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Protected Case File

Wajngort → Diaz — Polish Citizenship by Descent

Polish Citizenship by Descent · Workflow Map

From here to the wniosek

Procedural path only. Costs and timelines are approximate and should be re-verified at filing time. Legal-substantive questions are addressed in Legal Theory of the Case.

01

Phase 1 · Information gathering

Start all five tasks in parallel — this week

~3–6 months

Long lead-time items are the bottleneck. File the USCIS and NY vital records requests immediately so the clock starts.

USCIS G-1041
Index search — Bessie Weingart
  • Subject: Basza Sura Tofel / Bessie Weingart
  • Born 20 Jul 1882, Ostrów
  • Arrived 28 Aug 1928, SS Paris
3–6 mo wait

Confirms whether Bessie ever naturalized US — the single most material open factual question.

File at: genealogy.uscis.dhs.gov

USCIS G-1041A
Visa file — Berek Weingart
  • File # V-1331441 (already known)
  • From GEN-10319396 result
3–6 mo wait

Full visa file may contain additional pages confirming Polish nationality on entry.

File at: genealogy.uscis.dhs.gov

NY State Vital Records
5-certificate bundle
  • Berek death cert
  • Berek + Marjorie marriage cert
  • Bessie death cert
  • Elias death cert (15 Oct 1941)
  • Eliot Sr. + Irma marriage cert
8–12 wk wait

Closes the record at each generation.

File at: health.ny.gov/vital_records

Bronx Co. Naturalization File
N/A — already on file
  • Same document as the NY County Sup. Ct. petition already filed at 05/1928-05-23_NaturalizationPetition...
— Done
Polish records re-upload
Done 15 Apr
  • Russian originals filed ✓
  • Pajączkowska translations transcribed (PDFs pending, not blocking)
— Done

Filed at 01/2022-05-27_PolishArchives_CertifiedOriginals_8records...pdf. Content transcribed into Polish Archive Records.

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Decision point

Did Bessie ever naturalize US?

Answer arrives 3–6 months after G-1041 filing.

Outcome A · Strongest

Bessie never naturalized US

Mother retained Polish citizenship throughout.

→ broadest set of legal arguments available to attorney

Outcome B · Strong

Naturalized after Mar 1932

Berek already 18; mother-route argument less critical.

→ rely on minor-incapacity + jurisdiction arguments; military-paradox as supplementary

Outcome C · Narrower

Naturalized before Mar 1932

Both parents lost PL while Berek was minor.

→ case rests on minor-incapacity + jurisdiction arguments (Berek never voluntarily "obtained" US citizenship; US law has no authority over Polish citizenship)

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02

Phase 2 · Engage a Polish citizenship attorney

After USCIS results arrive

~1–2 wk research

Attorney specialising in potwierdzenie obywatelstwa.

Brief them with: Status Report · Legal Theory of the Case · Inventory · USCIS results · vital records.

Get their read on: (1) Elias-1928 derivation issue · (2) viability of minor-incapacity + jurisdiction arguments · (3) mother-route strength based on Bessie's USCIS result · (4) military-paradox as supplementary (Russia problem) · (5) recommended forum and argument structure.

Cost: $2,000–5,000 flat, typical (verify with each attorney).

Gate: do not move to the apostille / translation phase until the attorney confirms case viability.

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03

Phase 3 · Apostille & translate

Only after attorney green-lights

~3–8 weeks

Order matters: apostille first, then translate.

3a · Apostille every US vital record
  • NY-issued: NY Secretary of State (apostille.dos.ny.gov)
  • Federal / USCIS: US Secretary of State
1–4 wk per office
3b · Sworn Polish translations
  • Polish sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły)
  • Suggested: Teresa Pajączkowska, Toruń (already did Polish-side)
2–4 wk
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04

Phase 4 · File the wniosek

Wniosek o potwierdzenie posiadania obywatelstwa polskiego

Decision in 6–18 mo

Request for confirmation of possession of Polish citizenship.

Authority: Mazowieckie Voivode (default for non-resident applicants per Master Guide; confirm with attorney).

Statutory basis: Article 55 of the Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish Citizenship (per Master Guide; confirm primary text).

Filing route: directly · via Polish Consulate NY · via Polish attorney with PoA — pick with attorney.

Approximate government fee: PLN 219 (~$55) per applicant — verify on uw-mazowiecki website at filing time.

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Voivode decision

Approved or denied

Approved

Decision confirming Polish citizenship

→ apply for Polish passport via the Polish Consulate NY (separate procedure)

Denied

Appeal to WSA Warszawa

→ if WSA denies, consider 2009 Act Chapter 5 restoration as alternative route