The work of Poland's Working Group, led by Ms. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is drawing to a close. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country has verified that the group headed by Undersecretary Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, whose job it is to eliminate anomalies in the visa system, is almost done with its work. The Working Group was established by decision of the Migration Team. It consists of experts with knowledge and appropriate decision-making competencies, representing ministers responsible for internal and foreign affairs, family, labour and social policy, as well as education, science, higher education, economy and justice. The group also consists of representatives of the Chief of the Office for Foreigners Affairs, the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, the Head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW), and the Chief Labour Inspector. Poland’s Working Group aims to introduce a White book to organise the visa issuance system by applying legislative changes in the Polish legal order. Through a statement, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls that the group’s mandate includes developing mechanisms to tighten the system of issuing student and work visas, as well as residence permits and work permits to internationals.

Involvements in Irregular Visa Affairs

Cases of frauds related with visas are not few in Poland. Last month the Border Guard Post in Bydgoszcz, Poland, cracked down on a criminal organisation facilitating the entry of over 10,000 internationals into the country. In January this year, the country suspended the Business Harbor Programme aimed at attracting international IT specialists to the country. The decision came following concerns that visas were not issued in a controlled way. Besides, in summer 2022, Polish consulates in some countries were criticised over pretensions of having granted hundreds of thousands of temporary visas to nationals of thirds countries in exchange for bribes. Soon after, the government took measures, dismissing the former deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Piotr Wawrzyk. In addition, authorities in Poland also applied stricter rules for foreigners interested in work visas. In January this year, authorities in Poland stressed that since then the number of work visas issued to internationals marked a notable decline.