Donna has a strong connection to her Italian lineage and had long about pursuing Italian citizenship by descent. She grew up in New York learning Italian from her father who attended college in Rome, but her Italian roots run deeper. Her grandfather’s side of the family is from Bari and her grandmother’s side is from Naples. She had always wanted to apply for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, or “right of blood”, but knew there might be some obstacles. Donna explains, “After ICA had done some initial intake, they informed me that while my case was not straightforward, it was possible.”
Donna learned that she would have what is called a “1948 case”, which pertains to those who are applying for Italian citizenship through a female ancestor who gave birth to their child prior to January 1, 1948. Under the 1912 Italian law, only men were able to transfer citizenship to their children. When the Italian Constitution came into effect on January 1, 1948, men and women were granted equal rights and thus gave women the ability to pass citizenship down to their future generations. Now legal precedent states that the principles in the constitution should be applied retroactively, including events that occurred prior. This is why if you qualify for a “1948 case”, your citizenship claim can be filed at the Italian court via a judicial proceeding. While there is no guarantee the judge will rule in your favor, many claims are successful as judges tend to grant citizenship for these types of cases. This provided optimistic news, but Donna still had a long path in front of her. When a global pandemic hit right in the middle of her journey to citizenship, it brought further delays. In total, it took Donna four years to obtain her Italian citizenship but she adds that “while it took longer than anticipated due to the health emergency, it was a relatively quick and easy process for me!”
Another concern for Donna was discrepancies in some of the records. “I knew it would be difficult because some documents had my great-grandmother’s incorrect maiden name due to administrative errors. I knew I wanted to find a service that could help me navigate the process and successfully apply.” While anglicizing Italian names when emigrating to the United States was common, even more critical is the consistency of names and dates throughout the records of a citizenship application. Even something as simple as an accidental misspelling or misprint on a document can cause delays or complications, so knowing which amendments to make and how to make these changes is important.
Finally, after all the documents were procured and translated into Italian, it was time to file the claim in Italian court. ICA represented Donna in court and she officially became an Italian citizen! “I was so excited the day that I got to go to the consulate and apply for my passport.” She looks forward to traveling throughout the EU with her new Italian passport and taking advantage of all the benefits dual citizenship brings. “I would like to work in the EU for a few years and I would love to retire in the EU. I grew up studying Italian, but it’s only when I’m there that I feel I can truly practice it. I think being able to retire there would be amazing.”
Acquiring Italian citizenship was such a special experience for Donna. “I had always known I wanted to apply to become a citizen because of my lineage.” Italian Citizenship Assistance navigated her along the path from start to finish. Working with ICA, she says, “was the best experience and service I could have invested in. The proof is in the outcomes and stories! They were thorough, helpful, and explained every step. I’ve recommended many friends and colleagues who are interested! I highly recommend ICA.”
Donna has agreed to serve as a subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use her name and image.
