Case Study: From DIY Delays to Sicilian Serendipity – Sara's Italian Citizenship Journey

The Challenge: A DIY Approach Leads to Unexpected Hurdles

Sara's dream of Italian citizenship by descent began in June 2023 when she booked a complimentary consultation with our team. Initial communications highlighted a lack of understanding regarding the precise documentation needed for a successful application. Enthusiastic, but determined to manage much of the document collection herself, Sara, with the help of her father, embarked on a DIY path. This decision, however, soon revealed the complexities of Italian bureaucracy and the intricacies involved in the process of being recognized as Italian by descent.

Sara inquired in June 2023 about acceptable formats for housing contracts and delegation forms. In her eagerness to begin, by July 2023, she was already discussing travel plans, despite key documents still missing from her portfolio. Requests for Italian vital records for her last Italian born ancestor, her great-grandfather, had not yet been located. Her and her father's birth certificates arrived in late September and October 2023, but the crucial death and marriage certificates of her great grandfather were still elusive.

By January 2024, Sara was in Sicily on her U.S. passport's 90-day allowance, despite our guidance that her arrival was premature. During our initial call, we emphasized the necessity of having all documents prepared in order to initiate residency, but Sara was impatient to begin her new life abroad. A critical marriage certificate, ordered in early December, remained the final missing piece, prolonging her application for residency in Italy longer than anticipated. This extended period, though initially frustrating, inadvertently paved the way for a life-changing turn.

The Unforeseen Obstacle: A Law Change and Initial Rejection

Sara's prolonged stay in Italy meant her application process stretched significantly. In a cruel twist of fate, a new circular came into effect on October 3rd, 2024, initiating The Minor Issue*, while her citizenship application was still pending. This unexpected change necessitated a last-minute name correction, specifically addressing a switch in her first and middle Italian names— adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging process.

After months of meticulous effort and perseverance, her application and documents were officially submitted for protocol in August 2024. The Comune began processing her application in January 2025, facing a small waitlist after the release of a new Circular in October, which caused confusion amongst government administrators and unforeseen delays. However, on February 17, 2025, Sara received devastating news: her case was denied by the Comune.

Strategic Intervention: Overturning the Denial

Facing this significant setback, our team immediately engaged our legal counsel, Avvocato Maria Marinello, a highly respected attorney specializing in Italian citizenship law. Maria's swift assessment revealed procedural defects in the Comune's denial letter. On February 17, 2025, Maria proposed a strategic legal letter ('istanza di annullamento di atto illegittimo ex art. 21 nonies l.n. 241/90') and a direct meeting with the Comune.

Our team quickly facilitated the connection between Avv. Maria and our Local Liaison, our trusted local contact and landlord in the Comune, on February 18, 2025. His intimate knowledge of the local administration proved invaluable. He agreed with Maria's strategy, confirming that once the legal letter was sent, he would arrange a meeting with the Mayor and Municipal Secretary.

The next few weeks were a testament to persistent legal advocacy and local collaboration:

• February 19, 2025: Avv. Maria confirmed the plan after speaking with our Local Liaison and began drafting the legal letter, with updates being sent directly to Sara.

• March 19, 2025: Sara's anxiety grew due to delays in scheduling the meeting, prompting our team to reach out to Maria for an update. Maria assured us she was gently pressing to expedite the appointment.

• March 20, 2025: Maria confirmed the Municipal Secretary was reviewing the case, and a meeting would be scheduled soon.

• March 27, 2025: Good news arrived as Maria was assured by the Comune that an appointment for Sara's case could be arranged within days.

Triumph and Transformation: Citizenship Achieved, A New Life Unfolds

The persistence paid off dramatically. On April 2, 2025, Maria sent an email with the subject "Buone Notizie Pratica Cittadinanza Signora Sara - Comune di Sicilia" (Good News Citizenship Case Ms. Sara). Attached was the official document from the Comune: Sara's Letter of Recognition of Italian Citizenship!

A minor administrative clarification arose on April 9, 2025, when the Comune requested a document they believed was missing. Our team immediately clarified with Avv. Maria that the naturalization document for Sara’s great grandfather had indeed been submitted. This record clearly stated her great grandfather’s naturalization date of October 9, 1931, after Sara's ascendant Joseph was born in the USA on June 24, 1927. The situation felt ironic considering the comune was aware of this document as it had been the foundation for Sara’s initial rejection citing ‘The Minor Issue’. Avv. Maria quickly resolved this misunderstanding with the Comune. 

While the Comune initially stated they were following an "old procedure" of checking with consulates, Maria's continued advocacy, aided by our Local Liaison's insights, ensured the case moved forward efficiently. By April 15, 2025, the Secretary General of the Municipality had contacted Maria to schedule a final meeting to present Sara with her Italian birth certificate.

Sara now proudly holds her Italian passport, marking the triumphant culmination of her long and arduous journey! What began as a challenging, drawn-out process of acquiring citizenship became a truly transformative odyssey.

Despite initial plans to return to Spain, her extended stay in Sicily, necessitated by the delays in her DIY document collection and the Minor Issue, led her to fall deeply and unexpectedly in love with the vibrant island.

She is now happily moving to Palermo, has forged countless meaningful friendships, speaks fluent Italian with the locals, and has even found a profound local Sicilian love. Sara's story is a beautiful testament to the complexities of Italian citizenship by descent, the critical importance of expert guidance, and the surprising, joyful turns life can take when you embrace every step of the journey.

Ready to start your own Italian citizenship journey without the stress and delays? Contact us today to learn how our expert document services and legal guidance can help you navigate the process efficiently and confidently. Save yourself time and stress – let us pave your way to Italian citizenship!

*The Minor Issue cut the line of transmission for all applicants whose last Italian-born ancestor naturalized abroad before the next in line reached the age of majority, effectively disqualifying thousands of active applications.