Job Discussion Forums

pwo · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 4

Hi. I had a couple questions as I am new to the ESL world.

I am planning on relocating to Poland to teach english. I have a B.S. in Computer Science, but no TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification. I have enrolled in the English International program for the TEFL certificate.

My questions are:

1. I understand that there are SOME jobs available in January. What are my realistic chances of finding a job in Poland (Rzeszow in particular) in December/January?

2. I am in the process of applying for a Polish passport as Poland recognizes citizenship by descent. Is having this passport an advantage or disadvantage to someone looking for a native speaker position? Apparently I will be able to work in Poland as a citizen, i.e. no visa or work permit. I am uncertain if this would be to my benefit however.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks! Cool

Paul

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

Having a Polish passport will NOT change your status as a "Native speaker".

Having a Polish passport will make it MUCH easier to emply you in Poland.

Having a Polish passport will make it possible for you to work ANYWHERE in the EU after May 2004

Chris · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:03 pm Post subject:

There are quite a few people I know teaching/have taught here on a Polish passport who are Native Speakers. As Rogan said, it'll be much easier for you to be employed. Trust me, you don't want the headache!!

In January/February (the new semester always starts in February), it may be possible to find a job here, and in Rzeszow probably wouldn't be much of a problem. It's not a very popular place to go (kinda like Sosnowiec where I am).

Rogan was mistaken in one regard though--Polish citizens will not be able to work in all of the current EU members in May 2004. Only 4 countries have agreed to immediate employment status: UK, Ireland, and I believe Denmark and the Netherlands. But eventually, you'll be able to work anywhere in the EU..

I have to say, I'm jeolous! Can I ask you something? Is it your parents or grand parents who were Polish? See, I'm also of Polish descent, but my great grandparents emigrated to the US. As far as I know, that's too far back in the lineage..

pwo · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 4

Chris:

Both of my parents were born in Poland. Although they are both US citizens now, my father still holds a Polish passport so he has dual nationality. I checked Polish law and it appears that one of your parents must have been born in Poland to acquire citizenship by descent. There are other ways though. Do a Google search for "Polish citizenship" and you will find the laws.

Thank you for the advice and information. I appreciate it!

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

I very seriously recommend you check your military status before applying for a Polish passport. I know a few 'Poles' who have had to go back home after claiming their Polish passport and then finding out they had to do a spell in the army!

Chris · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks PWO...

A few years ago when I was getting my visa in Chicago the guy asked me when my grandfather was born.. I told him he was born in the US, and I just figured that meant I couldn't get a Polish passport.. But I never really looked into it.. It doesn't matter I guess.. Smile

But anyway, what Alex mentioned is something I meant to mention as well.. Now, I have never known any of the guys who were here with their Polish passports to be required to go into the military, but there is that possibility...

Just to be on the safe side..

pwo · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 4

I had a similar concern about the Polish mandatory military service. I did some research and found that up until age 28 I could have a problem. Since I am 30 I should not. BUT, since you've both mentioned it I am going to call the Consulate tomorrow just to double check.
Thanks for bringing that up! I'd hate to go to Poland to teach English and end up in Iraq or something. Shocked

Gerhard E. Jene · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 43 Location: London

I checked with the Polish Consulate in Toronto. They gave me the impression that with the cold war, there was a very good possibility that my grandfather gave up his Polish citizenship. I was told that at that time Canada and Poland did not recognize dual citizenship. Also, he left Poland prior to 1951 and got into Canada in Jan. 1951 after living in Germany for 5 or 6 years prior to emmigrating here.
Unless someone can correct me on this, I am s.o.l. for what you are trying to do for the same reason. For having a passport from an E.U. recognized country will assist in not only finding and gaining jobs over someone who does not hold an E.U. passport. But at the same time it will help with reduced paperwork. Good luck.

Gerhard

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

A Polish citizen can NOT give up his/her citizenship. The only way to stop being a Polish citizen is to get permission from the president of Poland or to have notification signed by the president that your citizenship has been withdrawn. Otherwise Poland considers you to be a citizen until you die.

