The Bureaucracy is the Hard Part.
We've Mastered It.

Most people assume the foreign government will be the biggest obstacle in their citizenship-by-descent application. In our experience, it’s usually closer to home.

3,500+

Client Cases

10+

Years of Experience

~3,100

U.S. Vital Record Systems Navigated

8+

Languages on Our Team

Citizenship by descent is, at its core, a documentary process. Your eligibility may depend on the laws of your ancestral country — but proving that eligibility depends on navigating a maze of record-keeping systems across the United States and around the world. Over more than a decade and 3,500 cases, Connaissance Solutions has built deep, specialized expertise in the four bureaucratic pillars that underpin every successful application.

Our Expertise

End-to-end Guidance for your
EU Citizenship Journey

U.S. Vital Record Collection

In the United States, vital records — including birth, marriage, and death certificates — are not centralized. They are issued at the state, county, and sometimes municipal level, creating thousands of systems with varying rules, fees, and processing times.

Through thousands of cases, we’ve built an internal database that allows us to navigate these complexities efficiently. We know which jurisdictions are faster, which require notarized requests or legal support, and how procedures evolve over time — often making this the most time-consuming part of a citizenship-by-descent application.

For each client, we prepare a detailed research report outlining the required records, where to obtain them, and the steps involved. We then guide you through the entire process, providing support, resolving delays, and assisting with formal requests when needed.

Requirements can vary significantly. While some records can be ordered online, others may require proof of legal need, attorney involvement, or even a court order — especially when multiple states are involved.

Foreign Background Checks

Many citizenship-by-descent programs require criminal background checks from every country where an applicant has lived — and sometimes where they’ve spent significant time. These requirements often differ from local residency laws, making the process complex without specialized guidance.

We’ve helped clients secure background checks in some of the most challenging jurisdictions. This includes cases involving U.S. military personnel in Japan, navigating Hong Kong’s strict procedures, and processing checks from mainland China, Vietnam, Singapore, Costa Rica, and across Europe.

With a multilingual team and global experience, we help clients overcome the legal, bureaucratic, and language barriers involved in obtaining foreign background checks.

Census Record Research

When vital records such as birth, marriage, or death certificates don’t exist, cases must be reconstructed using alternative evidence — most often census records.

This is common in citizenship-by-descent cases, where ancestors may date back to the 19th century, before reliable record-keeping systems were in place. In some U.S. states, consistent registration didn’t begin until the early 1900s, creating gaps in official documentation.

We use U.S. and international census archives to fill these gaps, applying proven research methods to trace lineage and meet government evidentiary standards. In many cases, this work is what makes an application possible.

Ecclesiastical Record Navigation

Vital records may be missing due to fires, floods, or periods when civil registration didn’t exist. In these cases, church records — such as baptism, marriage, and burial certificates — can serve as recognized substitutes.

Accessing these archives requires specialized knowledge, as each parish or diocese follows its own processes and timelines.

With experience working across hundreds of religious institutions in the U.S. and abroad, we’re able to efficiently locate and obtain these records — often making the difference in cases where official documents are unavailable.