It sounds a bit macabre, but if you’re not sure where your ancestors were born, their death certificate is a good place to start. It should contain mother and father’s name and the place of birth. If your lucky, maybe the town and not just Italy. You will need the certified death certificate of which ever ancestor you use.
Also searching the Ellis Island data base (https://www.statueofliberty.org/discover/passenger-ship-search/) can identify the date of entry. It will also show the town of residence listed by the passenger. But the documents offered foe sale on this site won’t be acceptable to the consulate.
It’s only In recent decades that an immigrant needed an official status to remain in the U.S. There has never been a requirement to apply for U.S. Citizenship. Even today someone can remain a “Legal permanent Resident” indefinitely. But for a while, renouncing other citizenship was a requirement.
Italian citizenship can be passed through the maternal blood line if the applicant was born Jan 1, 1948 or latter. If you fall into that category, you can use either your paternal grandmother or your maternal grandfather. My grandfather became a U.S. Citizen, but I don’t believe my grandmother ever did.
Renouncing Italian Citizenship is a factor. Once an Italian gives up his citizenship, he can no longer pass citizenship to future descendants. That's why the first step, or expense, should be to investigating his U.S. Naturalization. The consulate will require those documents. In my case, I had a family recourse that knew about my grandfather's U.S. Naturalization, well after the birth of his children.
The National Archives web site provided by Ravina looks like it should be a good source or a first step. I only knew that my grandfather applied for U.S. Citizenship and renounce his Italian Citizenship from a cousin. It never occurred to me that he would be required to renounce his Italian Citizenship.
If you do some internet searches for dual citizenship or Italian citizenship you should be able to come up with some services. I’m reluctant to give the name of the service I used since I had a lot of problems communicating with them. I believe they were upgrading their office technology at the time, but I don’t want to get sued for bad mouthing anyone.
I kept track of the costs for a while, but when they started to add up, I didn’t really want to know. Total cost, depending on the number of documents you need, should be over one thousand, pushing two. I think the U.S. entry documents alone were around three hundred or more. I don’t remember the exact cost. I believe obtaining certified U.S. birth, death, and marriage certificates was about thirty-five dollars each. Translations were around twenty-five per page, and the apostilles were another charge. Obtaining the Italian documents is an additional charge.
I strongly recommend looking into hiring a service to help. I didn’t know where to start, but they were able to get things organized and moving. I used them to obtain the Italian documents and the U.S. entry and naturalization documents. I obtained the U.S. birth, marriage, and death certificates myself. I also used the service to translate the U.S. documents to Italian and to obtain apostilles for the documents. All of this costs money, but that’s a decision that you will have to make.
One thing that surprises people is that the consulate keeps your original documents to send to your commune of origin. (grandfather’s birthplace). So, you may want to make copies of all your documents before they get sealed up with the apostilles.
You will need to get copies of your grandfather’s U.S. entry and U.S. naturalization documents. The consulate will require them. If he had to renounce his Italian Citizenship that document would be included in his naturalization papers. It’s called “The Oath of Allegiance”. My grandfather applied for U.S. Citizenship in 1930 and this was required at that time.
The U.S. documents require an apostille, certifying them as legit for international use. The Italian documents do not require any further certification, but I’m not sure that the consulate will accept emailed copies. That’s a question for your consulate. My Italian birth and marriage certificates from the town were copies, but had colored stamps from the Comune (town) and I believe an ink signature from the official.
Your niece needs the documents showing a blood relationship with her grandmother. That is her father’s birth and marriage certificate, as well as her birth certificate. If married, she should include her marriage certificate and birth certificates of any minor children. No problem jumping over her father. But since his documents are required for her application, he can apply with her. Only needs to pay the application fee.
Definitely, make the appointment first and get the clock ticking. I’m not up to date with the Covid restrictions, but I do know the Philadelphia Consulate is restricting access. Just check NY’s website and keep current with what they want.
Your niece can jump over her father, but she will need her father’s certified birth and marriage certificates, translated, with an apostate. I assume she resides in the NY Consulate’s service area, so their copies should be good. If she needs to go to a different consulate, she will need all new documents going back to her nonna
Guillermo121, One thing you can do is start with your grandfather's U.S. death certificate. Should be easily obtained and should have his birth date, and parents' names, as well as town/city of birth. After you have the names, date, and place somewhat verified, I'd recommend you hire a service to obtain all the Italian documents and well as U.S. entry documents and naturalization records that are required. You will also need a bunch of U.S. documents to be translated and certified. A few internet searches will come up with Italian citizenship services. As long as you're willing to sign the checks, They take the head ache out of the process.
Comments posted
GeoAnn,
It sounds a bit macabre, but if you’re not sure where your ancestors were born, their death certificate is a good place to start. It should contain mother and father’s name and the place of birth. If your lucky, maybe the town and not just Italy. You will need the certified death certificate of which ever ancestor you use.
