Job Discussion Forums

[Jeff314]

Ok, another newbie here looking for some clarifaction As I read through all these threads there seems to be an enormous amount of conflicting information. Granted things in Poland don't happen as predictably and smoothly as here in the States but there seems to be an incredible amount of contraversy over some things that seem pretty standard.

What seems most unclear is the work permit/work visa/residency permit question. Someone stated quite clearly in another thread that as an American, teaching English, you only need the Residency Permit. Can anyone that has gone through this recently confirm this?

It really seems as if some people are really over complicating things.
Hopefully this is the case. I'm sure I'll be finding out soon enough.

Also, is there anyone teaching in Lodz that can recommend any schools there?

[scottie1113]

As an American teaching in Poland, and having once again gone through the residency permit (actually it's a residency card) process-I'll pick up my card tomorrow after only a short 4 1/2 month period after reapplying for it, I can tell you this: native speakers-and as an American you qualify for this-you need neither a work permit nor work visa. You DO need a residency card, and while the process is lengthy, it's not difficult, except that your initial tourist visa is valid for 90 days-we're in the Schengen zone, and there are other posts related to that on this forum.

Where are you from, and what are your qualifications as a teacher? CELTA or equivalent, experience? And why Poland? When do you want to come here? I'm only asking this because I assume assume you've read the whole goodbye thread.

For more answers to your questions, send me an email or continue to post here. You'll get other's experiences.

[lundjstuart]

The reason why you're getting conflicting information is because the immigration office gives us conflicting information. You can come and find out for yourself, one day you have to do this and the next you have to do something totally different! It's life here in Poland.

Your favorite phrase in Poland should be, "Next week"

[dynow]

[Tracer]

[Harry from NWE]

[scottie1113]

I'm curious. Why in the world do you want to come to Poland?

[rcmroz]

I arrived in Poland a few years ago as a Canadian but with my dad being born in Poland, I confirmed my Polish citizenship after arriving which was a bizarre process at best as few of the bureaucrats seemed very eager to deal with me and I got the impression that I was shuffled and bounced around a bit (well more than a bit).

I have met other yanks and canucks who have gone through the process and things did seem different from person to person, case to case. I do know that at the time of my arrival, you were required to have a work visa issued to you in your country of origin but I understand that this has changed. So yeah, just come on over and jump into the mess! Prices were climbing rapidly when I left, especially real estate and I do not think that teaching salaries were going up as well with the increased cost of living. During my final year in Poland I went back to doing what I initially did before moving to Poland and that was write software for a former employer of mine back in Canada. I was paid a salary in Canadian dollars so I seemed to be fairing much better than some of my former teaching colleagues who took up the #1 pastime of the Pole and that is to complain incessantly (I finally figured out where my dad picked that up).

btw, my encounters that first year with any and all agents or officials of the Polish government has left me feeling somehow.... cheapened. haha, best of luck!

[Jeff314]

[dynow]

[xjessie007]

[spiral78]

So my question is this...With no college degree and and an online TEFL certificate, what type of teaching position will I be able to secure?
Will these credentials be enough to obtain a job at a University or school that is Ministry Of Education approved? And if not, how will I be able to stay in the country for an extended period of time?

Very unlikely that the quals you describe would get you into a university position. Europeans in general, and Poles are not exceptional in this respect, value the paper quals pretty highly. Without a uni degree of any kind- very little chance that one would hire you as an instructor!

However, I believe that some private language schools and other schools that accept newbie level teachers are MOE approved.

[justflyingin]

[Jeff314]

Begin the nightmare!!!! For the past 6 months I have been planning to move to Poland, In preparation for this I have been reading these forums with great interest and my biggest concern has been the conflicting reports on whether I needed a work visa. So, I called the Polish Consulate In NY 3 times and spoke to different people on each occasion while asking the same question "do I need a work visa to teach English?" and on all 3 occasions I was told NO! OK, so I arrived in Lodz on Friday and on Monday my girlfriend and I went to the the immigration office where I was told, in no uncertain terms, that I needed to get a work visa in the the States and that there is no other way that I can get a Residency card. Oh....yes, what fun! My first thought was.....Dave's...they warned you!!!! It didn't help!

So now I begin the process of walking through the minefield towards my Residency Card. Hopefully I'll arrive there with mind and body intact.

[spiral78]

Good luck!
It'll work out in the end, provided you don't lose patience (and/or your mind) in the process

I suggest before making definite plans to return to the US and apply for the work visa, you try landing a job contract - perhaps you are already planning to do this.

If you can fiind a Polish employer to go between you and the immigration office and file paperwork, I reckon there's a slim chance that you might not have to make the trip.

I'm no authority in this area, but in my 12 years of experience in the region (I live in the CR) one thing that is consistent is .............

inconsistency

Maybe you can get lucky and make it work in your favour somehow.