 ♂	Oct 17, 08, 13:21 #20
Krakowianka: EU said that if Poland is not included on the next list of countries to be added on the visa waiver program, that EU will make it a requirement for all US citizens to have visas to any european country, not just Poland or maybe just Schengen zone? Britain supposedly has a special relationship with the US...

KrakowiankaThreads: 2 Posts: 272 Joined: Oct 16, 08 ♀	Oct 17, 08, 13:27 #21
sausage: or maybe just Schengen zone? Britain supposedly has a special relationship with the US... I believe all EU members would be required to have visa's for business travel (Britain included). Then the measure would evolve to include all travel for EU citizens at a later date. I'll look around for a link to the article where I read this.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07 ♂	Oct 17, 08, 13:29 #22
Krakowianka: I'll look around for a link to the article where I read this thanks

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07 ♂	Oct 17, 08, 14:26 #23
Krakowianka: I'll look around for a link to the article where I read this probably along these lines... EU dubs US air plans unacceptable "EU officials have strongly criticised US attempts to re-open a 2007 deal on exchanging personal information of trans-Atlantic air passengers"

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Oct 17, 08, 14:30 #24

I am an American and I know this issue of visas is a sore point but the reason Poles are not given visa free or easier visas is because SO MANY stay illegally. This is not an insult to you or Polish people it is just true. I have known several who go on short tourist visas and just stay. Blame your countrymen who don't follow the rules not the US policy.

I live in Poland as well and have had nothing but grief trying to deal with immigration as has every single non EU expat I know so I have little sympathy for Poles complaining they have problems on the US side. Everyone is so one way and selfish about this issue.

I know there will be some nationalistic bravado and "go home then" from some people but I can't believe anyone who is honest would not understand what I have said.

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Oct 17, 08, 15:11 #25

gtd:

so I have little sympathy

the situations are completely different. poles have to pay 100 dollars just to apply for a visa with no reimbursement if denied. americans get 90 days free of charge. as well there are loads of americans staying in poland illegally. as far as poles illegally in the usa people do things simply for economic reasons. those days seem gone as far as poland is concerned at least so far. if the usa would offer some sort of amnesty i bet many poles would leave the usa but they dont because of fear of getting caught and being black listed

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Edited by: gtd Oct 17, 08, 15:39 #26

Not different at all..you are just talking about one aspect. Overall Poland's policies are just as tough.

Where are your stats for the "loads" of illegal yanks here? I do not believe that. For sure nowhere even close to the number of illegal Poles in the US either in straight numbers nor percentages.

You are seriously defending them staying illegally? You are admitting they only went to make money and now that they can't make as much they are trapped by the law? Give me a break. If I did that here people would be all over me saying what a jerk I am. I follow the rules here (when they can tell me what they are) and I find it incredibly hypocritical to hear Poles complain about US policies when their own countrymen are the ones responsible for the ban not being lifted.

I also have no sympathy for complaints about US immigration paperwork as it is just as bad here. We can agree it sucks all over but to act like Poland is discriminated against for some nefarious reason in nonsense.

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Oct 17, 08, 16:27 #27

gtd:

if the usa would offer some sort of amnesty i bet many poles would leave the usa but they dont because of fear of getting caught and being black listed

If they offered an amnesty, that would legalize their stay, they wouldn't leave. It's what happened in the Reagan years.

I don't think many actually fear being caught. Its the inconveniences of no SS#, no drivers license that are weighing them down. Being black listed??? They are as soon as they overstay longer than one year.

Some of the countries that are on the VWP did have their countrymen overstay over the 3% threshold, but somehow the US looked the other way. Also, the US has kept giving Poland "conditions" to meet to get on the VWP, like the army in Afghanistan, supporting Iraq war. Poland jumps at the US's every beck & call to meet the requirements it can control, and still no budge on VWP admission.

This has to change... and I imagine soon. Lots of Poles left the US in 2008 and continue to do so. Whatever economic reasons that held them there are no longer in existance. The dollar is devaluing, and many are in their near retirement age and wanting to return to their homeland (and here I'm not talking about only illegals).

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Oct 17, 08, 17:22 #28

I am sorry but I don't believe Poland is being discriminated against in this matter. I also do not believe Poland was forced to go to war or any of the other things you mention.

The grass is always greener and to somehow say 'poor poles' having to leave the US as they can't earn as much is nonsense. Economic immigrants are using their host country and they have no right to complain if conditions change especially the illegal ones. They are only there to get more money..they have no plan to integrate or become a part of society...it is the same all over the world.

I hate the dollar's devaluing too as it hurts me and I also hate the increasing prices in Poland as it is a double insult but I don't think Poland owes me nor do I think it is a conspiracy to run out Americans. Poles are very good victims and act like everything that doesn't go their way is some personal attack. Life here is no better than in the US but people will always hold their home closer to their heart.

rychlikThreads: 51 Posts: 446 Joined: Aug 6, 08 ♂	Oct 18, 08, 04:38 #29
Krakowianka: Poland jumps at the US's every beck & call to meet the requirements it can control, and still no budge on VWP admission. I think there's too many Jews in the American government who hate Poles, stemming from our previous hostilities towards each other. A lot of Jews don't like Poles- it's not a secret. Like they say, "It's all politics."

gtdThreads: 3 Posts: 875 Joined: Sep 8, 08 ♂	Oct 18, 08, 06:12 #30
Oh my god are you kidding me??? Enough with the conspiracy and poor me stuff. It's statistic and rules...nothing more.

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