As the pandemic has ravaged the United States, some Americans are finding that a second citizenship or permanent residency has a renewed appeal. Some see it as a kind of insurance policy, a way to ensure freedom of movement in the future.
There are two paths to acquiring a second passport that don’t require living or working abroad: spending a lot of money or proving that you have inherited an ancestor’s nationality.
Many countries offer residence visas to peaple who are invest in them, a type of program that is colloquially referred to as “The Golden Visa.” Families are considering eligibility costs, speed of application approval, and education and health care policies in the various countries. Freedom of movement is also important.
People who are born in United States are automatically citizens. In many other counties, nationality is passed from parents to their children. In terms of dual citizenship, this has meant people who are descendants of immigrants from some counties can claim citizenship in those counties if they can prove that the lineage has not been broken over a certain number of generations.
“The pandemic has created so much uncertainty that no one know what life will be like for the next 10 to 15 years. Where do I want to spend the rest of my life?” For Mr. Gallo, the answer is clear: Italy.