Warsaw Passport/Visa Return for non Polish Residents

[MarvinH 0]

Hello,

VisaJourney has been helpful to me in making me aware of the procedures and preparing the documents in obtaining the IR1/CR1 visa. There is one new twist that I thought might help others if they are aware of it.

My wife is a Belarus national so that means document delivery in Warsaw, before you can return home. Last year when we redid her B1/B2 in Warsaw (after a few years of the nightmare of Moscow and Pony Express), we simply picked up her passport at the consulate window the next afternoon outside the embassy. In August the procedure was changed and now foreign residents pick up their documents at a TNT courier office located at ul. Annopol 19. Sounds simple until you look at a map. I didn't until after the interview, thinking it must be a city center office. No, it is 13.5 km, according to Google, from the central train station, across the river and half way to the northern coast.

We took a taxi from the Marriott (across from the train station) and the fee on the meter was 45 PLN one way. Half way there I had already decided there was no way that the driver was leaving without us, so you can interpret the tip to have him wait, with the meter running. And as would be expected if you are familiar with TNT, things were not well organized there. We were out in about 20 minutes. The only other people there were also picking up their passports, two waiting, and one after us. From some reason, a man has to appear at the counter and then disappear into the back for 10 minutes to bring up the current request. They asked for a photocopy of the passport which we did not have but a photo ID driver's license worked. We also had the bar coded "Transaction

Confirmation" printout from the website when you select delivery options. It was the first thing they looked at.

As we were leaving, I did see a tram in the area, but can not imagine it runs very frequently. If you are on a tight budget and this is your only option, do your research before getting to Warsaw.

I would just like to thank all those posted their help and insights into the procedures of working through the paperwork. It helped make things go very smoothly, initial mailing on March 19th to picking up the visa documents on October 11th.

Thanks - Marvin

[cluelessinny 2]

Thank You Marvin, last night I saw the new requirement and couldn't sleep all night worrying about this, This is very settling to learn, when my wife wakes tomorrow and I tell her they will take a photocopy of her passport she be very happy, thank you again

[kzielu 1,154]

Well - here http://ztm.waw.pl/rozklad_nowy.php?c=182&l=1&a=1&n=1087&o=03&k=A is how frequently train runs - up to 14 times per hour at peak times - and it takes directly into city center.

Annopol is little remote - no question about it - but relatively civilized. And by the way - Warsaw (lives for 30+ years) have lots of cab companies you can call, get english speaking person on the other side and have the cab waiting for you in few mins. No need to waste money keeping guy waiting and it's not like you're going to get shot there or something...

Edited October 15, 2012 by kzielu

[cluelessinny 2]

Well - here http://ztm.waw.pl/rozklad_nowy.php?c=182&l=1&a=1&n=1087&o=03&k=A is how frequently train runs - up to 14 times per hour at peak times - and it takes directly into city center.

Annopol is little remote - no question about it - but relatively civilized. And by the way - Warsaw (lives for 30+ years) have lots of cab companies you can call, get english speaking person on the other side and have the cab waiting for you in few mins. No need to waste money keeping guy waiting and it's not like you're going to get shot there or something...

kzielu, i know nothing about Warsaw, are there many sites to see close by, if we went early, what should we enjoy, culture wise, I am half polish and the envy of my family i return home,

[Reyan 56]

I don't know what it is like during fall, since we went during the summer. My wife and I stayed a day before/after the interview, and we enjoyed our time there. There are many museums to see (my wife liked the Fryderyk Chopin museum), and we also took a tour of the old town. Just ask the hotel staff where you are staying for a map of the area. The bus system was easy to use once you use it a few times.

[cluelessinny 2]

I wrote to the embassy, they have confirmed a copy is all that is needed