When Ukrainian migrant meets a Polish official. Implementing migration policy in the opinions of temporary economic migrants from Ukraine in Poland in a neo-institutional perspective

Abstract Migration processes affect the functioning mechanisms of many institutions and public spheres, on which the state create particular public policies. Migration policy is one of them. The success of its implementation depends on many factors, but institutional actors (officials) play a crucial role in this process. The decisions and projections of migrants with respect to extending their stay in Poland depend on the interpretation of legal, institutional and formal regulations. The aim of the article is to analyze the subjective experiences of Ukrainian economic migrants with Polish institutions and the personnel representing them. Our considerations have been located within the neo-institutional theory. We want to answer the question to what extent the official behaviour patterns of officials in migrant cases adopted as part of formal conditions allow thera to overcome to sense of uncertainty and foster adaptation processes. On the other hand, we would like to determine to what extent contacts of migrants with officials and institutions become a barrier that limits the possibilities of making migration decisions. Studying the subjective interpretations of migrants’ experience is an important element of analysis that will allow us to check how the elements of migration policy are implemented in ‘in action’. Considering the findings resulting from the study, it can be assumed that the functioning of efficient administration should not be limited only to compliance with legal rules, but to go beyond them within morally allowed limits, in order to increase the effectiveness of implemented activities ia many dimensions.