CONTINUATION OF THE ORIGINAL POLISH CITIZENSHIP THREAD FOUND HERE:
http://www.easyexpat.com/forums/ftopic_4563.htm

I've had the same experience with Washington DC as well. How does one file a complaint about a consulate?

 

From page 1 of this topic ...
Maybe I could contribute some information too. I saw someone earlier in this topic wondering about Polish conscription. So here is an official answer I got from a Polish consul:
"Military service. If you will get the Polish citizenship you will be obliged to serve at the Polish army only if you will move to Poland and stay there for good. If you will get the Polish citizneship and your place of permanent resident will be located out of Poland (of course you may visit Poland any time you want) you are exempted from this duty by law."
Might be a relief to many who weren't sure about this Very Happy

Also, from Wikipedia ...

Poland has a compulsory service term of nine months for all mature men (three months for those with higher education). However, many of them are considered unfit for mandatory military service during peacetime. Effectively, many tens of thousands of men are drafted each autumn. Alternative service can be requested, e.g. in the police force. This is only valid if you are not attending an educational facility. Students born in 1983 or later can volunteer for military preparations, so they can serve in the military for 6 weeks during their summer break after they finish fourth semester. After joining the European Union, many young men moved abroad in order to avoid the draft and the quite low conditions within the Polish Army. Also many, facing very high unemployment in the country, join the forces voluntarily to serve the term and later gain opportunities to get well paid jobs within the military or police. In the autumn of 2006, the Polish parliament decided to phase out the draft by 2010 and make the Polish army an all-volunteer army.

Hope this answers some of your questions.

 

Thank you. I read the wikipedia article too and either it's been updated or I just overlooked a paragraph or two...

Hearing about the draft being abolished by 2010 is nice to hear as well

 

I doubt they even care, though it would be nice to send some complaints. I have heard that Chicago is bad too, but that's probably because it's so much busier because of the large population of diaspora Poles there.

Believe it or not, the 1st email I ever sent was responded to within 24 hours. Since then, I have sent a few more emails and I am still waiting on a response.

 

Just an update on my situation...I am currently in Warsaw at the moment. I contacted one lawyer, Piotor Stanczek, and they told me that the lawyer that would handle my case wouldn't be available until September 3rd and that the process may take 2 more years. I am on the phone right now to Tel Aviv, trying to contact the Charsky law firm but I'm just on hold--20 minutes now. I don't speak Hebrew and everything that's recorded is in Hebrew so I feel at a loss. I've emailed them twice as well with no reply. Has anyone out there been able to contact them?

I also hired an interpreter friend to go to the immigration office in Warsaw on my behalf--they told her that yes, I am in the system, but they haven't looked at my application at all. Then the guy went on a rant about how they have thousands of applications, that they're still going through applications from last year and then started complaining that foreigners are coming in to buy up their businesses and steal their women.

Ozlon, I can't believe you've been waiting 21 months. Which consulate did you apply through?

 

Wow, that's shallow!

 

I didn't say that...

 

oops the "quote" tags overlapped a bit making it look like you said it. I fixed my post.

 

No problem... when I saw it at first I was thinking that I may be losing it because I didn't remember ever saying that. But then I looked back at the original post and saw what it really was...

I was just giving you a hard time.

 

Just another little update in case anyone's curious. I've hired a Polish lawyer who specializes in immigration law to help with my case of obtaining my Confirmation of Citizenship. He says that although he cannot guarantee a result and doesn't know how long it will take, he has done this before and has more than a few contacts with the immigration section. So I signed a Power of Attorney and a contract, paid my money and am back in London now, biding my time. We'll see what happens!

 

Good luck to you

Not to sound discouraging, but, what would make the attorney uncertain as to whether or not he can obtain a positive outcome for you? Lack of evidence?

 

I was wondering about that too, but I think it's more just a lawyer thing. My friend asked her lawyer brother about this, and he said that when drawing up a contract with a client, the lawyer cannot guarantee a certain outcome. S/he can only promise what they can do to achieve said outcome.

 

What supporting documents did you submit? Old passport? Birth certificate? Did it specifically say "Obyw. Polski/a" in reference to your "link" ancestor on the documents?

Depending on the time of emigration of your ancestor, it also matters if they were male or female. For example, when my grandfather left as an infant in 1921 with his mother, if he didn't specifically list her as "obwy. Polska" and him as "obyw. Polski", I wouldn't have it so easy. Supposedly, only in rare instances can you claim descent from a female ancestor to Poland (and most other countries) before the 1940's or 50's.... (forget the exact date/turning point)

Then agian, you may be perfectly well off, and the lawyer doesn't want to get your hopes up and you mad at him with a negative outcome.

 

Hi!

I just want to say thank you to everyone that's been posting such useful information!

Although, I have a problem of my own. I am a Canadian citizen, with an entire Polish family, and am applying for Polish citizenship. Because this process takes around two years - does anyone know of ways that I can accelerate this?

My great aunt, that resides in Warsaw, is dying, and I would like to go live with her to take care of her. I know this is not possible as solely a citizen of Canada, because I am limited to a stay of 90 days within the EU. Or can I enter, and re-enter for the two year period? Is that my best bet?

I know this is something I should have done in the past, but because of the situation I am hoping to be able to spend time with my family before my great aunt passes! Would the embassy be able to have this accelerated for me based on the circumstances, or is it all the same for them?

Please let me know if anyone has any information pertaining to this sort of situation. Thanks!

 

Go to Poland as a Canadian citizen, and visit your aunt ASAP before she passes.

When you are in Poland you should follow my instructions (in the previous posts), make sure you get all the supporting documents before you leave Canada, and have a family member who is a resident of Poland help you out to process your application.

My application was filed directly in Warsaw, and my birth certifiate only took 2 weeks to get done, and then my confirmation of Polish Citizenship only took anther 2 weeks. Theoretically, if you have all the documents in order, it should take you about a month for both, and then you can apply for a Polish passport. If you did the same applications via the Polish Consulate in Canada, it might take you years. The consulate in Montreal is very knowledgeable. I spoke to them during my quest for information. But the will also tell you that you CANNOT apply in person in Warsaw because you live in Canada. The loophole that even they are ot aware of is, that you need to have a resident of Poland or a Polish lawyer file the application for you in Poland, and you would sign a power of attorney for this individual residing in Poland. The Montreal consulute will not admit to this.

In the interim, keep visiting your family member, when your 90 days is up, fly back to Canada.

To apply for a passport, you would need to fly back to Canada and apply at the Polish consulate. It should take 4-6 months to get the passport, but then you are all set. While it is processing, you could probably fly to Poland to visit again for another 90 days, if you have the cash for such hops.

Once your passport is complete, you'll have to pick it up in person at the Polish consulate in Canada.

 

Thank you!

Is it difficult to obtain a "power of attorney" for another individual residing in Poland to set me up with a citizenship?

And also, do I need a passport - with the citizenship may I stay in Poland for a period more than 90 days, and then apply for the passport once I get home?

Thank you so much - I've been so worried about this entire process!

 

No. Just look into the previous thread. I provided a template for the power of attorney. You can have an notary sign it for you, to make it official.

 

After reading all of the previous thread - I am curious to know the Polish notary/translator you used in Montreal?

Thank you so much for you incredibly involved help!

 

I didn't. My notary / translator is in Florida. But I had to get a few Canadian documents legalized at the consulate in Montreal, and I asked them all kinds of questions then. I've also called numerous other Polish consulates all over becasue I could not get a straight answer from any of them at the time.