Anger in Italy over 'fast-tracked' citizenship process for Suarez
While the application process for citizenship usually takes two to four years in Italy, that has reportedly been shortened to just a few weeks for footballer Luis Suarez - provoking anger among other applicants.
Uruguay and Barcelona forward Suarez flew to the city of Perugia by private jet on Thursday to take an Italian language exam at the city's University for Foreigners, as he sought to gain Italian citizenship.
Suarez is married to an Italian citizen and therefore eligible to apply.
Though he had to take the B1 language exam like everyone else, there have been complaints that not only were his exam results reportedly expediated, but so was the rest of the citizenship application process, according to Italian media reports.
It usually takes between one and three months for those taking the B1 language exam to get their results back, though Suarez reportedly obtained his within hours.
And many reports suggest the footballer could have his citizenship approved within just 15 days.
Most people applying for Italian citizenship through marriage have to wait two to four years for their application to be processed - a timeframe lengthened by a law change by former interior minister Matteo Salvini in 2018, as part of a raft of measures making the process more difficult.
There was widespread anger on social media following the news, with other applicants infuriated by the alleged special treatment for the footballer.
Right. I've lived in Italy (until last year as an EU citizen) for 40 years, was married to an Italian citizen for 12, have paid taxes and contributions solely and exclusively in Italy, write books in Italian ... and it will take four years to have Italian citizenship.
— John Irving (@irving_john) September 20, 2020
The fact that Suarez could obtain citizenship within 15 days "teaches us that this is the time needed to make the required checks and complete the process. And that the decision to take 4 years is a political choice," wrote Fatjona Lamçe who, despite having been resident in Italy for over 20 years, being married to an Italian citizen and the mother of two Italian children, has been unable to obtain citizenship.
Nel mio caso, che è simile a Suarez, la richiesta di cittadinanza italiana l'ho fatta 3 anni. I requisiti sono essere sposati con cittadini italiani. Una volta che hai verificato che è vero, che ci ho due figlie e un mutuo, cos'altro devi fare?
— Fatjona Lamçe (@FatjonaLamce) September 15, 2020
Uruguayan national Suarez has fallen out of favour at Barcelona and has agreed terms to move to Juventus, Italian news agecy Ansa reports.
But the Turin club, which has reportedly exhausted the number of non-EU citizens that can be registered as players, needs him to apply for an Italian citizenship so he can be classified as an EU player.
Comments
See Also
Uruguay and Barcelona forward Suarez flew to the city of Perugia by private jet on Thursday to take an Italian language exam at the city's University for Foreigners, as he sought to gain Italian citizenship.
Suarez is married to an Italian citizen and therefore eligible to apply.
Though he had to take the B1 language exam like everyone else, there have been complaints that not only were his exam results reportedly expediated, but so was the rest of the citizenship application process, according to Italian media reports.
It usually takes between one and three months for those taking the B1 language exam to get their results back, though Suarez reportedly obtained his within hours.
And many reports suggest the footballer could have his citizenship approved within just 15 days.
Most people applying for Italian citizenship through marriage have to wait two to four years for their application to be processed - a timeframe lengthened by a law change by former interior minister Matteo Salvini in 2018, as part of a raft of measures making the process more difficult.
There was widespread anger on social media following the news, with other applicants infuriated by the alleged special treatment for the footballer.
Right. I've lived in Italy (until last year as an EU citizen) for 40 years, was married to an Italian citizen for 12, have paid taxes and contributions solely and exclusively in Italy, write books in Italian ... and it will take four years to have Italian citizenship.
— John Irving (@irving_john) September 20, 2020
The fact that Suarez could obtain citizenship within 15 days "teaches us that this is the time needed to make the required checks and complete the process. And that the decision to take 4 years is a political choice," wrote Fatjona Lamçe who, despite having been resident in Italy for over 20 years, being married to an Italian citizen and the mother of two Italian children, has been unable to obtain citizenship.
Nel mio caso, che è simile a Suarez, la richiesta di cittadinanza italiana l'ho fatta 3 anni. I requisiti sono essere sposati con cittadini italiani. Una volta che hai verificato che è vero, che ci ho due figlie e un mutuo, cos'altro devi fare?
— Fatjona Lamçe (@FatjonaLamce) September 15, 2020
Uruguayan national Suarez has fallen out of favour at Barcelona and has agreed terms to move to Juventus, Italian news agecy Ansa reports.
But the Turin club, which has reportedly exhausted the number of non-EU citizens that can be registered as players, needs him to apply for an Italian citizenship so he can be classified as an EU player.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.