Had My appointment at the Miami Consulate Today

[federici1999]

Went to Miami today for my 10:30 appointment. I'll start from the beginning. Traffic was my first concern. Stayed in a hotel about 25 miles from Coral Gables. I live 3 1/2 hours away from Miami. That 25 miles took me an hour but still had plenty of time. Arrived at the consulate at 9:00 AM. The building is at 4000 Ponce de Leon Blvd room 590 on the 5th floor. When you enter the building there is a manned desk in the hallway. The rest rooms are on that floor, you get the keys for the restrooms at the desk. There is also a small snack bar next to the rest rooms for coffee and juice. I went up to the Consulate around 9:40 AM. There was no one at the window marked Citizenship. I went to the passport window to enquire what I needed to do. They told me to take a seat and that the window doesn't open till 10:00AM. At 10:00Am Virginia called me to the window. Let me say this she was very nice and I was treated very well. As I was told by JM you stand at a bank tellers window and pass your documents. They only required the documents in the blood line. So put you papers in this order. For me it was my Grandfathers Birth Certificate, His marriage License, his certificate of Italian citizenship,his naturalization papers, My fathers Birth certificate, My fathers marriage certificate, My birth Certificate, My marriage certificate. I almost made it but as I new my fathers first name on his birth certificate was Camillo and the rest of my fathers papers had Carl. That stopped the process. I had no way to show how his name went from one to the other. So I need to have the birth certificate corrected. She said I can mail the corrected certificate to her and she would forward the package then to the Commune. If you are going to have your spouse also get their citizenship you might want to make an appointment now for them. My wifes appointment is next May 2010. Also remember you marriage certificate must now come from Italy where it was registered. Your wife will need this document. Any questions fire away.

[jcat]

Your almost home.... Congrats ! I've been waiting for your post! Sounds like you did good as the only thing you need do is amend your fathers Birth certificate, which you already were aware of. What will be your next move as to amending it? that traffic from Miami South is wicked for sure. I'll be going for my appoinment in December. you mentioned your about 3 1/2 hours away, I'm guessing Central Florida ? that's where I am.

[federici1999]

Im in Punta Gorda on the West Coast 100 miles south of Tampa. Don't know yet what I will do. I'll let the holiday pass and call vital records to see how to handle this. My father is still alive so I would have to have him do all the filing or hire someone to do it for him. The problem hes 90 and spending time on a line at vital records might not thrill him. I'll figure out more next week.

[cocokj]

How did you get his certificate of Italian Citizenship?

[federici1999]

I would like to take credit but I hired someone to get it for me. After many attempts calling the commune not being able to talk to them in Italian. It was the best money I spent. They wanted release letters and proof of identity ( had to send a copy of my passport) because they had privacy policies in force just like in the US. It took the people I hired 6 months and numerous call before retrieving it. Now mind you not all places are the same. But if you send for it yourself I would enclose a release letter and proof of who you are.

[matta]

I received mine by writing the comune (as you would with a birth certificate) and making a request. They were very helpful there.