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 great-great-grandparents. This discovery ignited my passion for my Italian heritage and set me on the path to Italian citizenship by descent.
After learning about Italian citizenship through ancestry, I subscribed to Rafael DiFuria’s channel. He explained his journey and recommended Italian Citizenship Assistance (ICA) as a resource.
I then reached out to them and had a consultation call with Marco Permunian, who explained the entire process. He informed me that the first step was to obtain the naturalization details of my ancestor, and after doing so, I discovered I was eligible.
I chose ICA’s full-service option and decided to involve my father in the process as a special gift to him.
Once I knew I was eligible for Italian citizenship, I felt both excited and a bit overwhelmed by the journey ahead. I decided to share this opportunity with other family members, and my aunt and cousin chose to join the process.
We began collecting documents together, which strengthened our bond and deepened our connection to our shared family history. However, the global pandemic presented complications, particularly with the availability of consulate appointments. My father and I live in the same state, so we shared the same consulate, while my aunt and cousin, living in different states, had different timelines and requirements.
Enrica from ICA was invaluable throughout this journey, helping us gather, translate, and certify all necessary documents. My wife and I even visited the ICA office in Veneto during a vacation, where we had the pleasure of meeting Enrica in person. After much effort, we finally reached the pivotal moment where everything was in place, and our applications were ready to submit.
While my aunt and cousin were able to send their documents via mail due to the protocols in their states, my father and I faced delays because our consulate had not opened appointments for quite some time. Every Wednesday, we attempted to secure an appointment, and finally, in November 2023, both of us obtained appointments. That day was incredibly special—my father and I applied together, and it was the first time he heard me speak Italian during our consulate interview.
After 11 months of waiting, we received our letters of recognition on the same day.
One of the most exciting moments was discovering my great-grandfather’s birth certificate in Italy and feeling that deep connection to my ancestors. Another special moment was sharing the consulate appointment with my father, speaking Italian in front of him for the first time after studying the language for seven years. It wasn’t required for the citizenship process, but learning Italian has allowed me to connect more deeply with my heritage.
Receiving the letters of recognition after 11 months was a moment of immense pride and accomplishment. The journey was long, but it was well worth the effort. Sharing this with my family made it all the more rewarding.
This experience has been incredibly fulfilling. The journey to Italian citizenship was more than just a bureaucratic process; it was an opportunity to connect with my roots, learn more about my family’s history, and bond with relatives. The challenges, especially during the pandemic and dealing with different consulate processes, were frustrating at times, but ICA’s support made everything more manageable.
Looking back, the process was both harder and more rewarding than I expected. It wasn’t just about the paperwork—it was about discovering who I am and where I come from.
As an Italian citizen, I’m excited about the future. My wife is currently studying for her B1 certification in Italian, which will allow her to qualify for citizenship as well. If we are blessed with children, I will be able to pass Italian citizenship on to them. We also have plans to purchase property in Italy to use as a home base for frequent travel with our extended family.
In the long term, my wife and I envision spending our later years living in Italy when life slows down.
I am incredibly grateful to Marco and Enrica at ICA for their guidance throughout this journey. From helping us navigate complex consulate processes to providing translations and certifications, their expertise made this dream possible. Even with the challenges of the pandemic and the varying timelines across different consulates, they remained supportive and proactive. Meeting Enrica in person was a highlight, and I can’t thank them enough for making this journey to Italian citizenship a reality for me and my family.
Jason has agreed to serve as a subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use his name and image.
