My parents were born in the United States, but all of their antecedents were born in Greece (or Turkish-held Greece -- Samos).

Although my command of the language is very limited, I do have a Greek baptismal certificate and knowledge of Greece's history and culture.

I am 56 and would like to move to Greece to find work there and retire in about 15 years.

I have two virtually useless B.A. degrees from an American university.

There is a remote possibility that I can claim some 100-year old land in Samos.

I appreciate any help I can get to clarify the seemingly Byzantine methods of obtaining citizenship that I have read.

Thanks!

--Leonidas K

Similar question here..
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/immigration-law/greek-birth-certificates-226723.html

Ideally, your father's father left Samos after it became part of Greece in 1912. If that is the case, and he was inscribed in the Military Records [Mitrwa Arrenwn], then you are probably okay and your case is straightforward. Just ask your closest Greek Consulate to obtain a copy of the military records from Samos with his name on, and then get his wedding certificate [from the Church he was married], your father's birth certificate, and your parents' wedding certificate. The process will take a few years, but it will go through the bureaucracy and you will be declared a Greek citizen by birth.

If your parents' parents left Samos before it became part of Greece [i.e. with Ottoman passports], you may be out of luck. There is a way to naturalize into Greek citizenship while you are still overseas, but it is a bit onerous. However, since you would be what is called an ομογενής, or a foreigner of Greek descent, you do get special treatment if you wish to move back to Greece and naturalize into Greek citizenship while you are there. Your closest Greek consulate can give you more details about that.

Hope this helps.

Mialeon, I am curious how you are proceeding... My greatgrandfather was born in Samos and I am in the process of applying for my greek citizenship via the naturalization method. He moved to the USA when it was still under turkish occupation. The problem is that we don't have records of him in samos but we have allot of records in the USA that list that he was from "greece" and I still speak greek, we own property in greece, etc. I have not yet applied since I am still in the process of getting the apostilles etc. I also wanted to see if anyone else has applied under the "naturalization" method - politografisis process.