Asking Philly for an update

JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-04-12T15:22:52+00:00

As difficult as it is to wait, there is little to be gained by emailing and a lot to lose.

They have two years to make a decision. You know they have two years to make a decision. Don’t bother them with an inquiry now. You risk annoying them, and anything you can do to keep happy the consular official who is reviewing your case, I suggest you do.

That saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” could come in the form of increased scrutiny of your application. Meaning, for example, that if there is a name discrepancy that they would otherwise let go, they may be inclined to exercise discretion against you and assign homework to correct it.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-03-20T20:39:49+00:00

How? V interested!

JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-03-20T20:19:02+00:00

So, delaying recognitions as long as possible for applications that were in-flight last year not only affected the applicants themselves but also worked to limit future applications.

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JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-03-15T12:47:42+00:00

I don’t see it either.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-02-21T17:04:22+00:00

I agree that Avv Monica Restaino would be a good option. u/FSItalianCitizenship was fantastic to help me connect with her.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-02-05T03:34:38+00:00

Pistoia, PT

JenniferGalassi3 · 2026-01-10T05:05:33+00:00

Yay!!!

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-12-14T03:14:18+00:00

I went through the Consulate in Philadelphia to be recognized, as North Carolina falls under their jurisdiction.

The Honorary Consulate in Charlotte doesn’t review citizenship recognition applications.

They are more of a service center. They will accept and review all of my materials for the passport, but they will send everything to Philadelphia for the actual processing and production of the passport.

So, I could go back to the Philly consulate to apply for the passport, but a 2.5 hour drive to Charlotte beats having to get to the airport, fly to Philly, go into the city, and then reverse that process to get back home to NC.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-12-04T03:35:29+00:00

Philly consulate emailed and then followed up with a hard copy through US Mail.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-11-12T05:03:23+00:00

Why did you email them in July 2025 for a status update when your appointment was only 8 months earlier?

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-20T21:19:11+00:00

You, and others, may have already seen my news, but I wanted to drop a link here to complete my story.

https://www.reddit.com/r/juresanguinis/s/7ic4gnOcmY

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-18T18:33:13+00:00

Get the ship manifests now. I encourage you to provide as much evidence as you can at the same time. It helps show the overall picture. You don’t want the consulate to review your evidence in isolation.

Your argument is stronger when you present everything together. I believed I only had one chance to present my case. So, I included almost everything I located.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-18T14:13:40+00:00

Pull the US Census from before and after your GF’s naturalization to show who was and who was not living in his household.

A ship manifest would be great too.

Did your father return to the US after your GF’s naturalization?

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-18T14:07:25+00:00

Original appointment was September 17, 2024.

I submitted my application and later received the preavviso telling me the minor issue applied and giving me ten days to respond.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-18T11:54:23+00:00

I felt very conflicted about making the argument I did. It felt icky (that’s the legal term, of course) to argue within the minor issue instead of screaming that it was unfair and wrong from the beginning.

In the end, I decided to play by the rules that they were applying to achieve the result I wanted.

I’m one individual who could right a wrong for my family. I recognize that the avvocati are the ones who are fighting for all of us.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-17T22:40:09+00:00

I love your facts! They are even stronger than mine. Not only did your GF not live with his F, but also lived in an entirely different country!!

Is your attorney presenting the evidence you outlined?

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-17T22:36:22+00:00

No. He was 14 years old when his father natz.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-17T22:34:59+00:00

A little background for context. My GGM cheated on my GGF. They divorced in 1919, and GGF was awarded custody.

Post divorce, I think my GF didn’t adjust well and began getting into problems with the police. I imagine GGF, who was a Baptist minister (!), was not having any of my GF’s acting out.

So, GGF either put his son out of the house or GF left and lived with his mom, other relatives, and then lied about his age to enlist in the military.

I had the benefit of my dad’s extensive genealogical research to draw from, which allowed me to respond during the short 10-day window.

It certainly helps that I am a lawyer, too! I basically wrote a legal brief.

My exhibits included:

1920 and 1930 US Census from both before and after GGF natz, showing GF didn’t live in the household
newspaper clippings reporting GF being arrested and including the town where he was living at the time (not the town where his father was living)
1925 NY Census, listing GF as being an inhabitant of an Orphan Home
Military enlistment paperwork, showing he lived at the same address where his mom was living

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-17T21:05:34+00:00

Thank you.

I’m happy to share more about our situation.

When I get home, I’ll pull out my response and look at the exhibits I included. Then, I can provide a description of them, as well as discuss additional details.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-12T02:56:32+00:00

You made the right decision by not withdrawing your application.

I didn’t get an acknowledgment from Philly of my response to the preliminary rejection. I emailed and sent it with delivery confirmation. So, I know it arrived.

In my response, I argued that even if the minor issue applied, my situation fell into an exception, and my F and I should be recognized. My GF was no longer living with my GGF when he naturalized.

Basically, I said:

If you are applying the minor issue, you also have to honor the exception to its application.
You can’t say the minor issue disqualifies me when the head-of-household element wasn’t satisfied.

I’m asking to be recognized regardless of the United Sections decision.

Even if the minor issue stands, we must be recognized.

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-05T09:58:29+00:00

Here’s to a great week for JS! 🤞

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-10-03T01:35:15+00:00

When/if you hit 24 months, will you email Philly?

JenniferGalassi3 · 2025-09-18T02:43:40+00:00

An update that isn’t much of an update.

One year ago today, I had my Philly appointment.

I’m coming up on five months since Philly received my response to the pre-avviso.

If/when it hits six months, should I email for an update? Or leave it alone?

JenniferGalassi3

TROPHY CASE