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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
    Ambassador: Robert Kupiecki
    Embassy: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
    Telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
    Fax: [1] (202) 328-6271
 
US Diplomatic Representation:
    Ambassador: Lee A. Feinstein
    Embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054 Warsaw Pl
    Mailing address: Use Embassy Address
    Telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
    Fax: [48] (2) 504-2688
    consulate(s) general: Krakow, Poznan

Consular jurisdiction extends to:
Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and Overseas Territories

    Consulate(s) General Los Angeles
    12400 Wilshire Bl., Suite 555,
    Los Angeles, CA 90025.
    (310) 442-8500, FAX (310) 442-8515
Consular jurisdiction extends to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

    Chicago
    (CG) 1530 N. Lake Shore Dr.,
    Chicago, IL 60610.
    (312) 337-8166
Consular jurisdiction extends to: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

    New York
    233 Madison Av.,
    New York, NY 10016.
    (212) 889-8360
Consular jurisdiction extends to: Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Poland
Embassy of the United States in Warsaw, Poland
Embassy of Poland in Washington, United States of America





FOREIGN RELATIONS

Poland is a key ally in Central Europe, and one of the United States’ strongest partners on the continent. In addition to supporting international counterterrorism efforts, Poland partners closely with the United States on issues such as democratization, nonproliferation, human rights, regional cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, economic growth and energy security, and United Nations reform. Poland contributes soldiers to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; maintains troops in the Balkans, mainly in the NATO Kosovo Force; and is contributing a full battalion to the NATO Response Force, with soldiers on call for rapid deployment.

The United States established diplomatic relations with the newly formed Polish Republic in 1919. Poland was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. A communist regime took power in 1947 following the war, and U.S. relations with Poland were distant. The 1989 end of communist rule in Poland heralded a new era in bilateral relations.

U.S. Assistance to Poland

Poland graduated from USAID assistance in 2000 and capitalized on its successful transition experience to become a provider of assistance to other countries in the region, as well to the Middle East and North Africa. The U.S.-Poland Democracy Dialogue is a framework for U.S. partnership with Poland on democracy promotion. Poland co-chairs the Community of Democracies Moldova Task Force with the United States, is active in the EU’s Eastern Partnership and spearheaded the launch of the European Endowment for Democracy.

U.S. security assistance enhances Poland’s capability to meet its NATO obligations and to deploy and sustain professional forces in multilateral operations, often in support of U.S. deployments in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2012, the U.S. will open a full-time aviation detachment in Poland to increase interoperability through joint training exercises and regular rotation of U.S. military aircraft. U.S. assistance is also helping Poland to prepare for hosting NATO missile defense assets in the 2018 timeframe.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Strong economic growth potential, a large domestic market, tariff-free access to the European Union (EU), and political stability are prime reasons that U.S. companies do business in Poland. Opportunities for trade and investment have attracted foreign investors into all sectors, and the United States is one of Poland's top investors. As an EU member, Poland applies the EU's common external tariff to goods from other countries, including the United States. The United States and Poland have signed a double taxation treaty and a bilateral treaty on business and economic relations. The June 2012 U.S.-Poland Business Summit promoted expansion of bilateral commercial relations, provided businesses with an opportunity to present their views and concerns to the Polish and American governments, and raised public awareness of the significance of the bilateral economic relationship.

Poland's Membership in International Organizations

Poland and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Poland also is an observer to the Organization of American States.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Poland is Lee A. Feinstein; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Poland maintains an embassy in the United States at 2640 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-234-3800).

More information about Poland is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Poland Country Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Poland Page
U.S. Embassy: Poland
History of U.S. Relations With Poland
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Poland check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving     International Driving Permit is mandatory
Currency     (PLN) zloty
Electrical     230 Volts
Telephones     Country Code 48, City Code, Krakow 12+4/7D, Warszawa 22+4/7D, Lodz 42+4/7D

Tourist Attractions: Poland's major tourist attractions include the winter resort area of Zakopane in the southeastern mountains; the medieval city of Krakow, including Wawel Castle; the Nazi death camp at Oswiecim (Auschwitz; the magnificently restored Teutonic fortress of Malbork; and the reconstructed portions of Gdansk and Szczecin (two Hanseatic port cities) in the north. Attractions in Warsaw area include Chopin's birthplace at Zelazowa Wola, the Wilanow and Lazienki palaces, and the "Old Town" and Royal Castle.

Polish National Tourist Office Information Center: 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601, Tel.: (312) 236-9013, Fax: (312) 236-1125


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco............................250 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
Liquor...............................3 litres
Perfume............................Reasonable for personal use
Cameras............................2 still/ 1 movie camera
Film.................................. Reasonable for personal use
Gifts...................................Duty free allowance up to ZLD6000
Other.................................Goods up the value of US$100
Currency............................No import/export of Polish currency

NOTE: Fur, leather and gold articles are subject to customs duty. The export of antiques, works of art and certain other items from Poland is prohibited. A customs declaration must be presented at the border. Firearms and narcotics are prohibited. Duty-free shops are located at border crossing points. Payment for purchases can be made either in foreign or local currency, travellers cheques or credit cards



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