Polish Citizenship — Case Tracker
Last updated: 19 February 2026
Status: IN PROGRESS
Applications filed July 2024. Urząd status inquiry submitted Feb 19, 2026. Awaiting LAC military certificate (5-6 month wait). Next: send ponaglenie + firm email to PolishDescent.
Quick Reference
| Field | Stephen | Evan |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | WSC-I.6122.12858.2024 | WSC-I.6122.12502.2024 |
| PolishDescent Ref | GB.2023.09.11.2157.01 | Same case |
| Filed | July 9, 2024 | July 9, 2024 |
| Legal Rep | Angelika Michalik-Tylek | Angelika Michalik-Tylek |
| Voivodeship | Mazowiecki (Warsaw) | Mazowiecki (Warsaw) |
| Original Deadline | Jan 30, 2026 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| Status | Pending — awaiting military cert | Pending — linked to Stephen's case |
Jonah (born 2013): Included under Stephen's case. Birth certificate transcribed Sep 2024.
Action Tracker
| # | Action | Status | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~~Submit Urząd status inquiry~~ | ✅ Done | Feb 19, 2026 | Via kontaktwsc.mazowieckie.pl. Topic: "Termin decyzji". Confirmation sent to sgreszcz@gmail.com |
| 2 | Email ponaglenie (urgency notice) | 🔲 Pending | — | Send to wsc@mazowieckie.pl, CC PolishDescent. Formal Art 37 KPA notice. |
| 3 | ~~Firm email to PolishDescent~~ | ✅ Done | Feb 19, 2026 | Sent from sgreszcz@gmail.com to Ewelina. Called out: concealed LAC rejection, form errors (swapped name/surname, missing DOB), 2.5yr timeline, demanded full status + timeline by end of week. Implicit lawyer-switch threat. |
| 4 | LAC military certificate request | ⏳ Waiting | Sent Feb 19, 2026 | Sent to daiprp-atipd@bac-lac.gc.ca. Expected response: 5-6 months (Jul-Aug 2026) |
| 5 | Contact LexMotion for free assessment | 🔲 Optional | — | Top alternative firm. Only if PolishDescent doesn't improve by April |
| 6 | Submit Evan's Urząd inquiry | 🔲 Pending | — | Same form, case WSC-I.6122.12502.2024 |
| 7 | Monitor sgreszcz@gmail.com for Urząd reply | ⏳ Auto | Ongoing | Friday email monitor checking every 15min |
Full Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sep 2023 | Case opened with PolishDescent. First payment (40% deposit). |
| Jun 14, 2024 | Steve provides grandfather's naturalization docs, passport scans, personal data. Physical docs sent via Royal Mail (LB687061660GB). |
| Jun 17-18, 2024 | Applications declared ready. 2nd installment paid (£437.50). Jonah added to case. |
| Jun 21, 2024 | Canadian Archives response — need more time for grandfather's military confirmation. |
| Jul 3, 2024 | Documents received in Poland, forwarded for translation. |
| Jul 9, 2024 | Applications submitted to Mazowiecki Voivodeship. Both Stephen (WSC-I.6122.12858.2024) and Evan (WSC-I.6122.12502.2024). |
| Aug 9-12, 2024 | Birth certificates and marriage certificate transcribed. Still waiting on Canadian military info. |
| Sep 13, 2024 | Jonah's birth certificate transcribed. |
| Oct 16, 2024 | Canadian Archives military records received (APS-2024-01440). Sent to PolishDescent. |
| Oct 22, 2024 | Ewelina says documents "sufficient." Application pending review. |
| Nov 8, 2024 | Kamila Pyrz provides case numbers. Estimates ~12 months from submission (Jul 2025). Voivodeship currently reviewing Aug 2023 submissions — major backlog. |
| Jun 2, 2025 | Steve follows up after ~5 month silence from PolishDescent. |
| Jun 2025 | Angelika reveals Voivodeship wants a military non-service certificate (1946-1951) for grandfather John Greszczyszyn. This was requested by the Urząd but PolishDescent delayed acting on it. |
| ~Jul 2025 | PolishDescent sends a request to LAC (Library and Archives Canada) for the military certificate — but it gets rejected on privacy grounds because they didn't have proper authorization. |
| Jul-Sep 2025 | ~2 month silence from PolishDescent about the rejection. Steve not informed. |
