If he naturalized American before 8th January 1951 then he would have lost his Polish Citizenship as well as his children. But if he became American citizen after 8th of January 1951, then he would still be a Polish Citizen as well as his children, unless he had expressly renounced his Polish Citizenship.

 

I think he had become an American citizen after 1951, but I can confirm. What, if any, status would his status as a German have?

 

If he held German Citizenship, then neither him nor his children would be consider as Polish Citizens acording to the Act of 1951 on Polish Citizenship.

 

Thanks for the help. I was unclear, since many of the references out on the web talk about looking at the law that was in place at the time of the departure from Poland. Since that's the only one of the readily quoted laws that's really retroactive in nature, I wasn't sure how that would have been applied in reality.

 

Which document did he use when departing from Poland and immigrating to the USA?

To be sure that he had Polish Citizenship, it must be some form of document ( ie. a Polish Passport or other travel document, an immigration record or something indicating that he was a Polish Citizen). Otherwise it will be dificult to establish whether he was a Polish or a German Citizen.

 

Just another update:

As I have previously mentioned, I applied directly in Warsaw via a very helpful guy. He's been checking back with them regularly because they told him when he submitted it that we'd have a decision within 8 weeks. Well, it's been 7.5 months now - nothing. So, expect long waits whether you do it directly or through a consulate. The consulate just may be a little longer!

 

Hi all.

While doing a google on the Polish citizenship act 1962, I came upon this information. The website is http://boards.immigrationportal.com/sho ... ?p=1592128 . I wish to thank that user for the information. The user 'curiousGeorge' put the information on this site and laid it out in such a way that it makes sense.
It was laid out is such a way that it explains what papers you need and in what order to apply for citizenship, pesel and passport. Maybe this will help others to obtain this elusive matter. But I guess the main thing would be to determine which time frame your relatives fit in with regards to which act was in force at the time they left Poland for whatever country you are in.
Anyways, I found it useful. Now to apply for the various pieces of paperwork I need.

 

Thanks!

That was me. I copied my original post from this forum that I can no longer edit because the admins locked it. At least the immigration portal site allows for editting even when the posts are really old.

Here is my original post:
http://www.easyexpat.com/forums/sutra_33969.htm#33969

 

CuriousGeorge:

In the reference you posted, it was mentioned about the 'zupelny' and the Urzad Stanu Cywilnego. How can a person get in touch with this office? At least I know the information for my grandfathers' birth certificate and what city my mother was born in. I also know that my grandfather served in the Polish armed forces. There was a reference somewhere about writing to England for the military records. Is this true? Or is there another place to write to for this in Poland itself? Thanks.

 

heard yesterday that they are changing the process for claiming polish citizenship.

you will now have to do a test on polish history and will also have to sit a language test. i believe it will be a basic language test.

i'm not sure how that affects applications which have already been submitted though

 

Ozlon:

Mind telling us where/how you heard this? From a friend/relative or a news article? Can you share the link if there is one??

If this is the case, I would ASSUME that applications submitted AFTER the date of enactment would be affected only. Not those already submitted...at least I hope, lol.

 

i have family that live there and it was on the news there.

Apparently the change has been brought about because the government is tired of all the applications from neighbouring countries (who used to be part of poland before the borders were moved).

I can hardly blame them though. Being able to speak basic polish will prove that you want to be a proud polish citizen and not just use it for the EU benifits.

 

Thanks. I agree. I can speak a very limited amount, but I'm learning. I don't plan on moving there or using the EU benefits, but if I'm Polish by nationality, I should be able to speak a little.

 

I've heard this mentioned on the Polish News on the Polish satelite stations a few times. Its been a topic of discussion, but they've never passed it as a law.

I wonder how this would affect infants?

 

It is specific to the wojewodstwo where your grandparents last lived in Poland. Someone local to that wojewodstwo would know how to find thier USC.

 

Hello Curious George

I last posted in this thread about 12 months ago, and just wanted to let you know that after 4 years since first applying for confirmation of my Polish citizenship, I finally received my Polish passport yesterday, and I am happily living in Paris, France.

It has been a long stressful experience, but as they say, all good things come to those who wait !

 

Wait Times

I had a spare 2 hours so I read the Polish Citizenship part 1 & 2. Great thread and wow at how long it has been active. Congratulations to those who have been successful.

It took my mother about 6 months to put together the history and have it translated.

It was submitted about a month ago to a Polish Consulate in Canada.

However, I have read many different results on the length of time it takes to get a response from weeks, when applying in Warsaw and someone wrote 4 years!

If anyone has recent results can you please post them. I am curious if wait times are increasing or decreasing.

 

Wait times are likely increasing by the day because of the volume of applications. In regards to the length of time, it depends on where you applied and, to a lesser extent, how you put together your papers. If you applied directly in Warsaw it is supposed to take significantly less time (probably around 1 year). If you apply in a consulate, it takes significantly longer because 1. the consulates generally send applications in large batches (thus a period of wait before sent) and 2. applications submitted at the official office in Poland has 1st priority over those from consulates. This is why the time frame applying through consulates is so variable. In regard to your paperwork, if you are missing something or it is unorganized or not translated well, etc. it will take longer to get a corrected version from you or the consulate.

Myself, I applied directly in Poland with all necessary paperwork, in an extremely organized manner with a table of contents and everything. It's been 8 months now and no word. Supposedly they're too busy to ready mine at this point. So, even best case scenarios aren't so quick. Hope this helps...

 

POLISH CITIZENSHIP
Can anybody advise how best to speed up the process in Warsaw for getting "Confirmation of Polish Citizenship"? Hire a lawyer or go in person?

I applied for Confirmation of Polish Citizenship at the end of last year through the Polish Consulate in London. The Consulate sent my application to the Urzad Mazowiecki in WARSZAWA at the end of February 2008. My Polish cousin has made reapated attempts to call and visit the ministry but my application is apparently still sitting in an in-tray with no Inspector even assigned yet.

Any good sensible advice on how to proceed. I am planning to go in person next week. Should I hire a lawyer on arrival? For those who did this quickly (3 weeks, 1 month or 2 months etc) can you adivse how you did it please?

 

No one has done it that quickly. Plan on waiting longer.