Over 25 million Italians have emigrated between 1861 and 1960 with a migration boom between 1871 and 1915 when over 13,5 million emigrants left the country for European and overseas destinations.
So after much searching and paying for requests to several states and counties I have found all of the vital records I need.
Unfortunately this week my ICA rep asked me about the USCIS request I placed in August. It turns out that I requested the index search only and not the doc itself so I will likely have to start over with a new request. This will set me back quite a while. How have your experiences been with USCIS wait times?
We have the naturalization docs from NARA, but ICA said it's best to have the USCIS docs too.
I don't mind the entire process taking a few years. However, I fear that the laws will become more restrictive towards 1948 cases as time goes on. I've read that the Courts aren't interpreting the 1912 law correctly but the consulates are. I have read about certain political groups in Italy that want to set the limit of jure sanguinis to grandparents only. It's scary to put so much money into something that might not even work.
So after much searching and paying for requests to several states and counties I have found all of the vital records I need.
Unfortunately this week my ICA rep asked me about the USCIS request I placed in August. It turns out that I requested the index search only and not the doc itself so I will likely have to start over with a new request. This will set me back quite a while. How have your experiences been with USCIS wait times?
We have the naturalization docs from NARA, but ICA said it's best to have the USCIS docs too.
I don't mind the entire process taking a few years. However, I fear that the laws will become more restrictive towards 1948 cases as time goes on. I've read that the Courts aren't interpreting the 1912 law correctly but the consulates are. I have read about certain political groups in Italy that want to set the limit of jure sanguinis to grandparents only. It's scary to put so much money into something that might not even work.
I agree with you, I also think that the laws will become more restrictive in the future.
The problem is that the courts in Italy prefer the actual naturalization certificate (I guess because it shows the exact of naturalization more clearly) and only USCIS can provide that.
My index search took 8 months. I put in a records request in September 2021 and am still waiting. I read online that a request can be processed more quickly if you do the following:
"If you need only a copy of the naturalization certificate (not certified) to satisfy requirements for your foreign application for dual citizenship, you may submit a Form G-1041A, Records Request for the naturalization certificate only. Doing so can eliminate any additional processing delay resulting from information about the immigrant's children that may require review under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act. To request only the certificate, write "Dual Citz-Natz Certificate Only" on your Form G-1041A or type this information in the "Optional Information Section" of your online request"
I submitted a request this way as well just to test if it really speeds up the process. We'll see.
Thank you Qualdom, that is excellent information. I have all of those death records, obituaries, and gravestone photos. I’m going to reach out to my ICA rep to try and file with these documents to hopefully shorten the processing time. I appreciate it!
It took me a real long time as well to receive USCIS docs, but they did arrive. ICA also pulled records on their own, and received a response in about 6 months, this was during peak pandemic days. Delay's still exist with many agencies, I'm still waiting for an updated birth certificate for my Mother from the State of Pennsylvania, I then have to update mine so that all the dots connect.
USCIS yielded no record found for both of my great-grandparents, but ICA said they have to show proof of this along with the naturalization docs found at the local county courthouse.
afecad wrote: ↑19 Mar 2022, 22:33
It took me a real long time as well to receive USCIS docs, but they did arrive. ICA also pulled records on their own, and received a response in about 6 months, this was during peak pandemic days. Delay's still exist with many agencies, I'm still waiting for an updated birth certificate for my Mother from the State of Pennsylvania, I then have to update mine so that all the dots connect.
USCIS yielded no record found for both of my great-grandparents, but ICA said they have to show proof of this along with the naturalization docs found at the local county courthouse.
Thank you Afecad. I'm glad you have the documents now. My ICA rep and I haven't gone over possible corrections to vital records yet. The discrepancies I brought up to her were minor in her opinion so hopefully I don't have anything too difficult. Then gaining all the apostilles and translations...I'm really glad I have an agency walking me through this!
Hi everyone, I just wanted to post an update. My ICA rep reached out to USCIS and it’s possible for me to change my search request to a document request. We already have the file number from NARA so we can just provide that and my USCIS case number. That’s such a relief!
Great! These documents take time, but it's all part of ICA's process and I have had a great experience so far with them, a year ago I was in a similar position.
As of today, ICA has finished collecting all documents aside from my updated birth certificate, I had to get my Mother's corrected first which took a considerable amount of time and that finally arrived the other day. Now I have to update her name on my birth certificate and that will be it, no court order needed just have to have the form and signature notarized.
Once they receive that, then ICA will file the lawsuit with the Italian Court, was told it will take 1 year to get the hearing, then 5 to 6 months after for the final judgement. If rejected then it moves to the appeal phase, which ICA stated they have had great success with winning.
I'm hoping for a positive outcome sometime in 2023 if all goes as planned. I have no regrets in retaining ICA for this process and would recommend them to anyone else with a similar situation.
Hey guys An update in case this helps anyone with knowing USCIS timelines -
Shortly after my initial posting, my wonderful ICA rep was able to correct my mistake and have my search request converted to a records request.
Yesterday (8/24/22) on the one year anniversary of my initial request, my case status was marked “closed.” I’m told that this is a good thing and that my records should be on their way soon.
This is quite a stressful and anxiety-filled situation. Finding and gathering information from multiple sources can require a lot of effort and time. Hopefully things will be smoother in the future and you will get the necessary documents without much trouble.
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