| ~Oct 2025 | Steve discovers the rejection after chasing. PolishDescent provides a LAC request form for Steve to submit directly. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Original Voivodeship deadline LAPSES. No decision rendered. |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Steve emails PolishDescent requesting status update after ~2 month silence. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | Ewelina replies — reveals LAC rejected their military cert request on privacy grounds (date of rejection unknown, concealed for months). Provides LAC form template for Steve to submit directly. Confirms Evan's case also needs the same certificate. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Steve sends firm email to Ewelina calling out: concealed rejection, form errors (name/surname swapped, DOB blank), demands full status + timeline by end of week, warns of engaging case recovery specialist. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Steve submits LAC request directly (daiprp-atipd@bac-lac.gc.ca). CC'd Ewelina and Adrian. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Steve submits Urząd status inquiry via kontaktwsc.mazowieckie.pl contact form. |
The Blocker: Military Non-Service Certificate
The Voivodeship needs proof that John Greszczyszyn (Steve's grandfather) did not serve in the Canadian Armed Forces between June 14, 1946 (date of naturalization) and January 19, 1951 (date of entering the repatriation agreement with Poland).
Why This Matters
Under Polish citizenship law, military service in a foreign army during this period could have caused automatic loss of Polish citizenship. The Urząd needs a "negative certificate" — proof of non-service.
Current Status
- Feb 19, 2026: Steve submitted the request directly to LAC (Library and Archives Canada)
- Expected response: 5-6 months (Jul-Aug 2026)
- Alternative evidence paths (if LAC is slow):
- DND (Department of National Defence) "no records" letter
- IRCC naturalization file (may contain military status)
- Census/employment records showing civilian occupation during the period
LAC Form Issues Discovered
When reviewing the form PolishDescent originally prepared:
- ❌ Surname and given name fields were swapped (JOHN in surname field, GRESZCZYSZYN in given names)
- ❌ Date of birth left blank
- ❌ Duplicate attachment included
Steve's direct submission corrected these errors.
PolishDescent Performance Assessment
Rating: 3/10
What They Did Well
- Document preparation was competent
- Translation and submission process was smooth
- Case numbers obtained and tracked
What Went Wrong
- Military certificate mismanagement — 18+ months of delay. Their LAC request was rejected (privacy grounds), and they concealed this for ~2 months.
- Communication failures — Multiple 2-4 month silences. Steve had to chase 10-12 times.
- LAC form errors — Surname/given name swapped, DOB blank, duplicate attachment.
- No proactive updates — Never volunteered status information.
- Deadline lapse — Jan 30, 2026 deadline passed without resolution or notification.
Total Paid
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stephen — 5 × £437.50 (Stripe) | £2,187.50 |
| Jonah | £350.00 |
| Total | £2,537.50 |
Alternative Firms — Full Directory
Switching preserves queue position
Changing legal representative costs just 17 PLN (~£3.50) and does NOT reset the application. The case file stays with the Wojewoda. A new lawyer accesses it by filing a power of attorney (pełnomocnictwo). No queue reset.
Tier 1: Highly Recommended
1. LexMotion (lexmotion.eu) — ⭐ TOP RECOMMENDATION
| Location | Kraków, Poland |
| Rating | 4.9/5 on Google (600+ reviews) |
| Track Record | 5,000+ confirmed successful cases |
| Pricing | $1,400–$2,250 USD (50% upfront / 50% on success) |
| Website | lexmotion.eu |
| Free Assessment | ✅ Yes — eligibility quiz on website |
Strengths:
- Full case management: document gathering, sworn translation, genealogical research
- Specializes in stalled case takeover — reassesses existing file, identifies gaps, resubmits strategically
- Direct contacts at Mazowiecki and other voivodeship offices
- Strong community reputation on r/prawokrwi and r/PolishCitizenship
- 50/50 payment split aligns incentives — they only get paid in full on success
Best for: Stalled cases with documentation gaps or poor initial preparation (i.e. our situation).
