Plain answers to fair questions
A second citizenship is a consequential decision, and you deserve to understand how we work before you spend a dollar. Here is what clients most often ask.
About the firm
Are you a lawyer? Is Karte Global a law firm?
Justin Fuhrmann holds a JD from Villanova University but does not practice law, and Karte Global is not a law firm. We do not provide legal services or legal advice. Our work is research, document procurement, translation, and process coordination. Where a matter turns on a legal question, we refer you to qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.
Who is behind Karte Global?
Karte Global is founder-led by Justin Fuhrmann, a dual US and German citizen who obtained his own German citizenship by descent. You can read the full story on the About page.
Why use you instead of a lawyer, or doing it myself?
Many people can in principle assemble a citizenship application themselves. The work that slows them down is rarely the form. It is locating vital records across foreign archives and church registers, obtaining certified translations, and securing apostilles and legalizations, often in another language and across several jurisdictions. We manage that multi-stage process from start to finish. A lawyer is the right call for a contested legal question, and we will refer you to one; for the records, translation, and coordination that most descent cases turn on, that is the work we do.
Countries & eligibility
Which countries do you cover?
Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Poland, each with a dedicated pathway page. These are descent-based routes that are well established and compatible with keeping US citizenship. Visa-based relocation to other European countries is handled by our companion practice, MoveMeTo.EU.
What about Spain?
We do not cover Spain. The Democratic Memory Law, which had opened a generous descent route, closed to new applications on October 22, 2025. The pathways that remain are narrow and generally require giving up your existing citizenship, which makes them a poor fit for Americans who want to keep a US passport. If your family's route runs through another country, the eligibility screening will identify it.
Do you only work with American clients?
While we work primarily with Americans, we are open to working with any client seeking to establish a birthright citizenship claim with one of the countries we serve.
What if there is no pathway?
You keep the written determination regardless of outcome; it is yours either way. Where no descent pathway exists, the Roadmap points you to a realistic visa-based alternative through our companion practice, MoveMeTo.EU, so a finding of no pathway is still a usable answer rather than a dead end.
How engagements work
What does it cost?
Engagements run as a stage ladder with fixed fees tied to defined deliverables. The first two stages are priced up front: a $49 Eligibility Screening and a $499 Pathway Assessment and Roadmap. Everything following that: records and research, dossier assembly, and filing and authority liaison, is quoted from your Roadmap before any work begins. We bill one stage at a time and invoice only after a stage is delivered. No bundles, no discounts, no hourly billing, and nothing charged upfront.
What is the $49 Eligibility Screening?
A 30-minute paid call that triages whether a viable descent pathway likely exists and which countries are worth a closer look. It includes a short pre-call intake form. It is triage, not a verdict; the binding determination comes at the Pathway Assessment stage.
What is the Pathway Assessment and Roadmap?
A working session of 60 to 90 minutes plus a researched, written eligibility determination you keep regardless of outcome. Where a pathway exists, it includes a full document inventory and a realistic timeline. Where one does not, it sets out a visa-based alternative through MoveMeTo.EU. Every later stage is quoted from this document.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the country and the specifics of your case, and it is usually measured in months to years rather than weeks. Processing times vary by authority, as does the effort required to recover older records. Your Pathway Assessment and Roadmap sets out a realistic timeline for your situation before you commit to the work.
Do you guarantee I will get citizenship?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Outcomes depend on the receiving country's law and the specific facts of your lineage, neither of which we control. What we commit to is a best-efforts pursuit of the records your case requires and a documented account of what we find, including when a record cannot be recovered. The Pathway Assessment tells you honestly whether a viable route exists before you invest in the work downstream of it.
How do I pay?
Payments are processed securely through Stripe. You pay one stage at a time, invoiced after each stage is delivered, never upfront.
Can I get a refund?
Because we invoice after each stage is delivered, and only proceed to subsequent stages with your approval, there is never a time when you have paid for something that hasn't already been delivered. Following the delivery of the work product for each stage, refunds are not offered because the work is already completed and Karte Global has already dedicated hours to your case to complete that stage.
Can you file my application and deal with the authorities?
We coordinate the submission of your application and manage the correspondence with the receiving authority through to a decision, including preparing structured responses to its questions. This is process coordination, not legal representation. Where a genuine legal question arises, we refer you to qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.
Practical
Do I have to move to Europe?
No. Many clients pursue citizenship with no near-term plan to relocate. A second citizenship is an inheritance and a hedge: it secures options for you, your children, and future generations, whether or not anyone uses them soon.
What is MoveMeTo.EU?
A companion practice covering visa-based relocation, such as digital nomad, freelance, and EU Blue Card routes, for people whose move runs through a visa rather than ancestry. Karte Global handles citizenship by descent; MoveMeTo.EU handles the visa side, and the two share a single front door so you are pointed to the right one.
How is my personal information handled?
We take data protection seriously and use EU-hosted, GDPR-aligned tools for intake and scheduling. Our Privacy Policy explains in detail what we collect, how it is used, and your rights. See our Privacy Policy.
How do I get started?
Begin by filling out our eligibility screener or emailing justin@karteglobal.com. Justin will contact you to schedule a 30-minute Eligibility Screening call and tell you whether a closer look at your family's history is worthwhile.
Still have a question?
If your situation is not covered here, the eligibility screening is the place to ask. Thirty minutes, and you will know whether a closer look is worthwhile.
Book Your $49 Eligibility Call