If you have immigration goals, the best piece of advice is to look for a country that offers easy access to citizenship. Italy is acclaimed for being a great destination as it has multiple citizenship routes, such as descent, marriage, and naturalization. Among these, citizenship by descent is the most popular for Americans who can trace their bloodline in the country. You only have to validate your roots in the country to claim your rights. But there is much more when you scratch the surface as you may have to overcome some challenges down the line. You can check Bersani Law Firm website to understand the process and know the obstacles that may stand in the way. Here are some helpful tips on overcoming these challenges.
Understand the exceptions
Knowing the eligibility requirements for the process is important, but understanding the exceptions is even more crucial. An applicant with a paternal line has better chances to qualify because you only have a couple of norms to address. Your ancestor must be an Italian citizen after its formation and unification in 1861. They should not have been naturalized in another country before the birth of their child. But things are trickier for those with a maternal bloodline as the citizenship law did not allow females to pass their right by ancestry before 1948. If your female ancestor had a child before 1948, you cannot apply through Jure Sanguinis. The only option you have is to claim through the 1948 Rule.
Stay a step ahead with your documents
Document gathering is often a challenge for applicants because you have a long checklist to follow. The hardest part is to get the ones from your ancestor’s comune in Italy. Essentially, you will require the certificates of birth, marriage, and death to validate your ancestral line. It is often difficult for applicants as they have to travel to Italy and struggle to get old records from local officers. Thankfully, you can address the concern by collaborating with a dual citizenship expert in Italy. They have good local connections, so procuring documents is not a big deal for them.
Have the patience to wait for your turn
Another obstacle that makes Italian citizenship by descent challenging is the extended waiting period at Italian consulates. While you have the advantage of applying from a local consulate, the waiting period can go up to a year. It depends on the number of applications in the queue ahead of you. There isn’t much you can do to cut short the time, but make sure that your documents are accurate and complete. Errors and omissions can delay the process further as the authorities may ask you to submit more or correct documents. Consider applying from Italy to expedite the process.
Italian citizenship by descent is the easiest way to fulfill your immigration goals despite its challenges. You can address the obstacles by collaborating with an expert professional to guide you and assist you with the process. They make sure you have the required information and required documents to complete it at the earliest.
