In Bill’s own words…
I initially began to think about dual citizenship after a friend informed me that she had gotten Italian dual citizenship. I then researched people who could help me. After hearing about jure sanguinis (citizenship by descent) from Marco Permunian on YouTube, I decided to take the first step and have a conversation with Marco and his ICA team about the process. I had also talked to other people who did not seem to think I could obtain citizenship through jure sanguinis. ICA, after some initial research, was the only group to find a path that worked for me and my family. I was very encouraged and excited by the possibility. My sister and I applied, and our application included my niece and my two sons.
Being a cautious person by nature, I didn’t want to let my enthusiasm get ahead of myself. I knew the process would require a great deal of work in obtaining and finding all the necessary paperwork, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, etc. I was impressed with ICA’s ability to track down the paperwork needed for my application. I was often amazed at how they found some of the required documents. I was first assigned a point person, Enrica Munegato. Enrica expertly guided me through the process until the Court of Rome ruled in our favor. Once approved, our case was turned over to Chiara Quaglia, who then directed us seamlessly to getting our passports. We are all now proud new Italians.
Generally, I am not a sentimental person, nor was I deeply interested in family genealogy. I found the process of exploring my family’s genealogy and the story of my family’s immigration to America quite incredible and moving. I really had no idea what my family’s experience was when they immigrated to America. I came away with a tremendous sense of gratitude and pride in the sacrifices my ancestors made in America and Italy. I went back to the small town of Rose in Calabria which is where my family is from to find some of the records. I had the opportunity to meet people from my family’s little town in Calabria. It was a moving experience that I will always cherish.
I found the experience of exploring my family’s background in Italy to be enlightening and emotional. I hope to spend a great deal of my time in Italy, buy a house, and start a small business there to hopefully contribute to the country and be a good Italian citizen. I’d also like to immerse myself in Italian culture, build lasting relationships, and contribute to the community.
ICA’s services are quite remarkable. They are extremely professional, organized, and very much on top of their game. It’s amazing how they find documents and set up meetings and court dates. It is clear these folks know what they are doing and are very good at it. They keep you well-informed throughout the process. ICA delivered just like they said they would. Meravigliosa ICA, grazie mille!
Bill has agreed to serve as a subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use his name and image.
