90 days in Poland on my passport. Visa or Karta pobytu?

Guest

May 15, 11, 07:39 #1

Hello everyone, i am an American traveling to Poland in January, i have a family that i will be staying with. From what i understand i can stay 90 days with just my passport and then after that i have to get my Visa or karta pobytu (residency card). I'm just wondering which is better? i won't be working right away but i would like to teach English eventually. I've heard bad things about the karta pobytu, and its a long and tedious process. Can anyone give me any advice on this matter? Thanks for the help.

Steven.

mafketisThreads: 17 Posts: 1,880 Joined: Mar 31, 08 ♂	May 15, 11, 12:42 #2
Slightly dated info (I expect others who are more up to date to correct any mistakes) - US citizens cannot obtain a work visa in Poland (partial exception for teaching in certain institutions that probably won't hire you unless you have professional qualifications) - A visa can only be extended once, the karta pobytu is definitely the way to go (if you can get it).

♂ [Suspended]

May 15, 11, 12:49 #3

Guest:

I'm just wondering which is better? i won't be working right away but i would like to teach English eventually. I've heard bad things about the karta pobytu, and its a long and tedious process. Can anyone give me any advice on this matter? Thanks for the help.

Basically, unless you have a reason to be in Poland for more than 90 days, you'll have to leave after that time. If you overstay, you cannot "legalise" yourself - you have to leave, end of story. And that reason to stay must be valid - it's not enough to say "I wanna stay" - you need to be working, a family member (a dependent or a spouse - or possibly a relative that is entirely funded by a Polish person) or have enough income to live in Poland. Even that third option is very debatable - I know at least one case where a guy, with a good million zloty in the bank was refused the Karta Pobytu as he had no clear reason to be here.

In short : you've got 45 days (not 90 - you need time for the paperwork to be processed) to find a job which will give you enough hours work to satisfy those in the relevant Foreigners Office. You'll need a work permit for every job that you do, and the Foreigners Office will be looking for at least 15 hours a week work to issue a work permit/residence permit.

♂

Edited by: FUZZYWICKETS May 15, 11, 15:36 #4

delphiandomine wrote:

you've got 45 days (not 90 - you need time for the paperwork to be processed) to find a job which will give you enough hours work to satisfy those in the relevant Foreigners Office.

Is that the loophole? I knew 2 Americans who waited till like day 88 to finally apply for a KP and it wasn't a problem. They say you need to apply within 45 days which obviously they don't enforce but I wonder if they slipped through because they both had employment long before the 45 days were up.

The more I read about this stuff, the more I think it still ends up being on a case by case - who you happen to deal with at the office - which office you go to - basis.

♂ [Suspended]

May 15, 11, 16:46 #5

FUZZYWICKETS:

Is that the loophole? I knew 2 Americans who waited till like day 88 to finally apply for a KP and it wasn't a problem. They say you need to apply within 45 days which obviously they don't enforce but I wonder if they slipped through because they both had employment long before the 45 days were up.

It's to do with some obscure regulation where they must give a decision within 45 days - but there also seems to exist some provision where someone can be granted an extension on the 90 days if they have a current application pending.

As you say -

FUZZYWICKETS:

The more I read about this stuff, the more I think it still ends up being on a case by case - who you happen to deal with at the office - which office you go to - basis.

Pretty much. 45 days keeps you "safe" - but as far as I can tell, most offices are happy to allow you to stay beyond the 90 days if you apply for the Karta Pobytu within the first 90 days. It's a mess.

Guest

May 15, 11, 17:27 #6

Thank you for your post it explained alot. It's a huge mess. I understand you can't just say "i want to stay here" but i want to get settled first before i find a job. Can i just fill out the necessary paperwork when i'm there? or do i have to get a work visa before i leave? The Karta pobytu allows you to work? Sorry for all the questions i just want to be extra sure. (by the way i'll have my CELTA as formal training)

Also the family i'll be staying with will depend on me some i don't know if that helps. I don't want to give away too many personal details but i would be helping them around the house and also in their little shop they own. i dont know if this would help.

In addition i'll have around 30,000 zł (about $10,000) i think the rate is 100zł a day or something? But it doesn't seem like money is a big factor.

So my first step is to just go to Poland with my passport (the whole 90 day part) and then whats my next step? apply for Karta pobytu? I just want to be extra sure i don't want to mess anything up. Thanks for the help!

♂ [Suspended]

May 15, 11, 19:24 #7

Guest:

Can i just fill out the necessary paperwork when i'm there?

Yes. It'll be nearly impossible to get a visa (I'm not sure if it's actually disallowed, but I can't imagine them granting it when you can just apply for the Karta Pobytu when in Poland) in advance - mainly because most employers won't hire someone from outside.

Guest:

The Karta pobytu allows you to work?

No. You will have to be in possession of a work permit (strictly speaking, the employer applies for it on your behalf) before you start working. Do not, under any circumstance, work without it - if you do, the punishment is an automatic year ban from Schengen.

Guest:

Also the family i'll be staying with will depend on me some i don't know if that helps. I don't want to give away too many personal details but i would be helping them around the house and also in their little shop they own. i dont know if this would help.

Won't help at all. The Foreigners Office couldn't care less what you're doing in your own time - you still need that valid, acceptable reason - and helping a family out isn't it.

Guest:

In addition i'll have around 30,000 zł (about $10,000) i think the rate is 100zł a day or something? But it doesn't seem like money is a big factor.

That won't be enough to make them grant residency on the basis of having enough cash.

Guest:

So my first step is to just go to Poland with my passport (the whole 90 day part) and then whats my next step? apply for Karta pobytu? I just want to be extra sure i don't want to mess anything up. Thanks for the help!

You need to come to Poland, find a job, get a work permit and then apply for residency. You've got 45 days to do this.

scottie1113Threads: 11 Posts: 873 Joined: Mar 13, 07 ♂	May 15, 11, 19:58 #8
delphiandomine: You need to come to Poland, find a job, get a work permit and then apply for residency. You've got 45 days to do this. What he said. It's the only way to stay here for more than 90 days.

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Polska, Polonia, Poland	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 05:14 / May 27
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com