A question of (great)-grandchildren claiming citizenship
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:29 pm
Hola! My Spanish is quite rusty, so I'm going to rely on English for this posting 
I was born in the US, as was my mother and her parents, but her parents were both of %100 Spanish ancestry. Her mother's mother (here we go!) was born in the US & her father in Asturias, while my mother's father's mother was born in the US (we think) & his father in Gijon, Spain. So both my mother's parents are of Spanish blood, but her father's father is the one most easily traced back to having been born in Spain.
My mother is 58 & her father, now deceased, was born in the US in 1920. We are fairly sure that at this time his father was not yet a US citizen (he'd stopped over in Cuba & studied the cigar trade for a few years while emigrating) which based on my research would designated my mother's father (my grandfather) as a, quote, 'original Spaniard.'
So far the only information I have is the 'petition numbers' listed for my mother's father's parents' applications for US naturalization- dated 1938 & 1939. We are unsure why my great-grandmother had to apply, because we had always thought she was born in Philadelphia.
I'm sorry if this is terribly confusing! Basically, I lived in Spain for several months (I'm 22) and would truly love to return there to live & work. Some of my research indicates that according to fairly new Spanish legislation, I could 'reclaim' citizenship after a one-year residency (during which there would be no work restrictions?)
However, it's obviously quite difficult to find clear information on this topic! At the very least I am *hoping* that my mother (as the grandchild of a man born in Spain) could claim her citizenship, and I could possibly do so afterwards if she were approved?
I would really appreciate any information in response.. I know that I am offering nothing in return, I'm sorry! I also know that it's quite possible my bubble could be burst.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this! I've been watching this forum for awhile & appreciated all of the helpful & educated advice that's been given... just thought I'd give this a shot. Please let me know if anything needs clarification- I know it's impossibly confusing!
-Elyse Elvira
I was born in the US, as was my mother and her parents, but her parents were both of %100 Spanish ancestry. Her mother's mother (here we go!) was born in the US & her father in Asturias, while my mother's father's mother was born in the US (we think) & his father in Gijon, Spain. So both my mother's parents are of Spanish blood, but her father's father is the one most easily traced back to having been born in Spain.
My mother is 58 & her father, now deceased, was born in the US in 1920. We are fairly sure that at this time his father was not yet a US citizen (he'd stopped over in Cuba & studied the cigar trade for a few years while emigrating) which based on my research would designated my mother's father (my grandfather) as a, quote, 'original Spaniard.'
So far the only information I have is the 'petition numbers' listed for my mother's father's parents' applications for US naturalization- dated 1938 & 1939. We are unsure why my great-grandmother had to apply, because we had always thought she was born in Philadelphia.
I'm sorry if this is terribly confusing! Basically, I lived in Spain for several months (I'm 22) and would truly love to return there to live & work. Some of my research indicates that according to fairly new Spanish legislation, I could 'reclaim' citizenship after a one-year residency (during which there would be no work restrictions?)
However, it's obviously quite difficult to find clear information on this topic! At the very least I am *hoping* that my mother (as the grandchild of a man born in Spain) could claim her citizenship, and I could possibly do so afterwards if she were approved?
I would really appreciate any information in response.. I know that I am offering nothing in return, I'm sorry! I also know that it's quite possible my bubble could be burst.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this! I've been watching this forum for awhile & appreciated all of the helpful & educated advice that's been given... just thought I'd give this a shot. Please let me know if anything needs clarification- I know it's impossibly confusing!
-Elyse Elvira