BTW Having a Polish passport will NOT guarantee you the ability to work anywhere in the EU after May 1 this year. All the EU nations (except UK and Eire) are imposing limits of various types on Polish citizens for between two and seven year.....

CROGO · Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Krakow

I am interested in this subject. Article 34, paragraph, 2 of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of Poland prohibits the involuntary loss of Polish citizenship:
http://www.poland.pl/info/information_about_poland/constitution/ch2.htm
(previously, under the 1952 Polish Constitution, one must have renounced Polish citizenship and had that renoucation approved by the President of Poland. I am not sure that this still applies.) Thus if you had an ancestor leave Poland and acquire other citizenship in the U.S., Canada or elswhere, Poland still recognizes that person to have been a citizen of Poland. Also, Poland does not recognize dual citizenship. Polish citenship is considered preeminent.

Logically, once you can establish that you had an ancestor or ancestor's who where Polish citizens, then you could claim citizenship by descent. The preamble to the Polish Citizenship Act of 1999 reads:

"Considering that the right to citizenship is part of the fundamental human rights and no one can be deprived of it despite one's will,
Considering that violation of this right has led to wrongs of many thousand citizens, especially our compatriots outside the state borders,
Desiring to distance ourselves from the practices of totalitarian regimes and to adjust our law to European standards by implementing values included in the Constitution,
The Parliament of the Republic of Poland, whose Senate refers to the tradition of taking care of the expatriate Poles, adopts the present Act."

http://laserspark.anu.edu.au/lpc/act1.html
Further details are found in the act regarding citizenship rights of those born to one Parent who is a Polish citizen and a second who is not a Polish citizen. Essentially, the parents my elect to renounce Polish citizenship for the child, but if your parents or grandparents never followed the procedure, then you technically are still a citizen of Poland!

Practically, I don't know how well this will work, but I intend to find out. My great-grandparents left Poland almost 100 years ago when it had been partitioned between the Germans, Russians and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They had Austro-Hungarian passports, but listed their nationality as Polish in the U.S. census and to immigration officials. After they arrived in the U.S., the treaty of Versailles recognized the nation of Poland once again. I would argue that the treaty of Versailles and other treaties ending WWI made them Polish citizens. No one in my family ever renounced Polish citizenship, assuming that they had it. I intend to emphasize my great uncles fighting fascism in the Second World War, that my grandparents spoke Polish as their first language, etc. Don't know if I will have any luck, but it's worth a try!

Even if the staff at the consulate does not encourage your application for citizenship, I would still pursue the matter further. They may just not want to process the paperwork. Hope this helps.

Gerhard E. Jene · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 43 Location: London

I will have to look into what you have mentioned. If you would like, I could send you a copy of the email that the Polish Embassy had sent me. They have me going through some hoops.
But I can try both ways. I hope that this information will help the original poster of this subject get what s/he wants.

Gerhard

mike10 · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 28

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:08 pm Post subject: The Polish citizenship issue

CROGO wrote:

CROGO · Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Krakow

"Based on what has been said, my mother, according to the Polish government at least, still technically holds Polish citizenship given that she never actually renounced it, although she did become a UK citizen at the age of 17 in 1950. However, she has never been back to Poland since she left and has apparently no desire to return (she is nearly 72 now)."

Usually, when one acquires a new citizenship, one renounces all other citizenships. From what I have read, to renounce Polish citizenship to the satisfaction of Poland, one must write to the President of Poland, and he must accept the renunciation. (I assume a letter to an embassy would probably suffice.) But, I am not sure that it works this way in actual practice. There may also be a difference in the translation of "citizenship". The passage I quoted from the Polish constitution regarding "citizenship" may refer to the right to live in Poland. It may have been intended to refer to those who Stalin removed from Poland against their will, and not those who left voluntarily. It would be interesting to find out more on this subject.