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Hungarian Email Etiquette

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Lozaketh
  2/6/2016 13:48 EST

Greetings everyone!

I looked through the forum for a similar question but didn't find it. I'm an American with Hungarian heritage and I recently learned about the 2011 citizenship act. I'm very excited at the possibility of dual citizenship. I've dug up a few ancestry documents so far and contacted the consulate with no response. I decided to get some assistance and found some Hungarian lawyers online (both located in Budapest). They both responded to my email in 2 days with an initial estimate, and both said they'd be happy to answer more questions. I did ask another question but it's now been 3 weeks without a response from either.

I realize 3 weeks is not that long. (I'm very excited and a little impatient, but it's my responsibility to deal with my impatience.)

My real question is: are business and email etiquette very different from the US? From what I've read so far there are a number of cultural differences but I don't know about business. Is business normally done at a slow pace? Are there things that Hungarians consider rude that I might not expect, and I should avoid doing?

I'm asking for general knowledge as I hope to live in Hungary at some point and I should learn the culture. By the way both lawyers are young, in their 20s. In general I expect most of my interactions to be with Hungarians my age, so it's primarily young Hungarian culture that I'm interested in.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

SoonMoving
  2/7/2016 07:09 EST

No, it shold be the same as in the USA, or anywhere else in the world. I would expect a response within a few days and if no response after a week, I would usally resend the email.

One thing I have noticed, if Hungarians dont know the answer to something they just dont answer you! It drives me crazy.

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maggiej
  2/7/2016 08:35 EST

I think you should be able to work on your citizenship stateside with the local consulate. the consulate is in new york or d.c. depending on what state you live in who's jurisdiction you fall under. the consulate also sends out their ppl locally as well so you don't have to travel. I know because the local hungarian clubs ex: Cleveland, OH and Charlotte, NC put this info in their newsletters. I don't think you should need a lawyer. I would work with the consulate. if you show originals to the consular officer make sure they give the original back and they keep a photocopy. I have heard of one incident where the consulate here said they forwarded everything to Budapest and when the family got to Bp there were no forwarded documents so they had to show everything all over again!

peddington
  2/7/2016 15:44 EST

Greetings! Let me give you my opinion on this and take it for what it's worth. I'm of Hungarian heritage and have relatives that are Hungarian citizens. Do I want to become one? Well I'm still debating that~! Now about the Hungarian Consulate's response and all that. Hungary suffers from a really bad case of BUREAUCRACY and there is not a nice way to put that. In Hungary the government can take 30 days, extendable by 30 days to never really hear back anything! WHY? ACCOUNTABILITY my friend! People in high position are there because they payed someone or someone owed them a favor or are a party contributor. Some will say "well that is just like in America" but I strongly disagree! In the US we have some amount of ACCOUNTABILITY! Here in Hungary people screwing up or not doing their job has very little or no consequence! Do I sound negative? I AM! Moved here over two years ago and had to deal with a lot of ... well BS! The good news is that unlike the US and this is important the Immigration office was actually very efficient and prompt. Took them only 28 days to give an answer. Of course that was before all the migrant nonsense! If you came her you could file your papers but of course it would be much easier through the Hungarian Embassy in Washington. I suggest you send them a registered letter and a check/mo for $10 so they don't have to mail you an answer from meager Hungarian funds! LOL! I know this was not a lot of help just be aware the BUREAUCRACY monster is alive and well in Hungary! And just to give you a comparison; if you ever had to deal with US Immigration?ICE and the IRS? Well...like that! GOOD LUCK!

peddington
  2/7/2016 16:53 EST

Actually it is more common that if a Hungarian Bureaucrat doesn't know the answer than his/her answer will always be "NO!"

borschelrh
  2/8/2016 02:33 EST

That is true and once declared they never reverse their decision unless overturned by higher authority. It becomes a brick wall.

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borschelrh
  2/8/2016 02:38 EST

It is very hard to say about email. My Hungarian friends typically read email once a day if that. Often without response. In my experience here you need to tag your emails with a read receipt if you need to know if it has been received. Hungary is still paradoxically entering the computer age. Databases don't line up and online transactions are fraught with problems. Eon is a good example and now Fo Gas and we report our meter readings monthly using an on line form and often it gets screwed up. Many Hungarians do not own computers and are not on line. It is just too expensive for them. Typically, if you want something done you need to call or go in person. But, I wouldn't rely on email for anything. SMS messaging is wildly popular though.

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