Recognition today 🇮🇹
Today I received news I thought I would never receive:
An email from the consulate that I have been recognised and that my AIRE registration has been sent to my comune.
This whole process has been one of the most stressful things I have been through (even though it pales in comparison to others' experiences).
2019 - Initial research.
2022 - Booked appointment for 2023.
2023 July - First appointment and payment at consulate. I was told I didn't have all documents, but that I do qualify and was sent away with a huge amount of "homework".
2024 May - Engaged a firm in Italy to search records and find and collect the missing documents.
Spent 9 months and $25k on document collection many many corrections, apostilles, translations and a sworn affidavit. It was a huge learning curve.
I was initially rejected due to a single letter spelling discrepancy that was virtually impossible to ammend. However with a sworn "one and the same individual" affidavit and the Consul General seeking approval from Rome, I was advised they would proceed. That was Feb 2025. I was incredibly lucky that my application and payment were before the March 28 2025 decree.
2025 July - I received bad news: a phone call and email rejection based on a new single letter spelling discrepancy of middle name of great grandmother who was not even in the line. I was also told that I would not be able to correct it, nor add it to my file without a new appointment (which was completely impossible). This was a low point.
I engaged a lawyer to request I be able attend to return the corrected document. I was lucky, and permitted to do so.
Then I waited. Silence. 11 months.
Last week I emailed the anagrafe of my Comune and the Consulate asking for a progress update. The Comune says they have received nothing. The Consulate replied generically saying they have 3 years total time to progress and to continue waiting.
Then today, the most astonishing and completely unexpected news. I receive an email from the consulate that I have been recognised since March and that I must have missed the email..
Thank you everyone on here. For those going through the process, dont give up.