2. Polaron (polaron.com.au)
| Location | Australia (handles worldwide), UK operations |
| Rating | 4.16/5 (19 reviews), claims 99.7% success rate |
| Track Record | 15,000+ applicants across EU citizenships, 25+ years |
| Pricing | $3,300–$4,500+ USD (full upfront or custom payment plans) |
| Website | polaron.com.au |
| Free Assessment | ✅ Yes — free initial call |
Strengths:
- Longest-established firm in this space (25+ years)
- 24/7 assigned project manager
- Multi-country offices, excellent English
- Good for complex legal situations
Weaknesses:
- Premium pricing (2-3x LexMotion)
- Community reports suggest better at new cases than rescuing stuck ones
- Full upfront payment = less incentive alignment
Best for: Complex cases with legal complications. Overkill for a documentation-gap case like ours.
Tier 2: Good Alternatives
3. polishcitizenship.uk (Jola Wolski)
| Location | UK-based, bilingual consultant |
| Pricing | Bespoke quotes, milestone-based payment |
| Website | polishcitizenship.uk |
Strengths: Personalized "boutique" service. Excellent at finding "lost" records in Polish archives. UK-based = same timezone, easy communication.
Best for: UK applicants wanting hands-on, personal support.
4. Lost Histories (Krystyna)
| Location | Boutique, personalized |
| Pricing | Varies |
Strengths: Highly praised on Reddit for exceptional communication — the polar opposite of PolishDescent. Personalized genealogical research.
Best for: Cases requiring deep genealogical digging and strong communication.
5. Hexon Poland (hexonpoland.com)
| Location | UK + Warsaw offices |
| Pricing | £800–£1,500 flat fee (no archive search); 50% upfront, no-win-no-fee option available |
| Website | hexonpoland.com |
Strengths: Good value, UK testimonials, 3-day evaluation guarantee, rising reputation.
Caution: ⚠️ Was removed from r/prawokrwi recommended list in late 2025 due to community reports — verify current status before engaging.
Best for: Budget-conscious applicants with straightforward cases.
6. Five to Europe
| Pricing | $850–$1,800 USD (full upfront) |
Strengths: Responsive and professional. Budget-friendly.
Weaknesses: Occasionally slow follow-up. Better for simple cases.
Best for: Straightforward cases with complete documentation.
7. MPLC — My Polish Lineage Consultancy
| Location | Warsaw area |
| Specialty | Canadian/American diaspora cases |
Strengths: Experienced with Canadian ancestry cases specifically — relevant to our grandfather's Canadian naturalization history.
Note: Limited detailed reviews available. Contact directly for assessment.
Tier 3: Warsaw-Based Legal Specialists
These are administrative law firms rather than citizenship consultancies. More expensive but can handle legal escalation (ponaglenie, skarga) in-house.
