David applied for citizenship by descent along with his brother, sister, and her three children. David’s Italian great-grandfather emigrated from Italy to the U.S. in the early 1900s and it was through his ancestry that the application was made. However, after some preliminary research David discovered that his situation was a 1948 case, on the basis that there was also a female ancestor in his lineage, David’s grandmother.
A 1948 case means applying for Italian citizenship through a female ancestor who gave birth to her child prior to January 1, 1948. This is the date when Italy’s constitution came into effect. Before this date women were not afforded the same rights as men and could not pass on citizenship to their children. Therefore, people like David who have a female ancestor who meets the 1948 rule must claim citizenship retroactively, and this means filing the case in the local court, i.e. the one based on the municipality of birth where the female ancestor was born.
When David learnt this, he did think he would not be able to apply for Italian citizenship. However, after further research, David established that he and his family could be eligible for citizenship as a 1948 case. This insight was confirmed when he contacted Italian Citizenship Assistance (ICA). David recognized that more help was needed, given that he would need to retrieve documents (vital records) from Italy dating back to the 1800s and have them apostilled and translated into Italian:
“I knew that I could not do this on my own… I did a lot of research on companies/individuals offering assistance in obtaining Italian citizenship. ICA really stood out and I could not be happier with them. They guided my family through each step of the process and kept us informed of our progress. They are so experienced in the quirks of Italian citizenship that the process was actually quite easy for myself and my family.”
David has valued the role of ICA and found the support indispensable, especially in terms of locating vital records and assisting in the legal arena, noting that “the staff at ICA did an amazing job tracking down all the documents and filing a legal case for us in Rome.”
The entire journey has been significant and emotional for David and his family; he recalls the moment he found out the case had been successful: “It was so exciting to receive the email that we had won our case and to view the official documents from Rome.”
When asked about other unforgettable events during this process, David highlighted learning about his family’s history, winning the legal case, and going to the Italian Consulate to get his passport, as some of his most memorable- and, exhilarating- moments.
Now that David is an Italian citizen, he plans to live part-time in Italy and become fluent in Italian. He is excited and enthusiastic about both prospects!
David was delighted with the service he received from ICA – so much so that he recommended ICA to a close friend who has since utilized ICA, and he has been equally satisfied with the support given.
David has agreed to serve as a subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use his name and image.
