Has Poland banned Russians?

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Call your Congressman's office, everyone.  Ask them to call the Bureau of Consular Affairs pronto, or to learn the solution however possible.

[slavaskii 886]

1 hour ago, To_the_moon said:

Is anyone aware about passport control between EU countries on land? I mean car, buses, trains, etc. We were of course planning on going to another country first, information about Poland accepting Russians directly from their flight was conflicting, so we decided not to take our chances. My fiancé is applying for a Hungarian visa next week and our plan was Hungary-Czech Republic-Poland. I wonder if anyone would check his visa if we just drive from Czech Republic to Poland?

As of now, there are no border controls, land or air, between Poland and other Schengen states. However, I noted this on another thread, Poland is legally allowed to institute these under the Schengen regime. A country must only cite public policy (lol) or an emergency situation to reinstitute "temporary" (lol) border checkpoints. I pejoratively put the "lol"s because Austria and Germany have been maintaining these for years citing the Migrant Crisis. If Poland doesn't get what they want (total ban on Russian visa applicants) by next week, they have the authority to move ahead with the Baltic states and impose border checkpoints.

 

I see this as likely, but with limited effect. There are too many roads to control between Poland and Germany, for example; Poland can easily start checking passports on trains, but this wouldn't stop Russians taking the FlixBus from Berlin to Bydgoszcz. If don't know the legality of Poland checking passports within Poland proper, but I'd have to believe that'd be in their right. Perhaps EU could badger them for discrimination, but Poland's high courts have already declared they are above EU law, iirc. If Poland was to do that, the situation becomes very grim. Every time I was in Warsaw, I was always asked for an ID when checking into a hotel. You can see where I'm going here, especially considering Russians need to stay several days in Warsaw to pick up their passports.

 

As an aside, the oddity of this to me is that the Polish I know have been extremely kind and welcoming to those fleeing Putin and Lukashenko. My Belarusian family has been treated wonderfully in their town and assimilated well. I'm really at a loss for words about recent developments here, but I assure you if there's a forum to figure things out, it's VJ. Best of luck to you all. 

[To_the_moon 94]

6 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

As of now, there are no border controls, land or air, between Poland and other Schengen states. However, I noted this on another thread, Poland is legally allowed to institute these under the Schengen regime. A country must only cite public policy (lol) or an emergency situation to reinstitute "temporary" (lol) border checkpoints. I pejoratively put the "lol"s because Austria and Germany have been maintaining these for years citing the Migrant Crisis. If Poland doesn't get what they want (total ban on Russian visa applicants) by next week, they have the authority to move ahead with the Baltic states and impose border checkpoints.

 

I see this as likely, but with limited effect. There are too many roads to control between Poland and Germany, for example; Poland can easily start checking passports on trains, but this wouldn't stop Russians taking the FlixBus from Berlin to Bydgoszcz. If don't know the legality of Poland checking passports within Poland proper, but I'd have to believe that'd be in their right. Perhaps EU could badger them for discrimination, but Poland's high courts have already declared they are above EU law, iirc. If Poland was to do that, the situation becomes very grim. Every time I was in Warsaw, I was always asked for an ID when checking into a hotel. You can see where I'm going here, especially considering Russians need to stay several days in Warsaw to pick up their passports.

 

As an aside, the oddity of this to me is that the Polish I know have been extremely kind and welcoming to those fleeing Putin and Lukashenko. My Belarusian family has been treated wonderfully in their town and assimilated well. I'm really at a loss for words about recent developments here, but I assure you if there's a forum to figure things out, it's VJ. Best of luck to you all. 

Yes, I did read your informative post in another thread. I cannot imagine, though, Polish officers stopping every car on every border to search for a Russian passport. Especially, if I, as a US citizen, just rent a car and drive ourselves to Warsaw. I assume, that would, first of all, discriminate all other Europeans who drive across the border and shouldn't, technically, experience any border control procedures. Also, there are SO many roads connecting Poland with other EU countries that I think there is not enough manpower to stop every car without creating a huge traffic. 

