Dual Citizenship?

[Sondra1s]

I've read about this, and don't know if I qualify. I'm not sure when or if my grandparents became US citizens! My cousin is tracing our roots, but has nothing that specific yet. How could I find this out?

Here's the info I already have:

Louisa Bennidetti and Constantino Milani came over on Dec 24, 1907 both are listed as single. They came over to go to Seattle to visit the same relative. It turns out that Louisa's Grandmother was married to a Milani. From Seattle they went to CA It lists a son Roy being born in CA in 1914 I also found a son named Roland or sometimes it is Raul born in 1911. They go back to Italy and return. They then head to Mass. and eventually to Philadelphia PA where a son Atos was born and eventually to Brooklyn NY.

They had a child named Iris (spelled Irice sometimes) born 9-20-1908 and died 3-9-1921. It seems to me either Louisa was pregnant on the voyage, shortly after or became pregnant on the ship. Either way she was not married.

On Louisa's death certificate (which I have) lists her as being born in Germany. But all records including her passport (I also have) lists her country of birth as Bagni Di Luca Italy. Bagni is in the Tuscan region of Italy.

[jwazevedo]

Can you explain where you fit in this? Who were your grandparents, Louisa and Constantino? And then who is your father?

For your Italian citizenship, you'll need to get the original documents that trace the Italian lineage from your ancestors to you. And then, as you say, you'll need to make sure that your grandparetns didn't lose their Italian citizenship by naturalizing before their children (your parents) were born.

You can get the birth records by writing to the comune where your ancestors were born. The procedure is really straight-forward, and a quick search of the 'citizenship' forum will show you how this is done.

As a first cursory look at naturalization, look at the US census records for your grandparents. (These are available on ancestry.com at no charge.) You can see if your grandparents are listed as "AL" (alien) or "NA" (naturalized). But for a definitive answer, you will need to request their citizenship status from USCIS. Here's a link that explains that process:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/ ... 18190aRCRD

This is just a start. When you post the names of your grandparents/parents, you'll surely get more info from other forum members.

Good luck!
Jerry

[pink67]

Hello Sondra!

from Ancestry.com this is a 1930 census I believe for your ancestors:

1930 United States Federal Census
about Christantimo Milani
Name: Christantimo Milani
Home in 1930: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
View Map
Age: 53
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Louisa
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace: View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Christantimo Milani 53 head, born in IT, Naturalized
Louisa Milani 43 wife, born in IT, naturalized
Roland Milani 19 son, born in WA
Roy Milani 16 son, born in CA
Atos Milani 6 son, born in PA
Iris Milani 4 daughter, born in PA
Emily Milani 8/12 daughter, born in PA

Image:

[img=http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2184/milano1930.th.jpg]

from the free site:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/rec ... start.html#

I found a very "strange" document...
a death certificate for Alfred Milano (age 1 year and 5 months) date is November 20, 1905 Father of this child is Costantino Milano and mother is Rose.... do you believe possible Costantino was married and then remarried Louisa in a second marriage?

[img=http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1566/4008696348.th.jpg]

from ancestry.com:

Washington Births, 1907-1919
about Omero Milani
Name: Omero Milani
Birth Date: 29 May 1911
Location: Seattle
Sex: Male
Race: White
Father's Name: Coatantino Milani
Mother's Name: Louisa Benedetti
Image Filename: 4016

Washington Births, 1907-1919
about Anita Miland Milani
Name: Anita Miland Milani
Birth Date: 20 Sep 1908
Location: Seattle
Sex: Female
Race: White
Father's Name: Costantine Milani
Mother's Name: Louisa Benedeth
Image Filename: 0524

California Birth Index, 1905-1995
about Roy Milani
Name: Roy Milani
Birth Date: 9 Jun 1913
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Bonedeth
Birth County: San Francisco



1910 United States Federal Census
about Constantino Milani
Name: Constantino Milani
Age in 1910: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Spouse's Name: Luisa
Home in 1910: Seattle Ward 14, King, Washington
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1900
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Constantino Milani 34 head, born in IT, Alien
Luisa Milani 25
Irice Milani 1 6/12
Mattea Leoni 63

image:
[img=http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5919/m ... 910.th.jpg]

you can also search this free site for Washington records:

http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/default.aspx

Laura

[pink67]

