Future Expat

Welcome Sevi

I wish you a lot of success in your projects!

I am sure we'll like your blog. Do not hesitate to share information through the resources part of this website as well

Take care,

Julien

Hello Sevi,

I have a question that is turning around in my mind ... Maybe, it is a little bit too private ... but ...
Why did you choose to take the italian citizenship ?? And why don't you move to Italy as an American with a visa or permit of staying in Italy ?? Maybe it is just a wish ... with no practical reason
Sorry, I'm curious ... because I moved to Italy 6 months ago ... But this is different because I'm French, and so, as a European, it is easier ...

This is a great question and one that I hope to be able to answer in detail on my blog, but here is the short answer....

You mention that you are French. This means that you already are able to live and work anywhere in the EU because of your French passport. As an American it is very difficult to get a visa or permit for any length of time unless I can find a job that will sponser me. Also, it would be equally as difficult for my fiance to do the same. I applied for Italian citizenship because the most recent connection I have with Europe is my great-grandfather who was born in Italy. As luck would have it, I met all the criteria that allowed me to still qualify. Now, by having an Italian passport, I have the flexblity to live and work in any EU country just like you. Also, when I get married, my wife could get Italian citizenship through me.

As for why we want to move to Italy, that's just something we both have wanted to do. We know finding work and the language barrier will be difficult, so our fallback plan would probably be London.

May I ask how your experience has been so far in Italy? Do you speak Italian?

You didn't have to give up your US citizenship, did you?

It's a great adventure, Sevi! In a way it's a little "back to your roots''
So you are now a European. Do you feel a bit different?

I'm European also, but will ask for the canadian citizenship next year. I've lived in Montreal for 3 years.

Escott wrote:

You didn't have to give up your US citizenship, did you?

No, I didn't and here is why. Although I didn't know it, by Italian law I was always an Italian citizen as was my father and grandfather, both have gone their entire lives without knowing this. When my great-grandfather immigrated to the US in the early 1920s he got married and my grandfather was born. He later naturalized in the US losing his Italian citizenship, but not before passing it down to his son and on down the line to me. If he had naturalized before my grandfather was born, then it would've never been passed down through the generations. So, although I was applying for citizenship, what I was really doing was proving that I was already a citizen and had the right to be one. As of 1967 the US allows for its citizens to hold more than one passport.

I hope that answers your question clearly. I will be writing about this more in my blog.

Ciao,
Sevi

BLOG: http://michaelseverini.com/blog/going2italy.html

Olivi€R wrote:

It's a great adventure, Sevi! In a way it's a little "back to your roots''
So you are now a European. Do you feel a bit different?

I'm European also, but will ask for the canadian citizenship next year. I've lived in Montreal for 3 years.

Yes, in a way this is true. Although I didn't get Italian citizenship to be closer to my roots, by going through the process I found that I did. I have a better understanding as to who my ancestors were and where they came from.

Although I am proud to be from America, I also understand the limitations that I face by being constrained to one country. As Europeans, you/we are able to move freely between countries. For me it's like a huge door has been opened with endless possibilities. Given how global the world is becoming, I also feel that I would be doing my children(if I ever have any) a disservice if I didn't pass this great gift on to them.

Ciao,
Sevi

BLOG: http://michaelseverini.com/blog/going2italy.html

What huge door has been opened?  You weren't free to travel to most places in Europe on a US passport?

Escott wrote:

What huge door has been opened?  You weren't free to travel to most places in Europe on a US passport?

With a US passport I can travel to pretty much anywhere. However, I am unable to work or live in Europe unless I have a visa to stay there. Living in Europe is my ultimate goal. Now that I have citizenship with a country in the EU, I can come and go whenever I want.

Sevi

BLOG: http://michaelseverini.com/blog/going2italy.html