question on eligibility

[themilitantcatholic]

According to the Chicago Italian Consulate website, it states that:

. . . it is possible to request Italian Citizenship if: A) the Italian ancestor was alive on March 17, 1861 and maintained the Italian Citizenship within June 30, 1912.

My grandfather was born in 1897 and was an Italian Citizen until 1934, my dad was born in 1924.

The fact that my grandfather was not alive in 1861, does that make my eligibility null & void?

[johnnyonthespot]

Poor wording on the part of the Chicago consulate's translator...

Modern Italy did not exist prior to 1861. A Sicilian, for example, who was born in 1830, for example, left Italy in 1858, for example, and died in 1860, for example, was never "Italian" because he died before Italy came into existence.

While his brothers, sisters, parents, or children who remained in Italy and were alive and present on that magical day in 1861 when citizenship in the new unified country was granted to all, that person who left never had Italian citizenship and thus could not pass it on to his children who were born in, for example, the US.

Did that make any sense?

The 1861 business is only about persons who were born prior to 1861, left Italy, and died prior to 1861. They were never Italian and thus could not pass Italian citizenship onto their children.

[themilitantcatholic]

Thanks Johnny, I figured you'd give me the clarification on that.

[johnnyonthespot]

Thanks Johnny, I figured you'd give me the clarification on that.

Have I become that predictable? Maybe it is time to move on...