 

We have already lost our hope to get there by air/train, or any other port of entry that will check his passport, so I'm exploring opportunities to get there by car. Our airbnb booking is on my name and I will provide my passport details for check-in. Meanwhile, we are also trying to transfer our case to another location, which, of course, has many downsides as well. 

[slavaskii 886]

16 hours ago, To_the_moon said:

Yes, I did read your informative post in another thread. I cannot imagine, though, Polish officers stopping every car on every border to search for a Russian passport. Especially, if I, as a US citizen, just rent a car and drive ourselves to Warsaw. I assume, that would, first of all, discriminate all other Europeans who drive across the border and shouldn't, technically, experience any border control procedures. Also, there are SO many roads connecting Poland with other EU countries that I think there is not enough manpower to stop every car without creating a huge traffic. 

 

We have already lost our hope to get there by air/train, or any other port of entry that will check his passport, so I'm exploring opportunities to get there by car. Our airbnb booking is on my name and I will provide my passport details for check-in. Meanwhile, we are also trying to transfer our case to another location, which, of course, has many downsides as well. 

I believe @Lynxyonok told us that a Russian applicant contacted nearly 200 consulates/embassies, and only El Salvador and Uzbekistan agreed to the transfer. A fiance of a Russian applicant was messaging me on Reddit and said he was interested in pursuing Salvador, not only because of the (apparent) visa-free regime, but because he also had family there who could help his fiancee around. Of course that seems like the nuclear option, but I'm, unfortunately, highly pessimistic about the State Department changing the designation from Warsaw. After all, when the COVID vaccine requirement went into effect, all of us here on R/U/B thought for sure Russians and Belarusians would be exempt under the 'unavailable' category. They still aren't - despite many other countries being on the list.

[Lynxyonok 316]

1 hour ago, slavaskii said:

I believe @Lynxyonok told us that a Russian applicant contacted nearly 200 consulates/embassies, and only El Salvador and Uzbekistan agreed to the transfer. A fiance of a Russian applicant was messaging me on Reddit and said he was interested in pursuing Salvador, not only because of the (apparent) visa-free regime, but because he also had family there who could help his fiancee around. Of course that seems like the nuclear option, but I'm, unfortunately, highly pessimistic about the State Department changing the designation from Warsaw. After all, when the COVID vaccine requirement went into effect, all of us here on R/U/B thought for sure Russians and Belarusians would be exempt under the 'unavailable' category. They still aren't - despite many other countries being on the list.

Yes, that was my post, thank you.

 

@To_the_moon : While not all cars may be checked, how are you going to answer a question during the interview like "How did you arrive into Poland if it is currently illegal?" or a similar one. Because the instant your fiancé / fiancée is suspected of travel fraud, it might just take the entire process down to the "denied" outcome.

Edited September 10, 2022 by Lynxyonok

[To_the_moon 94]

21 minutes ago, Lynxyonok said:

Yes, that was my post, thank you.

 

@To_the_moon : While not all cars may be checked, how are you going to answer a question during the interview like "How did you arrive into Poland if it is currently illegal?" or a similar one. Because the instant your fiancé / fiancée is suspected of travel fraud, it might just take the entire process down to the "denied" outcome.

How is that travel fraud if the embassy clearly invited us to attend the interview? By the way, no definitive instructions have been released yet in regards to land travel among EU countries. They banned entrance on Russian-Estonian/Lithuanian/Latvian borders, which means no new Russians will be allowed, but what can they do to people who entered prior to this ban? 

In addition to travel fraud claim, fairly speaking they should also question people getting Schengen visas to Italy/Spain or any other country to attend their interview in Warsaw without stepping a foot in those countries. Or getting business visas to France to attend a "business conference"😄

 

My point is that the US consulate in Warsaw is clearly aware of Russian citizens having trouble getting into the country for almost two years but still continues interviewing them without questioning their path to Europe. And I never suggested anything illegal, I was just trying to work around the blind spots that have not been clearly identified yet. Of course I would never even try to cross the border illegally. But until it does become illegal, it is only a theory which can change multiple times before our interview day.