Possible first arrival for Costantino Milani on 1900:

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

he stated he was married....

and third arrival on 1920 (he stated he was in the U.S. from 1910 to 1915 (CA) was joining his cousin Antonio Milani in Detroit MI and leaving his wife Luisa in Bagni di Lucca:

page 1:
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0025
page 2:
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0025

Luisa Benedetti Milani and children Iris, Raul, Roy, coming from Bagni di Lucca (where Luisa was leaving the grand-mother Emilia Milani) and joining their Husband/fahter Costantino Milani inWestfield NY:
January 20, 1921
page 1:
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0009

page 2:
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0009

Laura

[Sondra1s]

Wow! Thanks you guys! That's amazing. Constantino and Louisa are my mom's parents. Iris is my mother. Not the first Iris. That was her sister who died as a child. She was named after her. I'm still confused as to how to find out if when they became American citizens! Did that happen when the came through Ellis Island? I'm so ignorant about this stuff! It's amazing to read all of this history! It does look as if he was previously married. We thought so! He was back and forth to Italy all the time and even died there, so I wonder about his citizenship. Thanks again everybody!

[Sondra1s]

So by 1930, he was Naturalized. My mom was born in 1926. I have a feeling I don't qualify!

I know even less about my father's side. My grandfather's name was Felice Simolo and my grandmother was Vincenzina. No idea about her maiden name! This is all so fascinating though. I should have done this years ago.

[jwazevedo]

Naturalization did not happen automatically when the immigrant passed through Ellis Island. Rather, the person had to petition for naturalization, and then the court had to issue the order. The process took some time. To find out when your grandfather naturalized, you will want to check the local court records for the place where he was living in the 20s. If they don't have the records, NARA might. (You can find your local NARA office here: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/.) If neither the local court nor NARA has the record, then you will want to go through USCIS (see website in my previous message).

Don't give up on jus sanguinus until you see that naturalization record. If your mother was born in the States before your grandfather (and you were born after 1/1/1948), you qualify.

Good luck,
Jerry

[Sondra1s]

From what I can find, it looks like I just made it! If I'm understanding this correctly. I can order the documents. Would I need them to apply for Italian citizenship?

US Circuit Court » 1927 » 1927-03-09 » Constantino Milani » Petition for Naturalization

Immigrant Full Name:
Constantino Milani


Naturalizations - PA Eastern

… US Circuit Court » 1921 » 1921-06-06 » Constantino Milani » Declaration of Intention


Naturalizations - PA Eastern

… US Circuit Court » 1927 » 1927-09-19 » Constantino Milani » Other

Immigrant Full Name:
Constantino Milani

[jwazevedo]

That's good news. You will definitely need the final naturalization certificate (the declaration and the petition won't matter). The Consulate will need to see this critical piece of information to make sure the line of Italian citizenship was not broken. If that US Circuit Court in PA has an archived copy of the certificate, you can get it there. If not, put in a request with the USCIS. They will send you official copies of the certificate and accompanying paperwork. That's what I did. It's best to get started on that now because it takes at least three months to go through the process.

Good luck,
Jerry

[pink67]

Sondra,

the document of Costantino's naturalization is on the (payment) site Footnote.com... I'm sure that member Vj will post it for you....

http://www.footnote.com/search.php?quer ... id=3332122

Laura

[VaDeb]

Here are the docs from footnote that Laura found:

Oath of Allegiance
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/4374/o ... giance.jpg

Here is the Petition for Naturalization
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2440/pet ... lizati.jpg

Declaration
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2008 ... ention.jpg

Certificate of Arrival
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9910/certofarrival.jpg




Debbie

[vintagegamer]

I too am interested in doing this. Should I provide my family's details here, or should I start a new thread? I don't want to hijack it and get anyone confused.

Jim

[wldspirit]

Better to start a new thread under the topic "Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship".....many members here who are experienced in the process don't always check the Italian Genealogy topic.....
wldspirit

[vintagegamer]

Thanks wld...

[wldspirit]

No problem.....and all of our researchers check all topics to aid in locating records, so if there is a need to locate something specific you'll be good to go!!
wldspirit