Job Discussion Forums

[redsoxfan]

I've been reading the postings about working legally/illegally, and although this topic is probably rather stale for those who have such documents, it is constantly on the minds of others. So, I apologize for beating a dead horse, but...

I took note of the stories of folks not being allowed re-enty into Poland; I had not heard such horror stories before. I will share my experience of last year: coming from Czech Rep, my passport was not given an entry visa by the Polish authorities. I then left Poland to do some travelling in Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia. Each of these countries stamped me at each border crossing. Returned to Poland, still no stamp. I crossed the border three times, no stamp. OK, so eventually I missed my 90 day limit, and overstayed. In fact, when I flew out of Warsaw this summer, I had missed my visa date three times, and had no entry visa to boot. Well, I was quite nervous when I approached customs, as anyone would be. The woman asked me, "Eh, where is zee stamp?" to which I replied, "Uh, yeah, the guy in Prague..." and before I could finish my non-excuse, she smiled and stamped me. I mean, I wasn't even IN the country legally to begin with. Not the best planning on my part, but for several reasons, I just wasn't able to cross the first time, so once I had overstayed, I just ignored the problem.

Furthermore, my friend has been working without a visa for three years, with no problems. Another friend, after several years and about 27 stamps at the Swinoujscie crossing, was finally asked what he is doing here. "I'm in the process of completing my paperwork." (He was, but that's irrelevant.) No problem. I've never heard of an American, anyway, having problems. Then again, others have, so what do I know.

These comments are not meant to encourage working without a work visa. I'm trying to get one, but my main reservation is this: if I get rejected for any old reason, I believe that I must leave the country while my case is appealed. Thus, while I would probably be fine working illegally for now, I could put myself in a bad spot by trying to go straight. I HATE working illegally, so I will go through with the process.

Finally, a director at a school in Poznan told me that she has got work visas for Americans and Canandians instantaneously. She insists that one simply must go through the mayor of Poznan, who will sign the documents within a day. No trips back home. I will try to meet with her, and I will inform others of any useful info. I've never heard of such a process, but she says she has done it four times, and she can't understand why everyone thinks the process is so difficult.

[wawel]

I will stop at saying I had a horrible experience at the Poland/Czech border which was enough to keep me from traveling outside of Poland until I knew I was leaving for good. I was one week over the 90 days. Never had a problem at the Slovakia border.