Between 16-19 October 2009 Janusz Kurtyka, the President of the IPN and the accompanying delegation visited Chicago following the invitation of the Polish American Congress (PAC). On October 16, the IPN delegation took part in the annual session of the Polish American Congress regarding the opportunities and challenges facing the Polish community in the United States in the twenty first century.

On October 17, during the meeting of the National Directors of PAC there was a four-hour discussion on the issues regarding the vetting and the cooperation between the Congress and the IPN and in this field. The representatives of the Institute responded to the concerns of many Poles living in America and explained the rules of usage of the archival documents stored in the archives of the Institute of National Remembrance. The IPN also presented its plans which include scientific and research projects regarding the infiltration and criminal activities against the Polish immigrants performed by the communist intelligence.

On October 18, the President of the IPN met with Frank Spula, the Chairman of PAC and discussed directions and details of the cooperation.

The Institute has also obtained many valuable testimonies regarding ‘Solidarity’ and documents from private collections of Poles living in the United States.