Dear Friends and Members of the Italian community of North Carolina:
I am honored to serve as the new Honorary Consul of Italy to North Carolina. Like my predecessor, Dr. Carpano, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you what the duties of the office of the Honorary Consulate (HC) are, what services are currently provided by the office, and with what resources we operate. Promote cultural exchange between Italy and North Carolina
3. Assist Italian citizens facing an emergency
4. Provide certification services to members of the Italian community residing in North Carolina
All services are provided within the authority granted to the Honorary Consul by the “Ministero degli Affari Esteri.” The Honorary Consul is not an employee of the “Ministero degli Affari Esteri,” yet is a “funzionario,” and as such has to abide by the regulations of the organization. In addition, the appointment to the position of Honorary Consul is subject to the approval of the U.S. Department of State. European norms as well as the availability of special equipment dictate the services that the HC may provide. In the case of our Charlotte office, this means that we can process passport applications. However, we cannot assist with Italian citizenship applications, registrations to the A.I.R.E., or issuances of Italian Codice Fiscale. In addition, we no longer help with visa applications for NC residents going to Italy. The services provided by Honorary Consulates are possible because Honorary Consuls donate time and most of the financial resources required to operate the offices. Personnel at Management inSites, a private company, staff the Honorary Consulate of Charlotte pro bono. Both MI and I are honored to provide this support to the Italian community. However, please note that the Honorary Consulate is not open to the public. Appearances must be scheduled beforehand. We have several instructions written up for Italian Passports and Procura and certification services to make the process as smooth as possible. Please email the following addresses when you need services:
• Passports: [email protected]
• Procura (and other certifications): [email protected]
• For Italians with emergencies: [email protected] and be sure to provide a phone number
• For other inquiries: [email protected]
The HC, in collaboration with the Casa della Cultura Italiana–North Carolina (CCI-NC), is working hard to create a thriving, vibrant Italian community in our State. I invite all members and friends of our community to become active and contribute to this effort. If you have not already, join the CCI-NC emailing list to stay abreast of events in the community or follow them on Facebook. Truly yours,
Valentina Cecchi, Ph.D. Honorary Consul of Italy to North Carolina
