The road to obtaining Italian citizenship can be a long and extensive process, but for some may be worth the effort, according to CIAO’s Vice President John Vallillo and member Dave Sansone. Both have completed the process and are awaiting word that their documentation has been approved.
They recently shared their experience via a Zoom presentation on February 25, 2023. The presentation was made possible through a partnership with CIAO Cleveland and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA). Approximately 200 individuals tuned in to hear the session.
The presentation began with an introduction by CIAO President CIAO Tom Cirincione who gave an overview of CIAO, including its history and mission to help Italians learn about their ancestry. He gave a brief overview of how to start the ancestry search and some of the resources available. He then introduced Vallillo and Sansone.
Vallillo gave a brief overview of the ways Italians may qualify for Italian citizenship. Information is detailed on any Italian consulate’s website. He explained the benefits of citizenship. These include the ability to work and reside in Italy and the 27 countries of the European Union, free higher education, access to medical benefits, access to certain financial investment rights, ease of buying property, and the ability to vote in Italian elections.
Sansone gave an overview of his journey toward citizenship. He suggested finding which Italian consulate serves your state because each consulate may have slightly different requirements. Take the online questionnaire on the consulate’s website to determine eligibility. “If you are. eligible, questions will come up and that will be your starting point,” Sansone said.
Both he and Vallillo said to make an appointment with the consulate immediately because they are being made two years in advance. They alerted listeners to be patient! They are in their second year waiting for their documentation to be approved and the pandemic has slowed the process even more. However, consulates do work in chronological order so applicants will not lose their place in line.
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