Over the past year we have shared news, updates and informative articles regarding the potential avenues for the acquisition of Italian citizenship and the process of applying for citizenship with a special focus on applying for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis (by descent). We have analyzed the eligibility requirements, the caveats and intricacies of applying, and finally the benefits that Italian citizenship entails. The aim of this article instead will be to provide you with an overview of the services that we at Italian Citizenship Assistance can offer in order for you to fulfill your dream of becoming an Italian citizen.
With offices both in Italy and in the U.S., we at ICA help people all over the world to apply for Italian citizenship mostly “by descent”. Nevertheless, we also help people to re-acquire Italian citizenship, and we provide assistance to those who do not have Italian ancestry or who do not qualify for Italian citizenship to apply for citizenship by marriage or by residency.
We take pride in being one of the few firms that offer an eligibility assessment which is completely free of charge and obligation.
Our company is made up of a team of legal experts, genealogists, translators and dual citizenship attorneys who have helped hundreds of Americans with Italian descent obtain Italian citizenship via Italian consulates in the U.S., via applications filed in Italy, or via judicial proceedings for cases which need to be filed in court in Italy.
ICA’s FREE initial assessment service
We offer all our potential clients a free initial assessment of their cases.
After you contact ICA you can send us an email or request a free phone consultation. If you prefer a live meeting via Zoom that can also be arranged with one of our citizenship specialists. Follow up phone/zoom calls can also be scheduled as part of ICA’s initial assessment of your case.
During the initial consultation/s you will be provided with information regarding ICA’s services and fees as well as information about the process of applying for dual citizenship.
At this stage ICA will perform a free preliminary analysis of your case based on a family tree which you will be asked to submit. We will conduct in-depth genealogical research and provide you with information and scans of the records we found (via email), regardless of whether or not you decide to become one of our clients and proceed with filing an application for Italian citizenship. As previously mentioned, our initial phone or zoom consultations are completely free of charge and obligation.
If you are eligible to apply for Italian citizenship you can choose between our premium services and basic services.
The most requested premium services offered by ICA can be summarized as follows:
- “Full Executive Package” and “Step-by-Step package” for applications for Italian citizenship by descent;
- Assistance with applications for Italian citizenship by descent filed in Italy;
- A to Z assistance with 1948 and other court cases;
- Assistance with applying for Italian citizenship by marriage;
- Assistance with re-acquiring Italian citizenship;
- Retrieving vital records from Italy.
For those who cannot apply for Italian citizenship or are not ready to apply for Italian citizenship we also offer assistance with applying for an Elective Residence Visa.
The Full Executive Package
Italian Citizenship Assistance offers an A to Z service. Our specialists will retrieve the applicant’s family’s vital records and all the documents which are necessary to file a citizenship application. When all the documents have been retrieved they will be reviewed in order to determine whether there are any discrepancies or inconsistencies that might negatively affect the individual’s application. If no amendments need to be made the documents can be authenticated with Apostilles and translated into Italian by our team of professional legal translators.
The full executive package also includes in-depth genealogical research, assistance with scheduling your appointment with the Italian consulate, unlimited consultations throughout the process and preparation of the documents and forms that are necessary to file a citizenship application. Finally, when your citizenship application has been approved we will help you to apply for an Italian passport and register with the A.I.R.E.
The Step-by-Step Package
This package is designed for individuals who wish to take an active role in preparing their citizenship applications. With the “Step-by-Step” package you will be guided throughout the application process by one of our dual citizenship experts. As with the Full Executive Package, we provide in-depth genealogical research, we schedule and manage your appointment with the Italian consulate and retrieve the necessary records from Italy.
You will be guided throughout the process of retrieving records outside Italy and throughout the legalization process. If there are any amendments that need to be made due to spelling errors or inconsistencies on the documents you retrieved under our guidance, our attorneys will help you make corrections and amendments to the records. The consultation with our dual citizenship expert remains unlimited. When we retrieve all the necessary records we will translate them into Italian. Finally, once your claim to citizenship has been accepted we will help you to apply for a passport and register with the A.I.R.E.
Court cases and 1948 cases
If you have a 1948 case you can claim citizenship only via a judicial proceeding. The trial takes place in Italy, however you do not need to travel to attend the hearings. In fact, one of our lawyers will represent you in Court and file your petition on your behalf. In particular, we will help you with the following:
- collect and amend (if needed) all the necessary vital records, authenticate them and translate them into Italian, and file your lawsuit on your behalf;
- prepare your petition to be filed in court;
- assist you in the post-trial phase: registering the final judgment, registering with the AIRE and applying for a passport.
ICA can also assist you file your petition if you have already collected all the documents for the trial (which will be carefully reviewed by our attorneys prior to starting the judicial proceeding).
If you do not have all the necessary documents but would like to procure them yourself we can also guide you and walk you through the process of procuring all the documents needed for the lawsuit.
Retrieving vital records from Italy
If you are having trouble retrieving your ancestor’s vital records from Italy we can contact the municipality or the state archives in order to request certified copies of birth, marriage or death certificates on your behalf. Our specialists in Italy can also conduct genealogical research to help you track down the exact place or date of birth of your ancestor/s.
Re-acquiring Italian citizenship
The reacquisition of Italian citizenship is the ability for individuals who were born in Italy (or whose birth certificate was registered in Italy) and renounced or lost their Italian citizenship when they naturalized before August 16th 1992 to regain their Italian citizenship by establishing their residency in Italy. If you would like to pursue this route in order to obtain Italian citizenship we can help you obtain the necessary documents which must be presented to the Italian municipality together with the declaration stating your intention to reacquire Italian citizenship.
This process requires that you establish residency for a certain period of time in the Italian municipality (comune) where you intend to apply for re-acquisition of citizenship. Our citizenship specialists and attorneys can help you navigate the entire process in Italy (from renting an apartment, to establishing residency, applying for the re-acquisition and for a residency permit, if necessary). At the end of the process we will also assist you with applying for an Italian passport and establishing residency aboard again (if needed).
If you would like more information about the eligibility requirements and the application process to reacquire Italian citizenship you will find more information here.
Applying for citizenship by marriage and by residency
If you are married to an Italian citizen and you would like to apply for citizenship by marriage or if you would like to apply for citizenship by residency (if you have resided in Italy for a certain number of years) we will help you to retrieve all the necessary vital records and documents including the criminal background checks from the U.S. and from foreign countries (some limitations may apply). We will offer unlimited consultation throughout the entire process and we will legalize and translate your vital records. Once your application has been approved we will help you to apply for a passport and register with the A.I.R.E. (if needed). If you would like more information about the eligibility requirements and the application process for citizenship by marriage please click here. For information about citizenship by residency click here.
Applying for an Elective Residence Visa
The Elective Residence Visa allows entrance into Italy to individuals who have high self-sustaining incomes and financial assets, and who can provide evidence of lodging in Italy. The specific requirements needed to apply for the Elective Residence Visa are listed on the website of the Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction where the applicant resides. If you need help with the application, we can assist you and prepare the necessary documents to file an application at an Italian consulate. We will also assist you with applying for a residence permit in Italy (“permesso di soggiorno per residenza elettiva”) which must be obtained within 8 days from your arrival. If you also need to extend the visa for your dependent spouse, minor children and dependent children over 18 living with you, we can help you to retrieve the necessary vital records, legalize them and translate them into Italian.
We hope that this article has provided you with a clear overview of the services and packages we offer. If you would like a free eligibility assessment to determine whether you can apply for Italian citizenship, or if you would like further information about the requirements and the application process to apply for citizenship please contact us at [email protected] or at +1 323 892 0861.
