So from the time I got married, I could apply for Italian citizenship after 6 months of marriage and residence here in Italy. If I was living abroad then it would be 2 years after marriage. So, after we got married and I got my Permesso di Soggiorno (permit to stay) and all, we went to the Prefettura di Siena, to get the application and just to see what paperwork I needed to get prepped. Then, 5 months later, we decided to go to the Prefettura di Caserta (where we now live) and just double check that the paperwork I gathered was correct.
We go there and noone is in the office. Office hours state Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am-12pm. The hours of operation are already limited and now they aren't even there at their given times? Apparently, there is only ONE person that deals with citizenship and she is on vacation. Oh how nice... no big deal for who knows how many people coming in.
Then my husband manages to find someone who has the heart to try to help us and he tells us that the law just changed and I have to wait 2 years after marriage and residency OR 3 years if I am living abroad. This law changed two weeks ago and of course they haven't changed it on the website. Just my luck!
Okay, so fast forwarding to date, it's almost two years and I am going back to LA so I need to make sure I get all the paperwork done now since a couple of them are time-sensitive. So, we go back to the Prefettura to cross-check everything and get an updated application. We go on a Friday and as soon as we walk in the door there is this blond lady and she snaps, "What do you want?" I tell you, she was no peach. We explain and she says, "No, no you aren't suppose to be here. Hours are Mondays and Wednesdays only from 9am-12pm." Oh that's great, care to change that on your website? And then she adds, and besides, the lady isn't in today. What is it with this citizenship lady???
We try to talk to a couple other people who were of no help at all because they say she is the one that deals with citizenship. Fine... Mission aborted once again. So we decide to come the following Friday. I was hopeless, my husband was ready to start a war if we didn't get answers. We get there, and she is there!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah! Granted, after giving us attitude for being there on a Friday and not Monday or Wednesday, after my husband cleverly explained his way into the office and she saw that he was Italian and I was American, she welcomed us in and was able to help us with our questions.
First of all, I just have to say, good luck if you are doing any paperwork here like me or possibly anywhere abroad. However, I don't imagine immigration or citizenship in the States being a bowl of sunshine either. Secondly, if you are an American, you have a huge advantage over other nations. I remember when I was doing my Permesso di Soggiorno, the guy was totally drooling over my new passport with the electronic chip and new colorful pages and started talking to me and asking if I voted and if I voted for Obama. He personally escorted us to the office we had to go to while I saw others being treated very rudely. This time, the lady was admiring my birth certificate and reading every English word out loud. Whatever makes her happy and gets the job done!
My personal advice is that you can't back down. I've learned that Italians are very clever and passionate, but part of that reason is because you can't get anything you want or anything done if you aren't. It is truly the matter of "eat or be eaten" here. Stand your ground, be forceful, and be confident or you will definitely be pushed to the back of the line and I mean that literally as well.
Sigh, and I thought the actual paperwork part was going to be the hard part. Good luck to my fellow expats who have to go through as much paperwork as I do! I think I am seriously a pro at it now. Hey, maybe I can fill in for her for the 364 days she isn't in the office.
No comments:
Post a Comment