Why would an American want Italian citizenship?
could you vote? be drafted into the military? be obligated to pay taxes? get health insurance coverage?
Why Italian Citizenship
Re: Why Italian Citizenship
for a multitude of reasons:
1. a real desire to live and work in Italy
2. a status symbol to make your American friends jealous
3. a desire to reconnect with your heritage
4. an understanding that the USA is rapidly degenerating and it's time to jump ship
1. a real desire to live and work in Italy
2. a status symbol to make your American friends jealous
3. a desire to reconnect with your heritage
4. an understanding that the USA is rapidly degenerating and it's time to jump ship
Re: Why Italian Citizenship
From ICA's website:
The ability to work, reside and study in Italy and across the 27 EU member states (e.g. Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands etc.) without the need of a Visa. EU citizens are often prioritized over people from outside the EU for many professional and educational opportunities.
Simplified and more cost-effective process to purchase properties in Italy.
Tax-Free import of vehicles (car, trucks etc.) directly from the US to Italy
You will have access to public medical care and high-quality public education as available to EU citizens.
You will have the right to vote for the Italian Parliament representative in your region.
You will be able to transfer Italian citizenship to all children under 18 years old automatically.
You will be able to establish a firm identity with your Italian heritage.
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Our future reasoning is to possibly retire there, as I agree with qualdom on #4 as well and that is even more so after the past year.
Also for those with children under 18, instant citizenship, the free higher education benefit is also a big deal not just in Italy but across the EU, where as in the US it is expensive and will be even more down the road.
Of course you have to weigh in the lower salaries (varies in the EU) and higher taxes to pay for all of this if you decide to work or live there. Wherever you may reside in the EU, taxes are higher but you get services for free you'd pay for here, can't say if it all equals out to the same or not vs. the US.
Also much better infrastructure and mass transit in Europe, taking the Frecciarossa from Rome to Florence was a great experience and the highways are far superior than the US.
The ability to work, reside and study in Italy and across the 27 EU member states (e.g. Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands etc.) without the need of a Visa. EU citizens are often prioritized over people from outside the EU for many professional and educational opportunities.
Simplified and more cost-effective process to purchase properties in Italy.
Tax-Free import of vehicles (car, trucks etc.) directly from the US to Italy
You will have access to public medical care and high-quality public education as available to EU citizens.
You will have the right to vote for the Italian Parliament representative in your region.
You will be able to transfer Italian citizenship to all children under 18 years old automatically.
You will be able to establish a firm identity with your Italian heritage.
----------------------
Our future reasoning is to possibly retire there, as I agree with qualdom on #4 as well and that is even more so after the past year.
Also for those with children under 18, instant citizenship, the free higher education benefit is also a big deal not just in Italy but across the EU, where as in the US it is expensive and will be even more down the road.
Of course you have to weigh in the lower salaries (varies in the EU) and higher taxes to pay for all of this if you decide to work or live there. Wherever you may reside in the EU, taxes are higher but you get services for free you'd pay for here, can't say if it all equals out to the same or not vs. the US.
Also much better infrastructure and mass transit in Europe, taking the Frecciarossa from Rome to Florence was a great experience and the highways are far superior than the US.
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bbivona
- Master
- Posts: 1154
- Joined: 21 Jul 2018, 00:43
- Location: Texas e Sicilia, provincia di Trapani
Re: Why Italian Citizenship
On your second group of questions:
1. You can vote.
2. You can be drafted.
3. You pay tax on your Italian source income, which would also be the case if you earn Italian source income as a non-citizen. You don't pay Italian tax on your non-Italian income. Assuming that you have dual citizenship with the U.S. you still have a U.S. filing requirement, and U.S. taxes your worldwide income. Foreign tax credits can help reduce the effect of double taxation.
4. You can get health coverage.
On your first question, like most who go through the process, I had citizenship at birth due to my ancestry. It was only in recent years that I chose document that so it could be recognized. Reasons to do it:
1. We have a home in Sicily. In retirement we can spend as long as we like there and not worry about tourist visa limits.
