The Polish Office for Foreigners has reported cases of unscrupulous intermediaries who offer paid "services" for submitting applications for the residence card marked CUKR. The agency emphasizes that such offers are impossible, and any paper applications or "coordinated submissions" are not provided for by law. This is reported by In Poland.
Why Intermediary Offers are a Scam
As of July 1, 2024, changes to the Law on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine came into effect, introducing a new mechanism for legalizing the stay of persons under temporary protection. It allows for the issuance of a residence card marked "Previously used temporary protection" (CUKR) for a period of three years. Document submission is only permitted electronically through the official online service.
In contrast, intermediaries spread false information that there is supposedly a possibility to submit paper applications or that regional offices are already accepting such documents. The Office for Foreigners categorically denies this and warns about the risks of misleading citizens.
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What Applicants Should Remember
To apply for the CUKR card, the following circumstances must be taken into account:
- Submission will occur exclusively online
- Paper applications are not accepted
- Intermediaries have no authority to "coordinate submissions"
- Mandatory expenses are only the stamp duty of 340 zlotys and 100 zlotys for the card production
- Official instructions will be published before the service launches.
The office specifically emphasizes: any paid offers from intermediaries that guarantee faster or alternative document processing are unlawful.
The new online mechanism is intended to simplify the legalization of Ukrainians' stay in Poland and reduce the burden on the office. While the system is not operational, fraudulent schemes are becoming more active, so official bodies urge applicants to verify information sources and rely only on data from the Office for Foreigners.