Also searching the Ellis Island data base (https://www.statueofliberty.org/discover/passenger-ship-search/) can identify the date of entry. It will also show the town of residence listed by the passenger. But the documents offered foe sale on this site won’t be acceptable to the consulate.
GeoAnn,
It’s only In recent decades that an immigrant needed an official status to remain in the U.S. There has never been a requirement to apply for U.S. Citizenship. Even today someone can remain a “Legal permanent Resident” indefinitely. But for a while, renouncing other citizenship was a requirement.
Italian citizenship can be passed through the maternal blood line if the applicant was born Jan 1, 1948 or latter. If you fall into that category, you can use either your paternal grandmother or your maternal grandfather. My grandfather became a U.S. Citizen, but I don’t believe my grandmother ever did.
Ravina,
Renouncing Italian Citizenship is a factor. Once an Italian gives up his citizenship, he can no longer pass citizenship to future descendants. That's why the first step, or expense, should be to investigating his U.S. Naturalization. The consulate will require those documents. In my case, I had a family recourse that knew about my grandfather's U.S. Naturalization, well after the birth of his children.
GeoAnn,
Also add to the list death certificates for Nonno and my father, translated with apostilles.
GeoAnn,
The National Archives web site provided by Ravina looks like it should be a good source or a first step. I only knew that my grandfather applied for U.S. Citizenship and renounce his Italian Citizenship from a cousin. It never occurred to me that he would be required to renounce his Italian Citizenship.
If you do some internet searches for dual citizenship or Italian citizenship you should be able to come up with some services. I’m reluctant to give the name of the service I used since I had a lot of problems communicating with them. I believe they were upgrading their office technology at the time, but I don’t want to get sued for bad mouthing anyone.
I kept track of the costs for a while, but when they started to add up, I didn’t really want to know. Total cost, depending on the number of documents you need, should be over one thousand, pushing two. I think the U.S. entry documents alone were around three hundred or more. I don’t remember the exact cost. I believe obtaining certified U.S. birth, death, and marriage certificates was about thirty-five dollars each. Translations were around twenty-five per page, and the apostilles were another charge. Obtaining the Italian documents is an additional charge.
Documents that I needed;
From Italy
Nonno’s and Nonna’s birth certificates
Nonno’s and Nonna’s marriage certificate
U.S. documents
Nonno’s U.S. entry and Naturalization papers.
Father’s birth certificate
Father’s marriage certificate
My birth certificate
My marriage certificate
GeoAnn,
I strongly recommend looking into hiring a service to help. I didn’t know where to start, but they were able to get things organized and moving. I used them to obtain the Italian documents and the U.S. entry and naturalization documents. I obtained the U.S. birth, marriage, and death certificates myself. I also used the service to translate the U.S. documents to Italian and to obtain apostilles for the documents. All of this costs money, but that’s a decision that you will have to make.
One thing that surprises people is that the consulate keeps your original documents to send to your commune of origin. (grandfather’s birthplace). So, you may want to make copies of all your documents before they get sealed up with the apostilles.
GeoAnn,
You will need to get copies of your grandfather’s U.S. entry and U.S. naturalization documents. The consulate will require them. If he had to renounce his Italian Citizenship that document would be included in his naturalization papers. It’s called “The Oath of Allegiance”. My grandfather applied for U.S. Citizenship in 1930 and this was required at that time.
The U.S. documents require an apostille, certifying them as legit for international use. The Italian documents do not require any further certification, but I’m not sure that the consulate will accept emailed copies. That’s a question for your consulate. My Italian birth and marriage certificates from the town were copies, but had colored stamps from the Comune (town) and I believe an ink signature from the official.
Nonna,
Your niece needs the documents showing a blood relationship with her grandmother. That is her father’s birth and marriage certificate, as well as her birth certificate. If married, she should include her marriage certificate and birth certificates of any minor children. No problem jumping over her father. But since his documents are required for her application, he can apply with her. Only needs to pay the application fee.
Definitely, make the appointment first and get the clock ticking. I’m not up to date with the Covid restrictions, but I do know the Philadelphia Consulate is restricting access. Just check NY’s website and keep current with what they want.
Nonna,
Your niece can jump over her father, but she will need her father’s certified birth and marriage certificates, translated, with an apostate. I assume she resides in the NY Consulate’s service area, so their copies should be good. If she needs to go to a different consulate, she will need all new documents going back to her nonna
Guillermo121, One thing you can do is start with your grandfather's U.S. death certificate. Should be easily obtained and should have his birth date, and parents' names, as well as town/city of birth. After you have the names, date, and place somewhat verified, I'd recommend you hire a service to obtain all the Italian documents and well as U.S. entry documents and naturalization records that are required. You will also need a bunch of U.S. documents to be translated and certified. A few internet searches will come up with Italian citizenship services. As long as you're willing to sign the checks, They take the head ache out of the process.