Illegal immigrants given an opportunity to come clean and start afresh

Thousands of illegal immigrants are being given a chance to legalize their stay in Poland. Starting on September 1, the Office for Expats and For eigners (OEF) plans to commence a temporary program aiming at sorting out their status. "This is a one time act, such a chance will not come again in the near future," said OFE's director general Jan Węgrzyn, who added that many foreigners are caught in a dead end where they avoid state institutions and often end up in the underworld. This however, could also mean they will be afraid to make use of the amnesty. Those with the best chances of l egalizing their presence are those immigrants who came to Poland before January 1, 1997, and have not gone abroad since then. From September 1 until the end of the year they can turn to the Office and apply for a temporary visa, during which time their application will be fairly judged. If they can prove they will not be a burden on the welfare system, they can apply for an extension to their visa and eventually apply for permanent residency. Alternatively, if they decide to leave the country this year, they will not have to face being placed on the blacklist of illegal immigrants. (Rze czpospolita, p. A1) A.K.