My journey with ICA began in late September 2020. I had sent off my manuscript to my publisher; my book was set to be published the following year. Writing my memoir had me going through various documents about my childhood, including handwritten letters from my parents, both of whom were born and raised in Sicily and came to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. It made me wish they hadn’t become U.S. citizens because now I was having my own dreams of returning to my roots and, possibly, retiring as with my dual citizenship, living “la dolce vita” in Italy. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon a webinar given by ICA founder Marco Permunian for the Little Italy of Los Angeles organization. Marco outlined various paths to Italian citizenship, including one related to my scenario. I took advantage of the free consultation, and I was thrilled to learn that ICA would be helping me get my Italian citizenship. I was then connected with Anita Cagnazzo as my point person. She couldn’t have been more lovely AND calming. What I thought might be more of a “slam-dunk” — after all, both of my parents were Italian-born, and I was born before they became U.S. citizens — turned out wasn’t as easy as I had anticipated. Anita and ICA managed everything, securing documents, getting translations, the required apostilles, and more. In December of 2021, ICA had secured all that was needed, sent me a binder with a detailed cover letter of what was included and how I now needed to take the packet, get a money order, and submit to the consulate for their review. Fifteen months for a first-generation case with expert attorneys at my side! Wow — I kept thinking how I would not have been able to do this on my own. I was so excited to send off the packet! And that’s when another tiny glitch came my way. And, I’ll be honest, for the first time, I began to lose hope that this would happen. Had it not been for Anita who helped me “keep the faith” and if I had been doing this solo, I may have just given up. The consulate said that my father lived in Venezuela prior to coming to the U.S., and they needed proof that he did not become a citizen of that country in order to proceed with my application. ICA was on it, helping to find resources in Venezuela who might be able to help. Meanwhile, the consulate said that I “could” pursue my citizenship under my mother, but that the documents found and submitted were missing her actual application for citizenship. ICA helped to submit another FOIA request to search for any and all naturalization documentation. FOIA came back saying everything they had already had been sent to us. Being a writer, I asked them once again, pleading for one last look. Then I prayed to my mom, asking for her help in finding her naturalization paperwork. I couldn’t believe it. One day before my birthday, on February 11, 2021, FOIA sent over 45 pages of newfound documentation, within which was exactly what we needed! What a birthday gift from my mom. Anita helped me resubmit to the consulate in Los Angeles. She also advised me, given how long it takes, to make my appointment online immediately for the required interview to get my passport. I also received a call from the consulate on March 18, 2022 (one day before my late father’s birthday) letting me know that all was in order and to schedule my appointment, but that I technically was an Italian citizen now and paperwork had been filed in the hometown of my mother Nicosia. In late March of 2022, I was able to get an appointment for June 8, 2022 (right around the birthday of my late sister). When I drove into the city and walked into the consulate offices, it literally was as if the place was lit from inside — all white and silver — almost felt like Christmas. In a matter of minutes, I was in and out, and the consulate told me it would take several days to receive my passport. I couldn’t believe it was happening. On June 16, I had my Italian passport in hand. So from start to finish for a first-generation (aka “should be easy”) case, it took 21 months…almost TWO YEARS! And if I had not had Anita and Marco and the ICA team managing it all, I have no doubt that I still would not have realized my dream. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Having now gone through this process and really understanding all the pieces involved and the “how to” in getting documents and translations and more…maybe maybe maybe I would have been able to do it on my own. But never having done this and having to communicate with authority figures in Italy, I am so grateful that ICA took care of it all. I have heard from others who have tried to do it solo and who either have had to travel to Italy to do what was needed and who, even having done so, several years into the process, still do not have their Italian citizenship. I would definitely do it all again with ICA in a heartbeat and advise anyone else wishing to pursue their Italian citizenship to not go it alone, and to hire ICA.
My husband and I have really started dreaming about a place in Piedmont or the writer’s haven (as Anita has alerted us to) that is Turin. We are approaching retirement. With all that seems to be happening in the United States, it no longer feels like the American Dream my parents fought so hard for. In many ways, my returning to my roots feels right and knowing that it is an option and that as an Italian citizen, I am blessed with all that Italy offers its citizens (free education and healthcare and quality of life…), my future plans are quite bright with a move or, perhaps, a second home in the country of my ancestors.
Written by Paolina Milana
