Italian vs. American

[Gidget6880]

My great grandfather Dominico Gidaro was born in Italy in 1888. He immigrated to the us in 1913 and was naturalized in 1916. After he was naturalized he went back to Italy and married my great grandmother in 1921, then he returned to the US. She followed in 1923 and was never naturalized. My grandfather was born in 1924. I've read that you can only recieve citizenship from the maternal side if you were born after 1948. Is there anyway that my grandfather would have italian citizenship?
I know this might be a stupid question but if you are married in Italy after you recieved american citizenship to an italian citizen do you still maintain american citizenship?

thanks
lisa

[wldspirit]

You are correct, citizenship cannot be passed thru the maternal side.
Your grandfather was born AFTER your great grandfather naturalized, so citizenship is not available thru the paternal line either.......
wldspirit

[mler]

Hi Lisa,
Just to clarify. Although your g-grandfather returned to Italy to marry, that would not cause him to lose his American citizenship, so your grandfather could not have obtained Italian citizenship through him.

The 1948 rule refers to those born BEFORE 1948. Italy did not allow women to pass on citizenship before that date. Since your grandfather was born in 1924, he could not obtain Italian citizenship through her.

Have you checked into your mom's side of the family?

[mchagnon]

I'm sorry, but I'm a bit confused regarding all of this maternal vs paternal. Here is my situation.

I am a female who was born in the USA in 1958.
My mother was born in the USA in 1931.
Her father was born in the USA in 1888.
His father, my great grandfather, was born in Italy...
My great grandfather came to America in the early 1880's and became naturalized in 1891, after my grandfather was born.

So.... how would this equate? When I think of my great grandfather I think of him as being my "maternal" GGF - because he was on my mother's side of the family...When you say that Italian Citizenship cannot be passed on through the maternal side...then I don't think I qualify.

Yet, since the first two generations in question were male, does that make this paternal? I understand that I would not be eligible if the great grandparent and grandparent in question were women...as that would make this maternal at the outset...

See? I told you that I was confused. So...explain to me, please?

Thanks much,

Michelle

Would I be eligible or not?

[mler]

You are eligible. Although yours is a maternal line, the only woman in the line (your mother) obtained her Italian citizenship through HER paternal line. Since you were born in 1958, she was able to pass that citizenship to you.

Nice!