"Exactly 15 minutes passed." A Belarusian under international protection shared how he arranged a Polish visa for his mother without intermediaries

According to the general rule, an invitation for obtaining a Polish visa can be issued by Polish citizens, foreigners with a permanent residence permit (permanent stay or EU resident card), and those who have legally and continuously resided in Poland for the last five years. However, an exception is made for persons under international protection. They can issue an invitation earlier — but not a Voivodeship invitation (through a state body), but a notarial one.

But further problems may arise on the Belarusian side. Many do not want to "reveal" their international protection status in a visa center in Belarus, so as not to subject their relatives whom they invite to unnecessary pressure. This status (in the form of refugee status or subsidiary protection) is indicated on the residence permit card, a copy of which is included in the package of documents submitted for a visa.

Therefore, Belarusians under international protection are advised to send an email to the consul with the subject "Invitation for a relative from a person with international protection status". In the letter, it is necessary to describe the situation and ask for an appointment directly at the consulate to protect relatives in Belarus. A consulate representative has the right to contact the applicant directly and schedule a date for their relatives to submit visa documents.

"Two people know — the pig knows"

Anton did just that. He issued a notarial invitation as a person under international protection. Then he composed a letter to the Polish consulate in the region where his mother lives. He indicated that the woman had no other sons and that a Polish visa was the only way for them to maintain family ties.

However, an answer soon arrived, recommending Anton's mother to contact the VFS Global visa center. This was explained by the limited staff of the consulate.

The Belarusian began to ponder. He had never publicized that he had received international protection in Poland, for example, he had not written about it on social networks. On the other hand, he did not hide it from friends and acquaintances.

— I thought: what kind of secret for Belarus is it that I have international protection? They probably knew a long, long time ago. Two people know — the pig knows, — he describes his train of thought. So they decided that his mother would still take the risk and register at the visa center.

"I will pay"

The woman tried to catch a window for submitting documents, but now it is very difficult. She turned to visa intermediaries, who quoted a price for their services — 860 rubles. For a pensioner, the sum is not small, but the desire to see her son is even greater.

— That's it, Anton, I'm going to pay, — the interlocutor recalls her words.

Then the man decided to try his luck at the consulate again. He wrote another letter, in which he indicated his mother's age and asked to schedule a time for her to submit documents, at least at the visa center.

The consulate replied that without a prior appointment, applications at the visa center could be submitted by:

• persons aged 55 and older, invited by spouses, children, or grandchildren, provided that the invitation was registered with the Voivodeship office (urząd), and the inviting person has Polish citizenship or a permit to reside in Poland;
• persons aged 55 and older, invited by the spouses of their children or grandchildren, if the spouses are Polish citizens and provided that the invitation was registered with the Voivodeship office;
• holders of the Pole's Card aged 60 and older.

"Sorry, we didn't understand your situation"

The circle closed. Anton cannot make a Voivodeship invitation because he has not yet lived in Poland for five years and has not received a permanent residence permit.

Nevertheless, he decided to write another letter, in which he stated his position: close relatives of a person under international protection should be given the opportunity to enter Poland based on documents confirming the family ties, and the invitation can be issued notarially.

This time, Anton sent the letter not only to the consulate in his mother's place of residence but also to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.

— Exactly 15 minutes after I sent the letter, a girl called: "Sorry, we didn't understand your situation," — he describes.

The interlocutor asked him to re-send the documents confirming the provision of international protection. And soon after, the man's mother was given a date and time to submit her application at the consulate.

The woman received a visa immediately for three years.

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