Ever since I was a little girl, my childhood revolved around Sunday pasta supper, steeped in the traditions of my Italian family. Food and family stories were at the heart of our gatherings, shaping my connection to my heritage. In 2004, as a newlywed, my husband and I honeymooned in Sicily and visited the regions where my distant family originated. It was eye-opening to meet people who resembled me and my father. I felt an instant connection to the land and its people.
It wasn’t until 2019 that I truly felt the pull to explore my heritage more deeply. I reached out to Marco Permunian of Italian Citizenship Assistance (ICA), and his consultation gave me hope that I qualified for dual citizenship. My application presented challenges—my great-grandfather had never naturalized, but finding the proof the Italian consulate required initially seemed unattainable. However, over the years of navigating the anxiety-inducing pace of the Italian government, Marco and his team were always professional, available, and reassuring. They believed in my case, and I trusted them with the outcome.
My only regret is not starting the process sooner so that my father could have been part of it before his passing. Had he been healthy, I know he would have embraced this journey alongside me. In June of last year, while on a family vacation in Italy, I checked my email to find that my application had been processed by the Italian Consulate of Los Angeles and passed on to my family’s ancestral municipality in Sicily. I was thrilled and hopeful, yet hesitant to celebrate prematurely. By November, I received my Recognition of Italian Citizenship email and cried tears of joy. My efforts had culminated in this moment. I felt an immense sense of relief and overwhelming happiness.
I immediately shared the news with the ICA team, and my case manager, Ilaria, helped me prepare all the documents needed for my appointment at the consulate. What once felt like a distant dream was now a reality. Even now, with my Italian passport in hand, I sometimes think I need to pinch myself to make sure it’s real. The reality has settled in, bringing new possibilities for my family and me.
My teenage daughter is interested in attending college in the European Union, and my husband and I are planning another family trip to Italy this summer. We hope to explore potential locations for our next home. I am eternally grateful to ICA and encourage anyone interested in the process to reach out to them. It’s a significant emotional time commitment, but ICA makes the process as streamlined and uncomplicated as possible—a remarkable feat given the complexities of Italian bureaucracy.
Now, ICA is working with my sisters to complete their citizenship applications. This journey has opened doors and possibilities that I never imagined. My family and I eagerly look forward to living the next chapter of our lives in Italy.
Jeanette has agreed to serve as a subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use her name and image.
