Entitlements of foreigners who submitted an application

for granting the refugee status

-protection against the expulsion to the date of delivering a final decision on granting the refugee status (it does not refer to foreigners who submitted subsequent application for granting the refugee status, after final decision in this matter. Nonetheless, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may withhold  a decision on expulsion).

-social assistance

Is granted to foreigners who apply for the refugee status.

(With the exception, if a foreigner:

1. Benefits from the supplementary protection, after lapse of 2 months or 14 days, in case of discontinuation of the proceedings;
2. Stays on the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of permit for tolerated stay, after lapse of 2 months or 14 days, in case of discontinuation of the proceedings;
3. Stays on the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of a residence permit for a fixed period, permit to settle, a residence permit for a long-term EC resident;
4. Stays in the care and educational institution;
5. Stays in the guarded centre or in the arrest for the purpose of expulsion;
6. Is temporarily arrested or serves a short-tem sentence of imprisonment).

Social assistance shall include:

1.assistance granted in the centre, including:

- accommodation,

- full board or financial equivalent instead of food;

- pocket money for personal expenses;

- permanent financial help for purchase cleansers and personal hygiene;

- one-time financial help or vouchers for purchase clothes and footwear,

- course of Polish and basic materials necessary for learning this language,

- teaching materials for children enjoying education and care of public institutions, primary schools, secondary schools or post-secondary schools;

- covering, as far as possible, expenses of extracurricular classes and recreational or sports classes of children;

- financing the travel by means of public transport:

* in order to take part in the proceeding for granting the refugee status,

* in order to undergo medical treatment or prophylactic vaccinations,

* in other peculiarly justified circumstances.

2.assistance granted out of the centre

in the form of payment of financial benefit for covering by an alien costs of his/her stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland, with exception of costs of medical care.

3.assistance in the voluntary return, which includes covering:

- the costs of purchase of a ticket for the cheapest mean of public transport to a country chosen by the foreigner, to which he/she has the right of entry;

- covering administration charges connected with obtaining necessary visas and permissions;

-partial expenses covering food during the travel.

-temporary certificate of identity of a foreigner confirms the identity of a person, to the name of whom it has been issued, and entitles this person and her/his minor children, whose personal data were entered into certificate, to stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

-entitlements concerning the manner of conducting the proceedings for granting the refugee status:

1. In case of lack of prerequisites to grant the refugee status, the Head of the Office considers a possibility to grant supplementary protection or permit for tolerated stay.
2. Confidentiality and protection of personal data and data which are forwarded to authorities during the proceedings.
3. Access to files on every stage of proceedings and possibility to express a foreigner’s opinion before issuing a decision, with regard to collected evidence and materials and notified requests.
4. Possibility of free contact with the representative of UNHCR and with other organizations which statutory goals are dealing with refugees. Possibility of giving a consent for providing a representative of UNHCR with information about the course of proceedings  and examination of files and preparing notes and copies from them.
5. Obtaining written information (in understandable language for foreigners) about the results of the proceedings and possibility of making an appeal.
6. In case of granting the refugee status or supplementary protection, obtaining written information about rights and obligations of foreigners.

-protection of unaccompanied minors

1.Appointment of a custodian who represents the minor in the matter of granting the refugee status;

2.Undertaking actions by the Head of the Office aiming at founding relatives of unaccompanied minor;

3.Ensuring the minor stay in professional non – related with the child foster family functioning as emergency shelter in crisis situations, or care and educational centre.

4.Hearing of an unaccompanied minor is held in the presence of a custodian, psychologist and an adult person indicated by him/her, if  presence of such person  does not disturb the proceedings.