This document provides information about obtaining Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis or citizenship by descent. It discusses how the speaker qualifies for Italian citizenship as a 4th generation Italian through his mother's side. The process of applying is outlined, including gathering extensive documentation like birth, marriage, death and naturalization certificates that need apostilles and translations. A consulate appointment must be scheduled in person to review documents, which takes 6-9 months to schedule. If approved, it still takes 3-6 more months for Rome to process the application. The total costs of pursuing this citizenship are estimated to be over $1,800.

1. BEN PARHAM, 4TH GENERATION
ITALIAN
10/11/2017
ITALIAN DUAL
CITIZENSHIP

2. My Background
4th Generation Italian on
mother’s side
I’m not a legal expert on
citizenship
Experience is based on my
own personal journey
Been pursuing Italian
citizenship for two years

3. INTRODUCTI
ON TO DUAL
CITIZENSHIP

4. Automatic United States
Citizenship
Jus Soli - Latin for “Right of
the soil”
Commonly referred to as
Birthright Citizenship
If you’re born on US soil, you
are automatically a citizen
regardless of citizenship
status of parents
Other ways to gain citizenship
through application

5. Automatic Italian
Citizenship
Jus Sanguinis - Latin for
“Right of blood”
Right of citizenship by having
one or both parents who are
citizens of the state
If your parents were Italian
citizens, you’re an Italian
citizen
Other ways to gain citizenship
through application

6. Italian Nationality Law
Update
In 1992, the Italian Parliament updated their
nationality law
Act No. 91 of 5 February 1992
Article 1
1. The following shall be citizens by birth:
any person whose father or mother are
citizens

7. WHY BOTHER
GETTING
CITIZENSHIP?

8. Advantages of Italian
Citizenship
You’ll be a citizen of the entire European Union
Travel all of Europe without a visa. Stay as long as
you want
Easier to purchase property in Europe
Easier to own and operate a business in Europe
Use Italian passport when traveling to countries
unfriendly to United States

9. Advantages of Italian
Citizenship cont…
Qualify for Italian health care when in country
All children under 18 automatically become citizen
when you obtain citizenship
Children can attend university for free in Italy*
Children will have better advancement
opportunities if working for multi-national company
*Additional taxes may apply for those enrolled at universities

10. PATHS TO JUS
SANGUINES
CITIZENSHIP

11. Paths to Citizenship
Father
Father -> Grandfather
Father -> Grandfather -> Great
Grandfather
Father -> Grandfather -> Great-
Grandfather -> Great-Great-
Grandfather
Father -> Grandmother
Father -> Grandmother -> Great-
Grandfather
Father -> Grandmother -> Great-
Grandfather -> Great-Great-
Grandfather
Mother
Mother -> Grandfather
Mother -> Grandfather -> Great
Grandfather
Mother -> Grandfather -> Great-
Grandfather -> Great-Great-
Grandfather
Mother -> Grandmother
Mother -> Grandmother -> Great-
Grandfather
Mother -> Grandmother -> Great-
Grandfather -> Great-Great-
Grandfather

12. Do You Qualify?
Litmus Test - Your original Italian relative must NOT
have naturalized to the US before their child in your
path was born

13. YOU’VE
ALWAYS
BEEN AN
ITALIAN
CITIZEN!
The government of Italy simply
doesn’t know about you. You
have to tell them.
Everyone from you to your
immigrant ancestor are dual
citizens.

14. SO YOU QUALIFY…
WHAT’S NEXT?

15. DOCUMENT
…
DOCUMENT
S
HOLY CRAP THE
DOCUMENTS!

16. My Document
Requirements

17. My Document
Requirements

18. Italian Birth Certificates
Need the birth certificate for
your Italian born relative and
their spouse.
Unless relative was born after
the 1960’s, birth certificates will
be in the church in the town
they were born
Literally have to search the
basement to find records
There are services that will find
the records for you

19. My Document
Requirements

20. Naturalization Certificate
Need the US Naturalization
certificate for your Italian born
relative.
This is a part of the litmus test
to determine that naturalization
occurred after their child was
born.
Can be ordered online through
the US Citizenship &
Immigration Office
Takes about 2 months

21. My Document
Requirements

22. Birth/Marriage/Death
Certificates
Need US Birth Certificates
for all people in your path
Need US Marriage
Certificates for all people
who produced offspring in
your path
Need US Death Certificates
for all deceased people in
your path
All documents must be
certified, long-form, copies.

23. My Document
Requirements
All documents in green must have an Apostille
All documents in green must have a duplicate copy translated into Italian

24. What is an Apostille?
Apostilles authenticate the
seals and signatures of officials
on public documents such as
birth certificates, so that they
can be recognized in foreign
countries that are parties to the
Hague Convention.
Must receive from Secretary of
State that issued document
Must mail the document along
with self addressed/stamped
envelope, payment, and
apostle request form

25. Translated Documents?
All documents issued in the
U.S. (other than
Naturalization Certificate),
must be translated into
Italian
This is the most costly part
of the document process
Important to have a
reputable translator
complete this service

26. Translated Documents?

27. VISIT THE
CONSULATE

28. Visiting the Consulate
There are multiple consulate
offices around the U.S. The
office responsible for Denver
is located in Chicago
Schedule your appointment
with the consulate online.
Schedule is 6-9 months out
so do this before you start
working on your documents

29. Visiting the Consulate
Complete all citizenship
application documents from
their website in advance
Arrive in Chicago the day
before your appointment to
avoid travel delays
DON’T BE LATE!

30. Consulate Appointment
Outcome
This appointment is primarily to ensure that you
have the proper application documents, bloodline
documents, apostilles and translations
If they detect any errors of missing documents,
they’ll send you back home to fix them. This means
you have to schedule another appointment.
If everything is in order, they will send your
application to Rome to be processed. Will take 3-6
months to get an answer.

31. SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS

32. Special Considerations
Make sure you can show official
explanations/documentation for surname changes
(Italian immigrants commonly Americanized their names
after arrival)
Make sure you have corrected any name discrepancies
on any of your documents (birth/marriage/death
certificates)
Make an appointment with our local Honorary Consulate
to Denver to review your paperwork before going to
Chicago

33. WHAT’S ALL
THIS COST?
IT’S EXPENSIVE…

34. My Costs to Date
$100 - Italian Birth Records ($50 each)
$35 - U.S. Naturalization Record
$246 - Birth/Marriage/Death Certificates
$41 - Apostilles
$1,100 - Document Translations
$339 - Trip to Chicago
$1,861 - Total

35. Additional Costs
$355 - Citizenship Application Fee
$145 - Italian Passport Fee

36. SUMMARY

37. Summary
Time consuming
Expensive
Frustrating at times
You’ll learn a lot about your heritage
Pride knowing you’re not only an Italian
descendent, but you are an Italian citizen in the
eyes of the Italian government.

38. Resources
My Italian Family
(MyItalianFamily.com)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
(www.uscis.gov/genealogy)
Italian Consulate in Chicago
(www.conschicago.esteri.it/Consolato_Chicago/it/)
Honorary Consulate to Italy in Denver
(honoraryconsul@coitalianhc.com
Ben’s Blog
www.BecomeItalian.com

39. QUESTIONS?