Why Getting Dual Citizenship Was Important To Me

“Why would you want to have dual citizenship?” I’ve gotten this question so many times, and every instance I reflect on my decision to embark on a journey that was so very important to me.
 
I vividly remember the first time I actually lusted after a second passport. I was in grad school in Italy getting my Masters in Fashion, and at the end of my program I was able to do an internship through my school. There were two choices: 1. Complete my internship in a group project directly through my school, or 2. Do an independent internship directly through a company in Italy – which required an EU Passport.

Well we all want what we can’t have right? I remember being so disappointed that I couldn’t go work for Emilio Pucci, or even work in the Gucci offices in Florence. I’m an independent spirit at heart, and one of my only regrets in life is that I didn’t figure out how to get dual citizenship sooner.

*Don’t feel bad for me just yet – I did get to do my group internship for Versace, and got to present to their top executives*
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After grad school, I talked my parents into letting me move to England for 3 months (the only “allowable” time frame for someone who does not hold an EU passport). *shout out to my amazing parents who supported my craziest of dreams at that time* I did a PR internship while I was there, and although I loved my experience, London was not for me. I went back to the US, having reverse culture shock, and having such intense emotions around my exposure of life outside of the US. 

Masters Ceremony in Florence, Italy - My heart was SO full

Touring the campus before the program started - I was SO excited that I was able to follow my dream

​The process started with a google search. A friend of mine had her British passport, and I knew she wasn’t born there, so I began investigating how you could possibly be privileged enough to have two passports (without having to marry someone). - I come from a smaller town, so while to some this may seem like a no brainer, I was in uncharted territory. – My google search turned into hours, and hours turned into days. I knew I was Italian, and that I had relatives there (I actually got to visit villages in Italy on both sides of my family!)

Here is what I found out:

• My Great Grandparents on both sides were the last generation in my family to be born in Italy. My generation (being a great grandchild), was the last generation that could try to obtain an Italian passport (I was actually reading that now you could go as far back as "great great grandparents"). --> I now had 4 pathways to citizenship (my great grandfather and great grandmother on each side)

• It is easier to go through your fathers side of the family vs. your mothers, because Italian culture is a patriarchal society. Both of my great grandfathers were born in Italy. -->I  now had 2 options

• In order to be considered for Italian Citizenship, my great grandfather had to have come to the US, had my grandfather, and THEN became a US Citizen through Naturalization. If he had been Naturalized before he had my grandfather, then I could not be considered. My great grandfather on my mothers side did not qualify, but my great grandfather on my fathers side did. -->I  was now down to 1 option!

• After I knew I was eligible for Citizenship, I had to make an appointment. The nearest Italian Consulate to my house at the time was in San Francisco, so I emailed them (they had no option of making an appointment online back then…) and made an appointment. YAY! The next available appointment was a YEAR out. WTF. I begrudgingly made the appointment, and then starting organizing my brain on what I needed to accomplish before then. In all fairness, I am glad the appointment was a year out, because that is how long it took me to get everything I needed!

• I then had to go through a huge laundry list of documents I needed to acquire, and THEN I had to translate them all into Italian. 

The village where my moms side of the family is from - I got to spend Easter here once

Here is what I actually needed to compile: 

• ​Great Grandfathers Birth Certificate from Italy
• Great Grandmothers Birth Certificate from Italy
• Great Grandfather and Great Grandmothers Marriage Certificate
• Great Grandfathers Naturalization Certificate
• Grandfathers Birth Certificate
• Grandmothers Birth Certificate
• Grandfather and Grandmothers Marriage Certificate
• Fathers Birth Certificate
• Mothers Birth Certificate
• Fathers and Mothers Marriage Certificate
• My Birth Certificate
• Death Certificates For All Applicable Above.
  

 
--> All Documents needed to THEN be translated into Italian, and had to have an Apostille (it authenticates signatures on all documents, and is recognized by foreign countries).

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 FAST FORWARD to my appointment - I was so nervous, because I have heard of instances where you could be denied (I mean they are Italians - I had lived in Italy long enough to know that they do whatever they want) for any reason. Well, I walked in as an American Citizen, and walked out with an Italian Passport in hand! 

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These babies are the second thing I would grab in case of a fire - Ducky would be the first! :)

​Getting my second passport was personally important to me. Here are the main reasons why I got a second passport, and why I worked so hard to get it:

1. Personal Interest In Travel: I love to travel, and I tend to invest more in experiences versus tangible items. #youcanttakeitwithyou
2. My Ancestry: I am very proud of my ancestry, and a second passport celebrates that.
3. No Fees or Visas in Certain Countries: I’ve traveled to some countries that require a reciprocity fee, which is essentially a visa fee you must pay to enter the country. When I went to Argentina, my friend had to pay $160 to enter because she had her US passport, and I used my Italian passport and had to pay nothing. 
4. Ease of Travel: Every time I go to Europe, I don’t have to go through the foreign nationalities line which saves you time, hassle, and questions.
5. My Future: Let's say something ever happened to the US and I had to get out (god forbid), or maybe I get a work opportunity to move abroad. I want to be prepared. Even retirement abroad entices me. This ultimately is something I did for my future. 

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 I did this for me, and this is enough of a reason. <3

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Here are some helpful links if you are looking to get your Italian Dual Citizenship:

San Francisco Italian Consulate:  click here
Register for an Appointment: click here
Information on Citizenship: click here
This was a great one stop shop, and explains everything clearly: click here
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Have a great week everyone! :)