Due to the state of epidemic declared in Poland, many foreigners are concerned about their legal residence and employment status. The unpredictable and dynamic nature of the chain of events related to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may cause significant problems for foreigners. Furthermore, the government's actions, such as the introduction of a travel ban to Poland and the suspension of in-person customer service at voivodeship offices and many other government agencies, are causing significant difficulties in traveling and returning from Poland to foreigners' home countries. The process of obtaining and extending visas to Poland is also difficult due to the reduced number of applicants accepted by Polish embassies.
The most confusing situation is undoubtedly that of foreigners whose legal stay in Poland is coming to an end. To avoid a surge in the number of people staying in Poland illegally, voivodeship offices have appealed to those affected to submit applications for visa extensions or temporary residence permits due to circumstances requiring a short-term stay by post. It is important to note that the mere fact of being in Poland during the epidemic is not sufficient reason to extend a foreigner's legal stay; however, problems with returning to their home country and other difficulties resulting from the spread of the coronavirus will certainly positively impact decisions issued by voivodeship offices. It is also important to remember to submit applications before the period of legal stay in Poland expires.
For most foreigners, the most tangible proof of their legal stay before a residence card is issued is a passport stamp. Due to the suspension of direct customer service at provincial offices, obtaining such assurance is impossible. However, it should be noted that during the proceedings, legality of stay is based solely on the submission of appropriate documents within the statutory deadline. Information published on the website of the Head of the Office for Foreigners includes the following sentence:
"Voivodes will summon applicants to appear in person, where required by law, after direct customer service is restored."
The decision of the Masovian Voivodeship Office also deserves recognition. In the face of the epidemic crisis, it introduced a new procedure for processing Type A work permit applications. This electronic procedure is based on an electronic signature and a trusted profile. This is the first such solution in the country, but we believe that other offices across Poland will follow suit.
Our law firm's Legalization Department, drawing on years of experience in contacts with administrative bodies regarding foreigners' affairs, is prepared to provide support and legal services to individuals in the situations described above. If you are experiencing problems with the legality of your stay due to the pandemic, please contact our Legalization Department Leader, attorney Paweł Kaczorek.
