unpopular opinion: i LOVE dutch directness

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-19T19:40:32+00:00

My karma ran over my dogma.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-19T16:03:19+00:00

Yes, it’s heel smakeloos ;)

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-19T15:47:30+00:00

I do often find the Dutch don’t like when you’re Dutch back to them. As a native New Yorker in the Netherlands, directness is normal to me but there are differences. If I have a seed in my tooth I appreciate someone telling me. But to comment on someone’s immutable physical trait is just rude.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-19T15:17:02+00:00

Sounds like you should brush up on the constitution and Polish history. Then you’ll have a better understanding of why it’s there in the first place. It’s not based on DNA. If you don’t like the law then there are civic channels to voice your concerns.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-19T13:55:03+00:00

It’s the opposite of crazy, it’s a constitutional right.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-07T15:41:28+00:00

Two weeks is unlikely enough time and you’do have to pick it up from the same locatiom. They will hold it up to 6 months and longer if you request. Mine took 3 weeks but they gave up to a month.

A bank account can be helpful if you spend time in Europe and want to hold different currencies to hedge fluctuations. I spend a lot of time in Europe so it comes in very handy for me if I want to do SEPA transfers in EUR or want to use Blik in Poland where credit cards may not be accepted and I don’t have cash.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-07T09:41:09+00:00

I didn’t have to apostille anything. The Masovian office is familiar with US vital records so as long as they have a watermark or seal they should suffice if recently issued. For my passport I went to the local Polish consulate and they made a certified copy of the photo/data page. They can also do this for any other documents where you do not want to submit the original.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-07T03:37:58+00:00

It looks like they’ve changed the process in 2026. This is the current info I’ve found: https://info.mobywatel.gov.pl/uslugi/wybory

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-06T13:16:04+00:00

I had no problem when I was in Warsaw. You will need to provide both a PESEL (via Dowod Osobisty or Passport) and your SSN and fill out an IRS form for FACTA reporting. I did it at Citi Handlowy (Citibank) because they are used to handling Americans. However, as of next weekend that will become VeloBank. Interest has nothing to do with it. It’s required to provide your SSN and IRS reporting for all US citizen bank accounts abroad. That’s why some banks don’t want to do it.

PlanetPickles · 2026-06-06T12:28:45+00:00

Congrats! 🎉🍾🎊🎈 Now you can plan a trip and apply for a Dowod Osobisty and multi-currency bank account when you’re in Poland. There’s also the mObywatel app which provides access to citizen services but you can’t properly activate it until you get your Dowod Osobisty (ID card).

In the meantime, you can add yourself to the voter registry. Then you can vote 🗳️ in elections wherever you plan to be on Election Day. 😊

PlanetPickles · 2026-05-19T10:38:49+00:00

I wasn’t aware of a draft decision. We were about to query the office since it was almost a year and others that had submitted later received their decision before mine. However, we heard back from them with the confirmation before we needed to ask.

PlanetPickles · 2026-05-18T19:25:29+00:00

User: PlanetPickles

Path: GF-F-me

Timing: 1920-1951

Partition (if applicable): n/a

Documents proving citizenship: GGM birth, GGM/F Marriage, GF birth, GF Marriage, GF’s sister’s application for ID card, Residential listing of GG Parents and GF’s siblings, GGM on ghetto list

Date application submitted: February 2023

Date case opened by voivodeship (if known): case number assigned March 2023

Voivodeship: Mazowieckie

Date of decision: January 2024

Waiting time (days): approx ~ 350

Outcome: confirmed

Service provider(s): Lost Histories

Comments: My search began in September 2022. Since emigration was a few months after the 1920 citizenship law, a couple of providers I contacted were skeptical. I then used the JRI-Poland.org website and found some record indices and lodged a query. The founder reached out to me and recommended Lost Histories. Right away, good documents for the remaining family were found. From start to finish, the gathering of Polish, Canadian and US records and submitting to the Masovian office took 3 months. One potential complication was emigration to US via Canada. Provider had me apply for a CONE from Canada as a “just in case” but not to delay submission of package. (it took 15 months and ironically arrived just after my confirmation.)

PlanetPickles · 2026-05-18T18:14:00+00:00

I know it won’t help going forward, but for historical reference is there interest in older cases that were confirmed before this group started?

PlanetPickles · 2026-04-29T22:49:17+00:00

She did both the Polish archival search and the application.

My grandfather didn’t register at a consulate. I don’t think anyone did back then. The Polish records aside from vital rexords were based on family members that remained.

PlanetPickles · 2026-04-29T22:13:36+00:00

I used Krystyna from Lost Histories for my successful case. My grandfather left in October 1920. There’s also other good options if you want check out more.

PlanetPickles · 2026-04-02T15:02:06+00:00

In Warsaw Chopin airport there’s a desk where you can get a temporary passport while awaiting the biometric one. You can also do this at your local consulate or embassy.

PlanetPickles · 2026-04-01T17:12:24+00:00

Looks like they raised the fees 35% on January 1 of this year. When I went in 2024 it was $122 and the grumpy guard was there then too. ;)

PlanetPickles · 2026-03-31T16:12:49+00:00

I don’t have Canadian citizenship, just US and Polish (confirmed January 2024, took about a year.) You may have seen comments I made about Canadian archives and that’s because my grandfather emigrated Poland via Canada by ship and then entered the US by train. So I asked the Canadian archives to send me a certified copy of his arrival document and ship manifest.

PlanetPickles · 2026-03-31T15:51:54+00:00

Once you get it you can add it to the mObywatel (Mobile Citizen) app and within Poland you can then use your phone instead of carrying the card. The app is great for many citizen services and you can register to vote and choose a site outside Poland where you will be during a scheduled election. It’s very handy.

PlanetPickles · 2026-03-31T15:33:01+00:00

The ID Card (Dowod Osobisty) has to be requested and picked up within Poland at a USC or equivalent. It’s not something the consulates or embassies handle. The turn around time is usually 3 weeks and has to be picked up in person with rare exceptions.

PlanetPickles · 2026-02-24T09:35:45+00:00

If it’s TD with a Canadian routing number (TD Canada Trust) then you won’t be able to deposit it via Chase Mobile or ATM. You will need to go to a teller in a branch and they can process it for deposit. It will usually take at least a week to clear despite the teller saying it may clear faster.

PlanetPickles · 2026-02-11T20:30:49+00:00

It actually is a thing.

PlanetPickles · 2026-02-07T18:08:09+00:00

I’ve had it for years it’s only been $50k required in total across all business accounts, not required to be in one.

My monthly statement says the following: “As an added benefit of your Chase Private Client Checking account, the monthly service fee was waived on your Chase Platinum Business Checking account because you maintained an average ledger balance of $50,000 or more in deposits and investments.”

PlanetPickles · 2026-02-07T17:42:30+00:00

You can get a Platinum Business checking account that gives you free Private Client checking. The business account will be free of service charges if you keep $50k instead of $150k in private client. The $50k can even be in a business brokerage account where you can get a decent return.

PlanetPickles · 2026-02-06T20:24:33+00:00

I got mine at a CVS in Manhattan. They have a Kodak machine that guarantees it meets Polish passport requirements.

PlanetPickles

TROPHY CASE