Unsuccessful Italian Citizenship Application - Luigi Paiano

[pnmcqu08]

Unsuccessful Application: I used Luigi Paiano unsuccessfully to apply for Italian citizenship via my maternal line. My grandmother was born in the US when my great-grandmother was an Italian citizen, but she became an American citizen when my grandmother was still a minor. Luigi advised me that my chances of obtaining Italian citizenship were very good. I was declined in both the lower court and appeals court.

A word of warning: I am not confident that Luigi was upfront with me throughout the process. I started the process in March 2018 and was declined in August 2024. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, in or before 2021 the Italian courts started to reject citizenship applications via the maternal line when the parent became a naturalized citizen while the child was still a minor. This was not communicated to me at that time, nor when my application was first rejected in 2022 at the lower court after when the issue was known. When I confronted Luigi about this, he said nothing is guaranteed and he cannot "forecast" what the court will do.

So a word of warning...it is a time consuming and expensive process. The Italian court is now rejecting at least some applications via the maternal line, advising that minors lose their citizenship by default. Luigi may not tell you this directly, but it appears to be a combination of luck and what judge you get, knowing that the same judge may later change his/her mind. Minors losing citizenship by default should have been communicated to me by Luigi during the process and was not. 6.5 years later and several thousands of dollars later, I found out the hard way.

[lorde]

Be aware that citizenship applications can be time-consuming and costly, and outcomes can be uncertain. Understanding the risks involved can help set realistic expectations.

[nivance]

I’m really sorry to hear about your experience. Applying for citizenship can be a complex and emotional process. It’s unfortunate that you didn’t receive clear communication from Luigi. I hope you can find some closure and consider seeking further advice from a different legal expert.

[jennecat]

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with the citizenship application process. It sounds incredibly challenging, especially given the lack of communication regarding the changes in the law that affected your case. It's unfortunate that you invested so much time and money without receiving clear guidance from Luigi. Your warning serves as an important reminder for others considering similar applications to thoroughly research and seek transparency from their legal advisors. Thank you for sharing your story—it highlights the complexities and uncertainties involved in navigating citizenship applications.

[italevno]

Wow, what a disappointing experience. Thank you for sharing, this is an important warning for those who are or want to start the process through the maternal path. Transparency from legal consultants is indeed very crucial, especially in a time-consuming and costly process like this..

[xerinna]

Pursuing Italian citizenship through the maternal line can be an emotional, time-intensive, and costly journey — one that may not always lead to the outcome you hope for, even when your case appears strong. My experience highlights the importance of transparency, up-to-date legal insight, and clear communication throughout the process. If you are considering this path, be sure to thoroughly research current court trends, understand the risks involved — especially around minor citizenship loss — and seek legal counsel who will keep you fully informed.

[cedrone]

I read this old post.
The fact that the minor child was considered having lost Italian citizenship together with his father was not due
to the opinion of a single judge, but to a sentence of the Corte di Cassazione which gave a new interpretation of the law of 1912 (not written very clearly), so following sentences probably have been all in this way.
Now with the new law there will not be other requests via maternal side.