campos

I was wondering who else on here has an application for citizenship lodged?
I understand the the pandemic as thrown a spanner in the works re. processing times.
My application, as a long-term resident, not through relatives or such, was put in in November 2017. So it'll be four years in a few months.
A friend who married an Italian got her citizenship in four years, pre-covid.
In addition, my earnings have been see-sawing a bit and I wonder if the weight of the income consideration could tip things into rejection of an application (irrespective of covid).
Did anyone here get their citizenship approved (based on residency submission), pre-covid, and if so, how long did it take in your case?

chris120

More than 3 years and counting! in fact I've given up and changed my plans, now returning to UK, cost me €2,600 for documentation and charges for 2 people and around 5/6 months of intense effort.

campos

OK. I hope the wait for citizenship didn't make yo give up, and it was something other...

modicasa

Nearly 3 years all in. But that was before Salvini changed the law.

philat98

I applied in 2017 and it came through in 2020. I started by seeing a lawyer. I think that helped. They said at the interview I had a 50/50 chance.

Lorna at Vicenza

Why 50/50? Surely you either meet the requirements or you don't?

philat98

With such a complicated form there are always going to be grey areas.

scrubbedexpat077

Surely after living in Italy for so many years, you should know that any bureaucrat (funzionario pubblico) can put a spanner in the works, should they wish to. And good luck with making an official complaint!

campos

You mean interview with the lawyer ? Or with the authorities? Whoever, didn't they say why it was a 50/50 chance?
Was there an Italian exam?

philat98

There was no language exam then. I think the problem with my application was my income was close to the minimum required and I was unemployed. Probably they were happy that I would receive a pension fairly soon. A lawyer that deals with citizenship might be able to assist in making your initial application.
The process is bit more complicated than filling in a form, having it checked then getting it after 5 years of waiting or whatever as Lorna is suggesting. I suspect luck comes into it.

Lorna at Vicenza

I wasn't suggesting it was easy, it's so bloody complicated and expensive that I haven't even bothered starting the process. I just meant meeting requirements such as the time frame for applying through residency or through marriage.

campos

I didn't find it expensive though I didn't engage a professional : I can't remember what I spent doing it on my own ) with some help from Italian friend. Certainly nowhere near the figure Chris mentions, above. Collecting the paperwork was a drag but I got there.
I periodically check my application's status on the Gov't site: it hasn't changed in 3+ years!

philat98

I would go to the Prefettura and ask them what the situation is. I dont trust the online system. My cost was similar to Chris.

modicasa

My cost was 200 euros plus 2 marche di bollo. I called the prefecture a couple of times about my application once it went over 2 years, they said they knew nothing, it was all done in Rome. Then I got an email saying it was all done and dusted.
They did say one peculiar thing. You give in your ACROs and penal certfificates etc, so they know about where YOU SAY youve lived. Then a little man in office in Rome calls all the countries in the world to see if you have a criminal record but have kept quiet. That is what takes the time. I have a very clear picture of a bloke in Rome who opens the file of Joe Bloggs, calls every country the in world, finds out nothing. closes the file and takes the next one of June Bloggs, calls every country in the world, etc etc etc..

campos

Now you mention that figure it was just what I paid too.
And one can only imagine the problems of pronunciation of names and places encountered in calling other countries.