16
votes
Jesse Eisenberg applies for Polish citizenship
Link information
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- Title
- Jesse Eisenberg Applies for Polish Citizenship: 'I Would Love to Create Better Relationships Between Jews and Polish People'
- Authors
- Marta Balaga
- Published
- May 26 2024
- Word count
- 482 words
The article reminds me of my own personal sentiment when thinking about my own identity (mixed). The attachment to America can be a little precarious because you know it was not the "default" option, and because you may feel different beyond your own control. I wonder if the recent events in the world with Israel has made him question things.
I mean, good for him I guess? If he had family there he might have an easier time, but he's probably able to afford the cost regardless.
I just want to emphasize this, because he definitely would have had an easier time. Back when I went through the Polish citizenship process in 2019, the process was almost trivial because I had family there. The actual granting of citizenship amounted to basically this:
Compared to a few other people I knew who were trying to get Polish citizenships (mostly Ukrainian, some British, and one Indian), it was extremely easy. My process honestly reminded me of the scene in Silicon Valley where Gilfoyle gets his American citizenship. "It took me five years. They asked me about Al-Qaeda like fourteen times. He literally got it while I was still looking for parking."
Yeah since his family came from Poland at some point I figured there was some likelihood of an easier path back, but also since that last returning member has died, I wasn't sure. It makes sense though given what you're saying.
That said he's rich and famous and idk if that counts for something but it usually helps
Given that he's Jewish and his family's from the right part of the world, it's possible he could have gotten an easier path to citizenship in Germany, since there are specific laws here allowing renaturalization for descendants of Nazi victims. But I assume Poland doesn't have the same law there.
Interesting enough, they mention Hungary's tax incentives for filmmaking in the article, but Hungary also has one of the easiest requirements to get citizenship by ancestry -- you basically only have to be able to speak Hungarian (I'm told there's no official test, they just run the whole process in Hungarian) and document your ancestry from someone who was a Hungarian citizen, even generations back. You don't even have to have ever lived in Hungary. My dad's grandparents all immigrated to the US from then-Hungary and he's been pushing at me to get it. Ofc when I tell him he could get it just as easily if he learned Hungarian, it's a different story...
It looks like the only difference for Jewish folks is if your family emigrated to Israel during a particular time frame you may be eligible for citizenship sooner. Having Polish ancestors is how you can get citizenship by descent but it isn't obvious to me if there's leeway or an easier time if, say, they left Poland while fleeing Germany or something. But yeah it's interesting
I have my Italian nationality and I don't speak a word of Italian and have never lived there. Just having Italian ancestry was enough.
I think there are a couple other countries that do this as well -- I know at least one American who got his Irish citizenship through ancestry. It's definitely not the norm to be so permissive about it though. Hungary literally will let you go as far back in your family tree as you can get documented.
I only lived in Poland for 3 years and my experience was that all paper works takes for ever.
Lovely country, people, food and culture.
But the bureaucracy ... (it's worse in the country I'm living now tough)
Getting a head start on his awards campaign for A Real Pain I see.