Polish visa
I sent away for a Polish visa last week and I've already received my visa. I asked for a few extras and I'm surprised that it was really so simple. All I did was send them a $9 money order (visas are free to Americans so the $9 was to cover overnight UPS shipping), paper confirming I had been accepted into a university's program for foreigners to study Polish, the visa application, one 35mm by 45 mm passport photo (though, I gave them three since I figured they'd miss my beautiful face and want a few extra for themselves), and my passport. I also included a letter explaining and requesting a few things.
I asked for a multiple entry visa and for permission to stay longer than my program is supposed to take. The consulate granted both requests, which is really cool because I want to visit London for new year's eve and my insane friends in Munich. I also have aspirations to go to a few other places like Toulouse, Geneva (the last time I didn't get to see anything outside of a mile from the train station), and anywhere else that strikes my fancy, though I definately want to extend my sphere of influence in Europe by finally visiting Portugal and Hungary (I want to see Stephen Colbert's bridge!).
The only other roadblock in my way is proving to border guards I have enough money for my stay in Poland. Technically, I will have enough, but in no way do I plan to spend that much because I intend to start college within two months of getting back to the US so I don't want to spend too much money.
You're supposed to have between zł 100 - 400 ($30 - 130) per day depending on factors like health insurance coverage, but I plan to get health insurance before I leave so I'm supposed to have a minimum zł 100 per day, which works out to be about zł 3.000 ($ 1,000) a month. I don't intend on spending that much because I'll be living with a friend so rent shouldn't cost more than zł 400 ($130) a month. Plus, if I can restrain myself from going for luxuries I won't need I hope not to be spending all that much.
In 2004, while I was living in Munich and Warsaw I spent an INSANE amount of cash so I'm hoping that I've learned from my mistakes. At least, I've got my biggest mistake covered - not getting an apartment, which surprisingly will hit you in the pocket if you're instead living out of hostels and four star hotels.
Anyhow, I really hope this trip turns out to be awesome.
Post scriptum: If you're American and need to find out if you'll need a visa to visit a country, the US Department of State has a very handy and helpful page, which will tell you if you need a visa and other requirements to visit. Click here for the State Department page.
jani
Means of support
I've traveled a fair bit <cough> and I've never, ever been asked at the border to prove that I have enough money, even when I was a suspicious longhaired backpacker Interrailing around (pre-Schengen) Europe. For student visas in particular, the vetting has already been done in the application phase and I can't imagine them kicking you out at the border.
In the unlikely event that you are asked (as a tourist), just showing a credit card is usually sufficient, as nobody carries large wads of cash around these days.
jani
Visa information
And better than state.gov is TIMATIC, which covers everybody on the entire planet and which is how airlines figure out if they're going to let you on board or not:
http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp
Comes in particularly handy if you're a Finnish citizen resident in Singapore transiting South Korea on his way to Kazakhstan <boggle>
Sapphire
Sweet
That's an awesome tool. Thanks for telling us about it.
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