By: Horace Reichart This is the last US tax filing season for American expats to become current with the IRS before new laws come into play that will reveal your identity, location and foreign accounts to the US government. Now … Continue reading
You just gave birth and are wanting to make your child a US citizen. Here is where you need to look for your forms. The Consular Section in Florence issues a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) to U.S. citizens … Continue reading
Some of you might know and some of you might not know but Firenze has changed their parking Zones. It is not done by Quartiere any more more on this new system stated here. Controlled parking zone (ZCS) We found … Continue reading
To apply for residency in Florence as a non EU citizen you must first have your Permesso di Soggiorno. by Amy Mancino Once you have your Permesso di Soggiorno you must bring it to the Anagrafe office to have them … Continue reading
Before applying for residency for non EU citizens you must first take care of your Permesso di Soggiorno by Amy Mancino The Permesso di Soggiorno (PdiS) is your most important document if you are a non-EU citizen in Italy. It can … Continue reading
Have two different writings of your place of birth on your Italian Documents? You are going to have some difficulties getting things done around here. New Italian bureaucracy warning for the other unfortunate people who have to get an Italian … Continue reading
The Guardia di Finanza appears to be on a crusade to haul in all those non-Italians who have been renting property out in Italy and not paying taxes on it. It’s time to get this straight. There is a Golden … Continue reading
Many of you moms may be interested in citizenship here in Italy…or have maybe thought of it. The benefits are not having to travel everywhere with your passport while your out and about in Europe and the whole voting thing…if you think it’s worth it. A common misconception…which I had too…is that you have to give up your U.S. citizenship…this is wrong and hasn’t been the case since 1989. You can have dual. I thought I would share with all of you my experience, even though this is just one story and the process may have changed already.
Step 1: I married an Italian—
Step 2: I had to obtain a permesso di soggiorno, which I had previously as a student, but had to get a new one when I married. This was quite complicated as they had just changed to the application at the post office! They lost my papers and I spend at least 3 days camped out at the new Questura trying to get my permesso. Finally my husband lost it and he got my permesso that day.
Step 3: Registering at the comune. I had to go to my local Quartiere and register as a legal alien living in Florence. I also got my carta d’identita at this point in time, which wasn’t really valid for anything other than proving that I was living in Florence.
Step 4: Registering for residence. I had to wait 6 months after my registration and then I applied to be a resident of Florence.
Step 5: Wait 2 years. After I had been a resident in Italy for 2 years, well a little bit before, I started collecting all of my necessary documents from the USA. I even had a fingerprint card made up so the FBI could do a background check. Most of the documents were time sensitive, so I had to be punctual. I also started collecting documents from Italy that I needed.
Step 6: Make an appointment with the Prefettura: I made an appointment with the prefettura, on the phone—but I had to go to the actual office to get the phone number. He was pretty efficient. I was super pregnant and he took pity on me so the interview was fairly short. I don’t think he wanted to see me go into labor in his office anyway 
He stamped my paperwork and gave me an electronic tracking sheet that I could track online…it always said processing.
Step 7: Wait another 2-2.5 years: Just after Matteo turned 2 they called me and said my appointment would be in August at the prefettura …
Step 8: Make sure all of your documents are valid. While waiting I forgot to renew my Permesso. So I had to go through that nightmare yet again!
Step 9:Go to your appointment at the Prefettura. You will have to bring your approved paperwork to the comune.
Step 10: Go to the commune and give them your paperwork. This was one of the more difficult things as they were quite unfriendly. I had to have my husband rush me some paperwork there just so I could turn in my paperwork that day.
Step 11: Wait again for your letter from the comune. I waited a little over a month for the letter calling me into the commune for my swearing in.
Step 12: Go the appointment. They will ask you again for repeated paperwork which you will have to bring in…including your carta d’identità…which was useful only in this instance! They will put on a sash with the tricolors…and read you some things to which you will have to swear…and then you sign. 
Step 13: Wait a couple of days and then go and get your new carta d’identità: So, after a couple of days I went and got my new Italian identity card that said I was an Italian citizen…which now I can actually use for something!
Step 14: Turn in your old permesso di soggiorno at the Questura.
I AM NOW A CITIZEN!!!
I’m not posting this to gripe, only to give you a warning if you are not aware of this.
I learned the hard way when we 1st came to Italy, that it is the hot water and long showers that run the gas bill through the roof. I also knew that the utilities in Italy don’t do regular meter checks and guess on most of the months.
Soooo, last winter was our first winter in a new house that was much bigger and we had 3 more adults in the house than usual. I was very cautious about our usage, and watched the bills closely to guage how big the bills would be. It was bigger, but not outrageous and we continued to be careful. I also had people checking meters quite often for our first year, but didn’t pay attention to which ones were which.I was gone all summer and came back to a bill that was 1,500 euro. When I called on it, they said that they were guessing the whole time and that when they did a meter reading in July, they realised how much we were using and the 1,500 was the difference!!! ouch! They also had a notice to shut off the gas, and I am current on all of the other bills that I have recieved. They said that they would work with me, and allow me to pay that extra part in segments. I did learn that there is a way to either send SMS or email (I don’t remember which) that you can send them your meter readings each month so it will be accurate. I thought you all might like to know that if you didn’t already.
I just received an email from a mum looking to move to Florence. She has an 8 and 14 year old and would like some advice on schools in Florence and Siena. She is interested in having her children learn Italian. Any advice would be great!
Thanks
Jill