Edited September 10, 2022 by To_the_moon

[Lynxyonok 316]

28 minutes ago, To_the_moon said:

How is that travel fraud if the embassy clearly invited us to attend the interview? By the way, no definitive instructions have been released yet in regards to land travel among EU countries. They banned entrance on Russian-Estonian/Lithuanian/Latvian borders, which means no new Russians will be allowed, but what can they do to people who entered prior to this ban? 

In addition to travel fraud claim, fairly speaking they should also question people getting Schengen visas to Italy/Spain or any other country to attend their interview in Warsaw without stepping a foot in those countries. Or getting business visas to France to attend a "business conference"😄

 

My point is that the US consulate in Warsaw is clearly aware of Russian citizens having trouble getting into the country for almost two years but still continues interviewing them without questioning their path to Europe. And I never suggested anything illegal, I was just trying to work around the blind spots that have not been clearly identified yet. Of course I would never even try to cross the border illegally. But until it does become illegal, it is only a theory which can change multiple times before our interview day.

I agree with all of your points. An important distinction, however, is that a US invitation does not guarantee Polish entry.

 

There's potential risk involved in entering Poland. The country is citing threats to its national security: I wouldn't put it past them to establish additional checks and balances.

 

That's all.

[FJinSD 14]

On 9/8/2022 at 9:28 AM, millefleur said:

This is the glaringly obvious choice. No doubt Kazakhstan also has Russian speaking staff on hand.

Requested transfer from Warsaw to Almaty two days ago.  Fastest correspondence chain since I've been in the process - only took a few hours.

 

The answer was generally polite but in BOLD type it was denied: 

 

"Greetings,

Thank you for contacting the Consular Section of the U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan.

In response to significant challenges related to staff shortages and huge backlog of immigrant visa applications, the U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan is limited in its resources to process visa services. We provide visa services on a limited appointment basis as resources and local conditions allow. Therefore, given current space, capacity constraints and Consular section’s limited resources and huge backlog we are unable to accept your case transfer request."

[TBoneTX 45,288]

On 9/10/2022 at 1:11 PM, slavaskii said:

a Russian applicant contacted nearly 200 consulates/embassies, and only El Salvador and Uzbekistan agreed to the transfer

I still think that people should contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs in D.C. for advice.

Too bad that Finland, Norway, and Mongolia (all bordering Russia) apparently declined.

[millefleur 5,046]

5 hours ago, FJinSD said:

"Greetings,

 

Thank you for contacting the Consular Section of the U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan.

 

In response to significant challenges related to staff shortages and huge backlog of immigrant visa applications, the U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan is limited in its resources to process visa services. We provide visa services on a limited appointment basis as resources and local conditions allow. Therefore, given current space, capacity constraints and Consular section’s limited resources and huge backlog we are unable to accept your case transfer request."

What's the deal with staff shortages? They need to hire more people.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

20 minutes ago, millefleur said:

What's the deal with staff shortages? They need to hire more people.

They might still be restricted, or gearing up, consequent to Covid closures.  The physical premises might not accommodate new people.  There may be other physical, mechanical, or functional reasons.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:20 PM, TBoneTX said:

Call your Congressman's office, everyone.  Ask them to call the Bureau of Consular Affairs pronto, or to learn the solution however possible.

Who has done this?  What was the outcome?

[FJinSD 14]

8 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Who has done this?  What was the outcome?

I've written/called two United States senators and my local congressional representative.  Same answer from all - basically: "take it up with the NVC/State Department"

[TBoneTX 45,288]

8 hours ago, FJinSD said:

I've written/called two United States senators and my local congressional representative.  Same answer from all - basically: "take it up with the NVC/State Department"

Nothing like being blown off.  Call your Congressman's office back, and ask for phone numbers to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

[Lynxyonok 316]

Something to consider. 28 senators have to win their bid for re-election in 2 months.

 

Some of them really need every vote they can get.

 

A well-timed, well-placed phone call in a state like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin can result in progress.

Edited September 17, 2022 by Lynxyonok