"Citizenship" Company Rip Off

[jennabet]

Apparently, an Italian citizenship applicant is reporting in another forum that he has been ripped off by an online company offering to secure Italian citizenship if you purchase their "Signature Package". The applicant said he paid this company over $5,000 for an Italian passport for himself and some family members and the company never delivered the required Naturalization Certificate or proof that it did not exist. The applicant was then rejected by the consulate until he can provide the certificate. He also says this company kept his money. will not return his emails and has fired him as a client. Use of the term "Signature Package" sounds like an American business term, as to the best of my knowledge, such a term is not used in Italy and most likely the culprits can be found in the United States. In most cases, unless you really don't have time to do the work yourself, the research required to access ancestral records and documents is not a difficult task. Save your money, especially if thieves are operating out there.

[mler]

That is a excellent advice. There is nothing a company can do for you that you can't do for yourself for a lot less money. Also, during the research process you are likely to find out more about the ancestors from whom you are obtaining citizenship, an invaluable byproduct of the citizenship quest.

[dkmich]

Well, I'm the person who posted that message at the other place. The naturalization record was requested in July 2016 by the company acting as my agency. I am paid in full at the service and the embassy for five people. My application is complete once I get the naturalization document.

My grandfather was on a trip to Rome when he died. His death certificate from abroad contains a passport # and naturalization #. They said they were being forwarded to the State Department and then to DOJ. How does this complicate the matter? Does it?

So is there more than one way to skin a cat? If I FOIA his passport, will it give me a date of naturalization? I called and spoke to someone at USCIS, who in turned talked to the company, who in turn is threatening to "fire me" (I am paraphrasing, but that is the gist). So I can't even privately talk to USCIS to get the information I need to do it myself. Since I have had a request on file (the company made it), since July 2016, why do I need to go to the end of the line? Do you have a researcher in Michigan that you would recommend. I've paid enough, so I am not eager to drop anymore money into this.

Everything is done. All I need is my proof that my grandfather was naturalized after July 2012. What do you suggest? Any names or lists of researchers you would recommend.

[jennabet]

I don't know anything about what a FOIA request for his passport might give you but I'd say that if you're not allowed to talk to USCIS yourself about a record that belongs to your own ancestor and this company is threatening you, you probably need your own attorney.

[dkmich]

I want to make it clear that I never used the words "rip-off" or accused the company of dishonest practices. Those are jennabet's words, not mine. At this point, I think we have a communication problem, only some of which is my responsibility. I am working on it and trying to restore the relationship. All I want is what I paid for and an explantion on what is taking so long.

[jennabet]

Good luck. If I had paid $5,000 and didn't get what I paid for AND in a timely manner, I would consider it as having been ripped off.

[jennabet]

If you don't mind my asking, what was your grand-father's cause of death in Rome? I do know that if an American dies overseas, the American embassy (state department) in that country would always get involved. But why Department of Justice as well?

Also, I doubt the consulate would accept your grand-father's US passport even if it did contain a naturalization date because it would not have all the information contained as would have the naturalization certificate. The naturalization certificate would consist of the Petition and the Oath of Allegiance. Both of these documents contain information about the immigrant's family that a just a passport would not.

[dkmich]

Heart attack. The state department did fill out the death of american abroad form. I have it. It says he was naturalized, but it doesn't give a date. In comments, they listed his passport #, a naturalization # that is circumspect, and said both would be forwarded to the state department to be forwarded to doj. Why? Don't have a clue. Don't even know that this is why actually happened.

Thanks for the good luck. I only did this for my grandson, and I was in a hurry - job and school abroad. This is why I hired a company instead of trying to do it myself. I know it was expensive, but it would have worth it to me IF they had delivered the naturalization record timely and did a better job of dealing with an "anxious" client like me. At this point, all I want to know is the status of the naturalization record, the date of naturalization, and when it is estimated to come.

[jennabet]

Hi again, you definitely need the naturalization certificate for the consulate. It sounds like maybe due to your gf's death abroad and the comments made on the form, the State Dept. had to pull the naturalization certificate at some point and maybe it's now been misfiled somewhere. Have you thought about trying to contact the US Embassy in Rome or some other dept. in the State Dept. if USCIS won't talk to you or is insisting you go to the back of the line? If you do end up going to the back of the line, I'm sure USCIS will know where to look if the record has been misfiled.

[dkmich]

Will the consulate take a verified copy of a microfiche?

[jennabet]

Probably so. Anything you give them from USCIS is also a copy. My grand-father's naturalization papers and the naturalization papers of my companion's grand-father were grainy copies -- but they did contain the pertinent information the consulate wants to see.

[mler]

Also contact NARA. They will have copies of the declaration, petition, and oath, all of which they will certify.

[dkmich]

IF the Embassy has all of my documents and has accepted with the exception of the naturalization record, and if that was ordered in July 2016 by the firm acting as my agent, and if I call the USCIS to request a status update because I can't get one from the firm, and if the firm quits on me, how much of a problem would it be for me to finish this myself with USCIS. IF I need a name change because something is misspelled, could I do that too? Where is that done? The firm would charge me extra for that anyway.

I just can't believe that something as easy as telling me where USCIS is on our request has turned into such a mess. If I'm going to blow this up, I'd like to try to figure out how big a hole I would be in if they quit on me mid-stream. Thanks, I really appreciate your input.

[jennabet]

When I was recognized in 2001 there was no USCIS. My grand-father was naturalized in a court in Wilmington, DE and I found his naturalization documents at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives in Philadelphia. In what region was your grand-father naturalized? You could try that region's archives. Start with NARA and then go by region.

If you only need the Nat. Cert. from the firm and they can't deliver, you should QUIT them, not the other way around. What name change? You can't change a name on a Nat. Cert. but a minor mis-spelling should not be a problem anyway as long as the other identifying info on the certificate proves he's your grand-father.

By the way, do you have any idea when he was naturalized and that it was indeed AFTER his American offspring was born? If your grand-father was naturalized before your father was born, then you have wasted a lot of money because in that case you would not be qualified.

At this point, I would go to NARA and see what they have. Just google NARA and follow the instructions on the website.

[dkmich]

My dad was born in 1911. I have a 1920 census that says my grandfather was naturalized in 1918. I ordered my grandfather's certified naturalization record from the NARA. I also ordered a verified copy from the state's archives in case it is there. If those are not successful, I will call or write USCIS to find out what is going on with the July 2016 request. Now I wait. I have time to deal with the firm. If they deliver, I'm happy to pay them. Would I recommend them? They were great with all of the other records and translations. However, their attitude and failure to deliver or explain the naturalization record is big NO. Thank you for the support. I will keep you updated.