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 sister-in-law brought it to my attention. One night during a family Zoom call, as I was whining that Europe was closed to everyone except its residents and citizens, my sister said, “You’re Italian-American. Have you looked into applying for Italian citizenship?” I nearly fell off my chair. It never occurred to me, but it sounded like a dream. Immediately the next day I started doing research and came across ICA. I turned over as many genealogy records as I had found, and made an initial consultation with them.
My mother’s parents were both Italian. Their respective parents, around the turn of the 20th century, all left the Bay of Naples for New York City and Philadelphia. My grandfather’s parents were peasant farmers and shoemakers from Casalduni in Campania. Sadly, they didn’t keep birth records once they arrived in Philadelphia (my grandfather never even had a birth certificate!), so I quickly ruled them out. My grandmother’s parents, however, were small town landowners and farmers from Abruzzo. My great-grandmother Rosa was from Basciano, and my great-grandfather Leandro was from the mountain village of Forcella, both small villages near Teramo. Their records were relatively easy to access. My mother, in fact, had gone to this region years ago to visit distant family and dig up the records.
When it finally came time for my consultation with ICA, these documents helped immensely to determine my eligibility. It looked like I was a good candidate for citizenship after all! But I would have to apply for citizenship through my grandmother, and this meant filing a claim at a court in Italy, as Italian embassies and consulates do not accept “*1948 cases”.
Since I applied during the height of the pandemic, there were many delays in getting certified documents. It took over a year to have my grandmother’s Philadelphia birth certificate amended due to an error in how her name had been recorded. There were a few other amendments that delayed the process, but once all my paperwork had finally been submitted, we were able to move forward. I was assigned to a judge in L’Aquila in May 2023 and by August my mother and I were granted our Italian citizenship. It was one of the happiest days of my life. It would take another year and two months before my passport was in my hand.
During the process, I went back and forth to Italy many times and have attended many language classes. I am trying to visit all different parts of this beautiful country until I find the perfect spot. And when I do, my husband and I plan to buy a second home here and make Italy a permanent part of lives.
I HIGHLY recommend ICA. The entire team is phenomenal, and I can’t stop singing their praises. From the very first moment I reached out until the second I had my Italian passport in hand, they were with me, helping my mother and me complete the process of citizenship. I specifically worked with Elena, Zoe, and Chiara, and every one of them was attentive and helpful throughout. An extra perk for me was getting to meet the Permunian family in Rovigo too. Wonderful hospitality and a great family.
Tracy has agreed to serve as the subject of this success story and has granted ICA the right to use her name and image.
*A 1948 case is relevant for individuals who qualify for Italian citizenship through a female Italian-born ancestor who gave birth to her child before January 1, 1948. This date was when the Italian Constitution came into effect. Before this date, under 1912 law, women were not permitted to transmit citizenship to their children. If you have a female ancestor who falls under the 1948 rule, you can apply for Italian citizenship retroactively by filing a claim in court on the basis that the 1912 law goes against the principles of equality as enshrined in the Italian Constitution. In such cases, you can apply to have your citizenship recognized via a court in Italy.
