Guide for Poles in California

🪪 Visas & Green Cards

• USCIS — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. All petitions: Green Card, status changes, work permits (EAD), invitation letters.
• Diversity Visa Lottery — ~50,000 visas yearly. Registration usually in October at dvprogram.state.gov.
• ESTA / Visa Waiver — Poland joined the Visa Waiver Program in 2019. Allows tourist stays up to 90 days without a visa.

🏛️ U.S. Citizenship (Naturalization)

• Form N-400 — naturalization application. Requirements: 5 years with Green Card (3 years for spouses of U.S. citizens).
• Civics Test — English language test and civics knowledge (100 questions, must answer 6 out of 10 correctly).
• Dual citizenship — Poland recognizes dual citizenship. You can be a citizen of both the U.S. and Poland simultaneously.

⚖️ Free Legal Aid

• Legal Aid Foundation of LA (LAFLA) — free immigration legal help for low-income individuals.
• CHIRLA — Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. Help with DACA, TPS and immigration cases.
• Polish immigration attorneys in LA — directory available at the Polish Consulate website and PoloniaSoCal business directory.

🛡️ Covered California

Health insurance marketplace with government subsidies. For people who earn too much for Medi-Cal but don't have employer insurance.

• Open Enrollment: November 1 — January 31 each year
• Subsidies: Based on income — many pay less than $50/month

🚑 Emergency Care

• 911 — Emergency number (police, fire, ambulance). Polish interpreters available!
• Hospital ER — must treat EVERYONE regardless of insurance or immigration status (EMTALA law).
• Urgent Care — cheaper and faster ER alternative for non-life-threatening issues. Many walk-in clinics available.

🧠 Mental Health

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988. Interpreters available in many languages.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) — support, groups, education. Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI.
• Polish-speaking therapists — search on Psychology Today (filter: Polish language) or ask the Polish Consulate.

🔒 Your Rights as a Worker

• Right to pay: Employer MUST pay for EVERY hour worked — regardless of immigration status.
• Overtime: After 8h/day or 40h/week — 1.5x pay. After 12h — 2x pay.
• Breaks: 30 min meal break every 5h. 10 min rest break every 4h.
• Sick leave: Minimum 5 days paid sick leave per year in CA.
• Anti-discrimination: No one can discriminate against you based on nationality, language, or origin.

🏗️ Workplace Safety

• Cal/OSHA — California Occupational Safety agency. Report unsafe conditions: 1-800-963-9424.
• Workers' Compensation — if injured at work, employer MUST cover medical costs and pay compensation. Immigration status does NOT matter.
• Retaliation is illegal: Employer cannot fire you for reporting issues, filing complaints, or exercising your rights.

📋 Employer & Taxes

• W-2 vs 1099: Most workers should receive W-2 (full rights). If you receive 1099, you may be misclassified (AB5 law).
• ITIN — Individual Taxpayer ID. If you don't have an SSN, you can file taxes with an ITIN (form W-7).
• Free tax help: VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) — free tax filing. Search at irs.gov/vita.

🔑 Tenant Rights in CA

• Rent Control (AB 1482): Annual rent increase max 5% + inflation (max 10%). Applies to buildings older than 15 years.
• Eviction: Landlord must have "just cause" for eviction. 30-60 days notice required.
• Security deposit: Max 1 month rent. Landlord has 21 days to return after move-out.
• Discrimination: Landlord CANNOT refuse rental based on nationality, language, or immigration status.

🏘️ Housing Assistance Programs

• Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) — vouchers covering part of rent. Long waiting lists.
• HACLA — Housing Authority of the City of LA. Manages housing programs and Section 8.
• 211 LA — call 211 for info about shelters, rent assistance, utilities (electric, gas, water).

📝 Practical Tips

• Credit Score: Build credit history — start with a secured credit card. Report rent payments via Experian Boost.
• Apartment hunting: Zillow, Apartments.com, Craigslist (beware scams!), Facebook Marketplace, Polish FB groups.
• Lease agreement: ALWAYS sign a written lease. Keep a copy. If you don't understand English — get help before signing.