2. You get EU status, so you can travel, work, and live anywhere in the EU.
3. Health care is much less costly there.
4. I have some concerns about some of the political craziness these days and the related tensions. It's nice to have options on where to live.
5. I value my connection to my heritage. I have friends, relatives, business interests, and real estate there. Being a citizen makes me feel more connected to all that and also makes some things easier to deal with.
1. You can vote.
2. You can be drafted.
3. You pay tax on your Italian source income, which would also be the case if you earn Italian source income as a non-citizen. You don't pay Italian tax on your non-Italian income. Assuming that you have dual citizenship with the U.S. you still have a U.S. filing requirement, and U.S. taxes your worldwide income. Foreign tax credits can help reduce the effect of double taxation.
4. You can get health coverage.
On your first question, like most who go through the process, I had citizenship at birth due to my ancestry. It was only in recent years that I chose document that so it could be recognized. Reasons to do it:
1. We have a home in Sicily. In retirement we can spend as long as we like there and not worry about tourist visa limits.
2. You get EU status, so you can travel, work, and live anywhere in the EU.
3. Health care is much less costly there.
4. I have some concerns about some of the political craziness these days and the related tensions. It's nice to have options on where to live.
5. I value my connection to my heritage. I have friends, relatives, business interests, and real estate there. Being a citizen makes me feel more connected to all that and also makes some things easier to deal with.
Researching Gibellina, Sicily surnames Bivona, Bonafede, Zummo, Ponzio, Bevinetto, Beninati, Fontana, Cipolla, Bruno, Manfrè, Lanfranca, and Navarra
Re: Why Italian Citizenship
I agree with how you referred to it as choosing to document it so that it could be recognized. My ancestors never renounced their Italian citizenship and we would have all been dual citizens today had dual citizenship been viewed in 1900 the same way it was viewed in 2000. This is not a naturalization process.
For me, my children are my top motivation for pursuing this. I'm just not sure that good parenting can mitigate the insidious effects of contemporary American society. I don't say these words easily.
For me, my children are my top motivation for pursuing this. I'm just not sure that good parenting can mitigate the insidious effects of contemporary American society. I don't say these words easily.
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Paola.Drago
- Newbie
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 18 Feb 2021, 04:51
Re: Why Italian Citizenship
Hola,
lo primero que quería era obtener la ciudadanía y traspasársela a mis hijos. Así con el tiempo, fui conociendo sobre mi misma. No sabía de dónde era mi familia y luego de comenzar buscando información, pude entender que tan cerca estaban España e Italia de mi. Ahora mismo, me emociona saber el esfuerzo de mi antepasado italiano, lo jóven que era cuando llegó a Argentina, tan solo y sin nada, a un país que no conocía, sin su idioma, diciendo que era músico. Buscarlo, rastrearlo, es muy emotivo, me impacta. Ahora no solo busco información para obtener la ciudadanía, sino para saber de él, ojalá encuentre alguna foto, no creo... eso me apena muchísimo y agradecerle hasta el infinito lo que gracias a él nos pueden dar. Saludos!
lo primero que quería era obtener la ciudadanía y traspasársela a mis hijos. Así con el tiempo, fui conociendo sobre mi misma. No sabía de dónde era mi familia y luego de comenzar buscando información, pude entender que tan cerca estaban España e Italia de mi. Ahora mismo, me emociona saber el esfuerzo de mi antepasado italiano, lo jóven que era cuando llegó a Argentina, tan solo y sin nada, a un país que no conocía, sin su idioma, diciendo que era músico. Buscarlo, rastrearlo, es muy emotivo, me impacta. Ahora no solo busco información para obtener la ciudadanía, sino para saber de él, ojalá encuentre alguna foto, no creo... eso me apena muchísimo y agradecerle hasta el infinito lo que gracias a él nos pueden dar. Saludos!