Italian or Not Italian?

One of the recurrent questions when talking to an Italian American fellow here in the USA is: "How do I get Italian citizenship?". When it comes to requirements for citizenship of the Belpaese, there is a lot of confusion for the applicant. As usual, Italian bureaucracy makes no process easy to understand and to execute. So here is a concise explanation of what to check before applying.

An Italian law that came into force on August 15, 1992 states that Italian citizenship can be conferred by bloodline (jus sanguinis): in simple words, the descendant of an Italian citizen is already an Italian citizen; therefore the citizenship is recognized by the Italian government upon submitting application and related evidence. The applicant must produce documentation that everyone in his/her direct line of ascendants maintained uninterrupted Italian citizenship until he/she was born.

It sounds easy, but it is a little more complicated than that. A few conditions make some people scratch their head when dealing with the Italian consulate or municipality offices in Italy. Here is what they have to consider:

·        The Italian ancestor (parent, grand-parent, great grand-parent) had to be alive after March 17, 1861, since Italy was unified on that day. Before then, there was not an Italian country and therefore no Italian citizens.

·        The Italian ancestor must NOT have become a citizen of the United States (a process called “naturalization”) before July 1, 1912. Prior to that date, the Italian law was different and did not allow passing citizenship.

·        The Italian parent must NOT have naturalized American before both the applicant’s birth date and the date of August 15, 1992. So Italian citizens naturalized before the above date lost their citizenship at that time and cannot pass it anymore to their children, either they were born before or after that date.

·        The Italian ancestor must NOT have naturalized before the birth of the immediate descendant or any of the ascendants in the direct lineage of parents through which the applicant is eligible.

·        There is also a difference related to the gender: no limit on the number of generations is in place for paternal line. However, in case the ancestor in the direct lineage of the person applying for citizenship is a woman born before 1948, she can only be considered Italian through her father (provided he did not naturalize before she was born). This woman can pass jus sanguinis only to her children, male or female, who were born after January 1, 1948.

However, there have been challenges and appeals for cases that would be excluded by this last rule. In these cases, the application can be presented directly to the Civil Court in Rome, since the Italian Supreme Court has declared this rule unconstitutional. The Italian consulates are still bound by this restriction and cannot grant citizenship under these conditions.

If born in or after 1948, having one qualifying Italian parent is sufficient for deriving citizenship, even if the other Italian parent naturalized or otherwise became unable to pass on citizenship. Sometimes that qualifying parent is the foreign-born mother, because foreign women who married Italian men prior to April 27, 1983 automatically became Italian citizens and, in many cases, retained that citizenship even when their Italian husbands later naturalized.

Also a girl of minor age could keep her Italian citizenship after the naturalization of her father, but she still might not be able to pass her own citizenship to her children, particularly if they were born before 1948.

 In conclusion, everything is much smoother if the ascendants who emigrated in the USA never naturalized and remained only Italian. In that case the citizenship is passed to the descendant by each Italian parent in line with the principle of jus sanguinis. If instead an ascendant in the direct lineage became American and gave up the Italian citizenship (in the USA this was mandatory a few decades ago), it is a matter of birth date, gender and laws that have changed in time.
An Italian who has acquired a foreign citizenship (such as American) after August 15, 1992 does not lose his or her Italian citizenship and can retain both (dual citizen).

The process of acquiring Italian citizenship takes not less than two years from the date of application, also depending on the consulate that handles and reviews the papers. Often it is necessary to prove the uninterrupted lineage by requesting certificates of birth, marriage, death to the municipal office of the Italian town where the ancestor was born. This can require additional time, especially in case of big Italian cities.

All documents must be in Italian language or translated into Italian. If a document is issued by an American authority, the applicant must get an apostille from the Secretary of State where the document was issued. This document validates that certificate outside the USA.

Since 2015 the application with all documentation is submitted online through the website of the Italian Consulate located in the applicant’s circuit of residence. 
In bocca al lupo! (Good luck!)

History on a Square Inch

by Michele Alonzo, School Amici Director

Gerardo Perrotta is one of the first Italians I met when I came to Cincinnati, 23 years ago. We have worked in the same College of Medicine for over two decades and he has been a teacher at the Italian language School Amici for the past seven years. When I first heard from Gerardo about his plan to write a book about Italian themes stamps, he was not even teaching for the school and my kids were probably still playing hide and seek. The project was interesting and innovative;   considering that Gerardo has lived in the USA for a long long time and is passionate about Italy and its history, I had no doubt that his book would be engaging and interesting for both Italian and American readers.  Gerardo has worked for many years on a diligent research, involving many sources both here and in Italy, to complete his book and, during all these years, has collected interesting facts on many Italians who have influenced the history of the United States during many centuries. So when this past spring he told me that the book was ready to be published, I was definitely glad that we readers could finally enjoy the end result of his intellectual dedication to a project he had at heart. I was also sure that each one of us, and not only stamp collectors, would like the publication, while being educated on the life of famous Italian Americans.

There are many ways to tell the Italian American history and Gerardo found a unique novel one in his book,” Phila-Italy Americana, Italian Themes on United States Postage Stamps”. Having collected stamps over many years, he discovered that there are many US stamps that have a clear Italian theme and many others whose connection to Italy is not so apparent. 

I think that Phila-Italy Americana is a book for any Italian American interested in learning about their heritage and for all those who appreciate Italian culture in general. The book is an easy read and lends itself to initiate conversation as each stamp presents an encapsulated view of our rich history. These stamps tell stories of significant events that led to the discovery and progress of our nation; they feature historical figures some of whom have never been to the United States and much less knew of its existence. The book also profiles a vast array of art and cultural items that have become part of the US national treasure. Many Italians have crossed the Atlantic Ocean during the last few centuries to come to the USA. The many interesting details gleaned from these stamps reflect Gerardo’s genuine interest to share with pride the contributions and legacy of these immigrants to the modern country. Their sacrifices coupled with many Americans who admire Italian art, culture, music and language; their contribution has allowed Italians to grow as the fifth largest ethnic group in the United States.

We modern Italians are the beneficiary of those who struggled to establish a foothold in this country. The story draws us closer as Italian Americans because it belongs to all of us. It swells our pride in our heritage and appreciation for this great country where we live.

Gerardo Perrotta's book symbolically embodies the pride of those who helped building and shaping up the United States of America, sometimes sacrificing their life for a better future. So if you are an Italian American, you will particularly enjoy this publication. I also think that the book could be an affordable meaningful gift for a relative or friend during the upcoming holidays and something to preserve for the generations to come.

The book is available in print and electronic format on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and Xlibris.com

Buone Feste!