Comments on: Obtaining Italian citizenship after a family member

By: Gina

Gina — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:57:52 +0000

Hi Patricia! What number did you use to get in touch with the consulate? I have been calling them for days and submitted my citizenship appointment request over a month ago, but can’t seem to get in touch with anyone.

Thanks!

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:11:12 +0000

@Patricia – if you have your proof of citizenship that they sent, getting a passport is just filling out the form, providing a passport photo and paying a fee. IIRC, it was about 80 euros in SF. No different than applying for a US passport.

@Susan – good news and congrats! I thought about getting second copies of my ancestor’s paperwork but in the end I decided I only needed a copy for my personal records. The originals are really only necessary for legal work like citizenships/etc… not sure how a second copy would come in handy unless the consulate burns to the ground the day you submit.

By: susan

susan — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:56:55 +0000

Thanks Brian- really appreciate your feedback. I was able to get in touch with the consulate and they confirmed that I would onyl need copies of my ancestor’s original docs and original of my own (and my fathers).

I just hope they don’t change their mind when I actually show up for the appointment in October! I’m thinking about obtaining originals of my ancestors just in case (even though it’s so much time and money) just to be safe. Not sure what I’ll do though :/

By: patricia

patricia — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:25:08 +0000

I am at the passport stage. What forms are needed? Would you please describe that part of the process in more detail. thank you.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:57:57 +0000

Amy, I don’t think you’ll find any institutional discrimination against a Germany last name. The woman we worked with at San Francisco was very terse over email/phone but was pleasant in person. They just have an overwhelming among of work so I would think they are trying to be expedient rather than rude. To that end, coming prepared is good. You can read more about our interview here: http://www.ghidinelli.com/2008/08/19/buon-giorno-italia

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:12:47 +0000

Hi Brian,
Thanks for this info, it is incredibly helpful as I am halfway through my document hunting, and have an appointment in April along with my Mother and Brother… like you they get to benefit from my hard work!! But I am really excited to do it together. Can you provide any insight about your interview? What did they ask? Is there anything (aside from having all our documents in order) that we should prepare for? I have heard they can be not so friendly, so I am curious about your experience. Also, becuase my dad was German, I have a very German last name and I am wondering if that influences their behavior towards applicants. Thanks in advance for any info!
Amy

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:31:11 +0000

@Susan – see the above comments. Generally speaking you only need to get the documents between you and the ancestor on file. If your aunt is your father’s sister, for example, then you would need your details and your father’s details (linking him to the same parents as your aunt).

By: susan

susan — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:00:29 +0000

Hi Brian,

Thanks so much for posting this! My aunt and cousin recently obtained citizenship through jure sanguinis. I just booked my appt with the NY consulate for 10/31/11. Do you know if I would have to re-obtain all of my ancestors docs, or just my own birth certificate? Not sure how it works, since they are my cousin and aunt (our ancestors are the same though).

I tried contacting the NY consulate to ask, but the phone just keeps ringing. Any info you have would be much appreciated.

Thanks again!

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:29:36 +0000

@Gina, glad it helps! You are correct on #1; it didn’t make a difference however if my dad was present or not as I had to submit all of the same paperwork. If your mother lives in NY, she won’t be able to apply here and, vice versa, you won’t be able to apply there. However, either one of you can apply and then use the other to get your citizenship with the approach used by my brother above.

For #2, discrepancies and the tolerance for them vary by consulate according to the Internet. We had minor issues with my GGFs documents but I suspect that *most* people have some issues given the age and literary skills back in those days. You need to be able to prove reasonably that who you claim is an ancestor was really an Italian. In my case, my GGFs name was Prospero but he went by Dante and in fact even registered for the military here as Dante. We were able to demonstrate by identical birthdates that it was the same person so we were OK.

#3 – no original documents other than his own. Everything else “above him” is on file already.

#4 – no idea; call the consulate and ask?

By: gina

gina — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:49:46 +0000

Hi Brian!

Your blog is enormously helpful! I am in the process of applying for Italian citizenship in San Francisco. I have a couple questions I was hoping you could help me with:

(1) It seems from your blog that you obtained citizenship through your great-grandfather, is that correct? I am just wondering if your application was made easier b/c your father was present (thereby applying through his grandfather). I am concerned I may be rejected since I am applying through my great-grandfather. My mother lives in NY so it seems easier if I just apply out here.

(2) There appears to be name and date discrepancies on my great-grandfather’s birth certificate (from Italy) and death certificate (in NY). My readings indicate this will be a problem, any idea on how to fix these discrepancies?

(3) When your brother applies through citizenship, was he required to present any original documents other than his birth certificate? My sister lives in Texas and wants to apply as well.

(4) When is Anna Marie Stone retiring!?