8. CK Law Office (Warsaw)
- Handles Supreme Administrative Court appeals
- Best for cases that have been denied and need court challenge
9. Dudkowiak & Putyra
- Ranked by Legal 500 / Chambers & Partners for immigration law
- Warsaw-based, handles in-person Voivodeship representation
- Premium pricing but high credibility with officials
10. Wardyński & Partners
- Major Polish law firm with immigration practice
- Premium pricing but institutional weight
- Best for cases with complex legal arguments
11. SOS Legal / Piotr Stączek
- Direct Polish lawyers who can act as official representative
- Satisfies "Address for Service" requirement
- 40-60% cheaper than full-service international agencies (€1,500-€2,500 vs $4,000-$7,000)
Other Notable Mentions
| Firm | Notes |
|---|---|
| polish-citizenship.eu | Frequently cited, handles complex pre-1920 emigration cases |
| hrlaw.pl | Administrative law firm with citizenship expertise |
| blconsultancy.pl | Polish citizenship consulting |
Comparison Table
| Firm | Tier | Price Range | Payment Terms | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LexMotion ⭐ | 1 | $1,400–$2,250 | 50/50 split | Stalled case takeover | 4.9/5 |
| Polaron | 1 | $3,300–$4,500+ | Full upfront | Complex legal issues | 4.2/5 |
| Jola Wolski | 2 | Bespoke | Milestone | UK hands-on support | High |
| Lost Histories | 2 | Varies | Varies | Genealogy + communication | High |
| Hexon | 2 | £800–£1,500 | No-win-no-fee avail | Budget option | Mixed ⚠️ |
| Five to Europe | 2 | $850–$1,800 | Full upfront | Simple cases | Good |
| MPLC | 2 | Varies | Varies | Canadian diaspora | Limited data |
| CK Law Office | 3 | Mid-range | — | Court appeals | — |
| Dudkowiak & Putyra | 3 | Premium | — | Legal 500 ranked | — |
| SOS Legal / direct lawyer | 3 | €1,500–€2,500 | — | Budget legal rep | — |
Community Advice on Choosing a Firm
From r/prawokrwi, r/PolishCitizenship, and Facebook groups:
- Firms with direct contacts at Mazowiecki archivists outperform solo practitioners
- Budget agencies sometimes get "flagged" by the office for submitting incomplete files → longer scrutiny
- For truly stuck cases, an administrative lawyer (not just a citizenship consultant) may be more effective — they can file ponaglenie and skarga on your behalf
- Always get the sygnatura akt (case reference) before switching — PolishDescent must provide this
- Ask any new firm specifically about their experience with stalled/recovered cases
Our Decision
Current strategy: Keep PolishDescent for now, escalate aggressively. If no meaningful improvement by April 2026, consult LexMotion for a free assessment and switch. MPLC also worth a call given their Canadian diaspora expertise.
Ponaglenie (Urgency Notice) — Ready to Send
Action Required
This is a formal legal notice under Article 37 of the Polish Administrative Procedure Code (KPA). Send to wsc@mazowieckie.pl, CC PolishDescent.
Key points in the notice:
- Applications filed Jul 9, 2024
- Legal deadline (Art 35 §3 KPA): 2 months, extended max to Jan 30, 2026
- Deadline has lapsed without decision
- Delay attributable to evidence-gathering difficulty (military certificate), not applicant fault
- Requests: (1) set new binding deadline, (2) explain reasons for delay, (3) confirm proceedings not discontinued
Full text ready at action pack (see below).
Firm Email to PolishDescent — Ready to Send
Demands:
- Complete case status update for both applications
- Explanation of what was communicated to the Voivodeship about the military certificate
- Confirmation they're still actively representing the case
- Timeline commitment for next steps
Uses professional but firm language with implicit "we're considering alternatives" tone.
Key Contacts
| Who | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Ewelina Duplaga | ewelina@polishdescent.com | PolishDescent — primary contact |
| Adrian Michalik | adrian@polishdescent.com | PolishDescent — admin/billing |
| Angelika Michalik-Tylek | — | Legal representative (pełnomocnik) at Voivodeship |
| Kamila Pyrz | — | PolishDescent — provided case numbers |
| Mazowiecki Urząd | wsc@mazowieckie.pl | Voivodeship office handling the case |
| LAC Canada | daiprp-atipd@bac-lac.gc.ca | Military records request |
| LexMotion | Via website | Alternative firm — free assessment |
Monitoring
| Check | Frequency | Method |
|---|---|---|
| sgreszcz@gmail.com for Urząd reply | Every 15 min | Friday email monitor |
| PolishDescent emails | Every 15 min | Friday email monitor |
| Weekly follow-up reminder | Monday 9am UK | Cron job 903cc306 |
| GitHub issue #32 | As needed | Kanban tracking |
Research Files
All detailed research documents:
- Case Analysis (281 lines) — Full 201-email analysis, timeline, performance rating
- Recovery Research (391 lines) — Alternative firms, switching process, complaint mechanisms
- Action Pack (147 lines) — Three ready-to-send documents (Urząd inquiry, ponaglenie, firm email)
- Reddit Research (157 lines) — Community experiences with Polish citizenship process
- Recovery Report (339 lines) — Comprehensive recovery options and strategy