CathInfo.com

Ah, OK.  That reminds me that I should probably get a passport (as mine expired some years ago) ... just in case.  As long as it wasn't due to their having neglected to send you an invitation.

Just don't let money be an obstacle, if that were the only thing.  We'd help out here.  Sometimes they'll expedite passport service even beyond normal expedited service for a funeral (though not sure if it has to be for a blood relative).

I'm also technically a Hungarian citizen (since that travels by blood, not place of birth).  I was born in Cleveland but since my parents were both Hungarian citizens, I'm also one.  I just have to go get the paperwork filled out, and also for my children ... in case some major catastrophe strikes that would suggest leaving the country (thought it might be a case of jumping out of the frying pan right into the fire).  My brothers and I were left this little rural property in the middle of nowhere out there by our great grandmother, and it's literally an hour from the nearest moderate-sized village, which in turn is another hour from a larger city, so I doubt we'd have Russian or European troops going anywhere near there.

My son is in the same situation.  He is a Polish citizen by birth, through his mother, and we finally got his citizenship certified by the consulate, took about a year and $200-$300 in fees and translation costs, you have to complete a lengthy form, in Polish (I did this and his mother refined some details), and provide family history going back three generations on both sides, then they have to send all of that to Poland for verification.  I had to have all of his docuмents (except for his US passport) translated by certified entities.  He got the certificate last year, and now I have to get his PESEL number (kind of like a Social Security number), his identity card, and his passport.  That will probably take about another year.

My son is in the same situation.  He is a Polish citizen by birth, through his mother, and we finally got his citizenship certified by the consulate, took about a year and $200-$300 in fees and translation costs, you have to complete a lengthy form, in Polish (I did this and his mother refined some details), and provide family history going back three generations on both sides, then they have to send all of that to Poland for verification.  I had to have all of his docuмents (except for his US passport) translated by certified entities.  He got the certificate last year, and now I have to get his PESEL number (kind of like a Social Security number), his identity card, and his passport.  That will probably take about another year.

Yes, it's a slow process ... but I hear that the Hungarians are quite helpful in moving things along for a little bit extra in "fees".  That's the one thing about their culture.  When I was there, I was told in no uncertain terms that if I got pulled over by the police, the expectation was 100% that I would offer a "gift" ... at which point no citation would be given.  If I failed to offer a gift, I might spend time in jail for so much as a non-working headlight.  If I provided a generous gift, the officer might even escort me to the nearest shop and make sure I got the problem taken care of immediately.

That's actually one benefit the Jews secured for us.  It had been illegal to maintain dual citizenship with the US.  But the Jews demanded that they could also hold Israeli citizenship, as anything else would have been Anti-Semitic of course, so they had to legalize it for everyone.

I think I'll get moving on this, since I don't think the future will be very rosey and it might be nice to have that option just in case.