I wanted to move to Europe. Slovakia’s citizenship law made it possible.

I’ve always dreamed of moving to Europe. The rich history and culture, stunning landscapes, and overall quality of life have always appealed to me. But there was one major obstacle—I had no viable way to relocate. That changed in the summer of 2022 when I stumbled across an article about recent legislation in Slovakia granting citizenship by descent to descendants of Slovak emigrants up to the great-grandchild generation. A spark of joy ignited inside me! My great-grandfather had immigrated to America from what is now Slovakia. Was this my chance to move to Europe? The journey that followed was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.

My Slovak roots are on my father’s side. I knew little about them since my great-grandfather, Martin Kovalak, passed away when my dad was a teenager, and my grandfather, Andrew, died four months before I was born. To honor him, my parents named me after him. Growing up, my dad often reminded me how special my name was because of my grandfather and how my surname reflected our Slovak heritage.

With this new hope of achieving my dream through citizenship by descent, I began researching to determine if I was eligible. The only lead I had was that Martin immigrated in the early 20th century from a town called Vitanová, northern Slovakia.

Using Ancestry and FamilySearch, I located Martin’s ship manifest, marriage and baptismal records, and census documents. I learned that he sailed to America in 1912 from Antwerp, Belgium, arriving at Ellis Island. At the time, he was illiterate and spoke only Slovak. Settling in Pennsylvania to work in the coal mines, he met his wife, Anna, a fellow Slovak immigrant. Over time, he became literate, learned English, moved to Ohio to work in the steel mills, and eventually owned a farm by 1950. His journey was nothing short of inspiring.

Andrew (pink shirt) and Andrea Wulff's dad (white shirt) (source: Courtesy, Andrea Wulff)

Martin (second from the left, holding a bottle) (source: Courtesy, Andrea Wulff)

Next, I began gathering official documents. I used the NARA online portal for the ship manifest and census records, state vital statistics websites for birth certificates, and USCIS for Martin’s immigration records. I also consulted a small law firm in Slovakia. They assisted me in obtaining Martin’s Slovak birth certificate and advised me to start with the Slovak Living Abroad Certificate (SLAC). This would be the simplest way to fulfill the residence permit requirement for citizenship by descent (CBD). I agreed, as it provided a clear path to obtaining a residence permit. From there, I could move to Slovakia and continue the CBD process. Since everything seemed straightforward, I decided to handle the rest of the process on my own.

By early 2023, I had nearly all the documents needed for the SLAC, except for the letter of cultural awareness. Living in Florida, far from any Slovak organizations, I wasn’t sure how to meet this requirement. That’s when I discovered Global Slovakia. I enrolled in their course, Slovakia: Beyond the Known, and attended webinars. As someone who loves to travel and learn about different cultures, this was a fascinating experience—but it felt even more special because it connected me to my own family history. Learning about Slovak culture and history brought me closer to my grandfather and great-grandfather in ways I hadn’t expected.

To deepen my connection to Slovakia, my husband and I vacationed there in March 2024. We visited Trenčín and Bratislava, explored castles, visited the usual tourist spots, and enjoyed Slovak cuisine—I fell in love with halušky! As avid beer enthusiasts, we also toured a brewery and sampled some of the best lagers I’ve ever tasted. The trip was unforgettable and solidified my determination to continue this journey.

In June 2024, I received my letter of cultural awareness. The next step was to obtain my FBI background check and have all my documents apostilled and translated. The background check process was straightforward: after submitting an online request and completing fingerprinting at the post office, I received my results via email in just 10 minutes. Within a month, I had all my documents apostilled and worked with a translator in Slovakia to finalize everything.

Embassy of Slovakia in the USA (source: Courtesy, Andrea Wulff)

In August 2024, I traveled to Washington, D.C., for my embassy appointment to submit my SLAC application. I was informed that the approval process could take about three months. Each week, the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad (USZZ) posts approved application numbers online. Since the embassy hadn’t provided me with my number, I emailed the USZZ in Slovak (using ChatGPT for translation) in early November and received my number. By the end of the month, my number appeared on the approved list. I was ecstatic!

I opted to have my SLAC card sent to the embassy for pickup. As I wait for its arrival, I’m already looking ahead to the next steps: applying for a residence permit, moving to Slovakia, and submitting my CBD application. This journey has been more fulfilling than I ever imagined. It has brought me closer to my family’s heritage, and I hope Andrew and Martin would be proud. My adventure is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.