BellisiMoe

BellisiMoe

I wish there were enough years in my life to live in every country
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4/15/2018

Why Getting Dual Citizenship Was Important To Me

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“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*
​
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. 
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Masters Ceremony in Florence, Italy - My heart was SO full
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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. 
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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).

 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. 

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

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
​

Have a great week everyone! :) 

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3 Comments
Barbara Sbragia
4/16/2018 01:58:57 pm

You are one amazing woman! I am so impressed by all of your accomplishments.

Reply
Dominique
4/28/2018 10:54:28 pm

Thank you so much Barb. You've inspired me in so many ways, and I am thankful for you. If it weren't for strong women in my life, I don't know where I'd be! <3

Reply
Zunash Ashiq Ali
5/15/2019 06:30:47 am

Interesting read! keep amusing us with your blogs:)

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    about me.

    Bellisima = "Extremely Beautiful" in Italian, and how i would describe the world, and how I view it through travel.
    Moe = My nickname. :) 
    Thus BellisiMoe was born. 

    I am:  Travel Obsessed. A US & Italian Citizen. Working in the Fashion Industry, but lusting after the Travel Industry. A true Scorpio. A believer in following your dreams and heart.

    Using this blog to display anything and everything that inspires me.

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