As mentioned in the overview of the application process, there will be various kinds of correspondence one may receive from Poland after the initial application is mailed. While return correspondence will most likely be entirely in Polish, there are tools and templates available here which should assist the comprehension of the documents received. Below please find four (4) different categories of responses an applicant will receive, along with links to translation aids.
1) More information needed (UDSKiOR).
Here UDSKiOR is contacting the applicant in order to gather more information that was not provided in the initial application.
A sample letter might look like this.
A translation tool is available here to assist in deciphering the paragraphs.
2) Approval letter
The approval letter is issued by UDSKiOR and comes with several other forms.
On the letter marked “Decyzje,” if the first word under the name and address of the applicant is “przyznaję,” then it means the applicant was approved. (See figure on right.)
Also, if the applicant received an envelope with many documents inside – likely it is an approval.
A sample approval letter, the other documents that come along with it, and a guide to understanding the language can be found here.
3) Denial letter
The denial letter can be recognized if on the Decyzja (“Decision”) page, the first word under the name and address of the applicant is “odmawiam”. (See figure on right.) The letter is issued by UDSKiOR and contains citations of relevant articles from the law granting a pension to victims of oppression, as well as the reason for the denial.
A sample denial letter and a guide to understanding the structure and language of the letter can be found here.
4) More information needed (ZUS)
Any letter from ZUS means that the application has already been approved, but that the office needs more information. Any letter from ZUS means that the application has already been approved, but that the office needs more information.
Sample letters and their translations can be found here.