Matt secured Italian citizenship by descent for himself and his daughter. Here, Matt recounts their journey to becoming Italian citizens, and talks about its significance and importance to him and his family. Italian culture and customs had always been a part of my family’s everyday rituals–even if I was totally unaware of it growing up. From…
In Tracy’s own words… In early 2020, I, like many, had a lot of extra time during lockdown. Unable to leave the house for weeks, I threw myself into genealogy and dreamed of a future where I could hopefully get back to Europe. It never occurred to me to seek out Italian citizenship until my…
In Beverly’s words… Growing up in the United States with Italian ancestors is an interesting experience. We were encouraged to assimilate to all things American. As we aged, we wondered about how our lives would have been different if we’d grown up in Italy—it became the big “what if…” question. My grandfather came to America…
Having traveled around Europe in his 30s, Thomas decided he wanted to settle there permanently, and the possibility of acquiring Italian citizenship gave him a pathway to do that. He reached out to ICA early on in his journey and was happy to see he met all the eligibility requirements. His case was a particularly…
I began my journey to obtain Italian citizenship by researching my great-grandfather on my paternal side. His death certificate led me to his birthplace, which prompted my first trip to Italy. I visited the municipal building in his hometown, where the staff helped me locate his handwritten birth certificate and the marriage details of my…
Based on Laura’s own words… I knew I satisfied the citizenship by decent requirements, and although I had acquired some of the documents before reaching out for support, the challenge was obtaining an appointment with the consulate in San Francisco. Determining if I qualified was a lengthy process, and after approximately six years of…
Oriana has long felt connected to Europe, and Italy in particular, even desiring to live there one day. While her mother was born in Spain and spent a good part of her life in Europe, she wasn’t able to get Spanish citizenship. However, Oriana also has Italian heritage on her father’s side, and once she…
In Aaron’s own words… Growing up, I was always deeply connected to my Italian heritage. I often listened to my grandparents share stories about the “Old Country” with my father. Nonno recounted tales of the village in Piemonte where our family roots run deep. These stories were not just about my ancestors; they were living…
The road to Italian citizenship for Steve and his family began in December 2019, during a trip to Italy. Steve discovered he had cousins in the commune of Casagiove where his grandfather was born: “My cousins were so warm and welcoming, it started me thinking of my heritage and wanting to feel closer to my…
In Blase’s own words… My immediate family and grandparents have always been incredibly close, sharing many memorable experiences whether on vacations, mass/holidays, or weekend trips to our Italian community in Pittsburgh. As a kid I learned our family traditions and started living the lifestyle our ancestors passed on and my pride in our family and…
In Ingrid’s own words… I applied for my Italian citizenship based on my mother. She is Italian, and I was born in Naples, Italy while she was still an Italian citizen. However, she gave up her Italian citizenship in 1962, and therefore I automatically lost my Italian citizenship too, as I was a minor at…
For Angelo, being Italian-American was always an important part of his identity, growing up in an Italian household in Connecticut. His family-oriented upbringing instilled a sense of pride and connection to his Italian roots. “Being Italian, it’s the only nationality to be. That’s how I felt all the time.” All of Angelo’s immediate family was…