Quote: (02-08-2015 10:42 PM)Porfirio Rubirosa Wrote:
Hungarian would be an interesting language to learn (I know very basic phrases only) and I do have a direct Hungarian ancestor (he was from Bremen really but he carried a Hungarian passport during the days of Horthy's regency and the Kingdom of Hungary) so it would be an interesting way of re-connecting with my supposed origin....
In 2011, the government added passports and (non-voting) citizenship eligibility to those who can demonstrate ancestry from birth by former (enlarged) Hungarian territory.
You need the paper work (birth records of place and descent), and only conversational level-Hungarian to qualify.
Kinda nice way to go EU! Or stay...? (to revive the Clash lyrics)
Apparently, several hundred thousands of people living in extra-border areas have already done so. I read a London newspaper story, for instance, about man living in Croatia or Serbia, a truck-driver, who then used his new HU passport to work as a trucker in the UK at triple hourly wages of his old rate.
As for Americans and others, the process is fast. (Faster than most government services.) And I'm led to understand that the higher comprehension and speaking levels earlier demanded have slackened, if your ancestry to Hungary is more remote - kinda like the fact that it is a difficult and rarely taught language is acknowledged. And thus lower levels of ability may well be acceptable now.