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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Notice to the Press
March 11, 1999

Chicago Passport Agency Initiates
Automated Telephone Appointment System

To serve U.S. citizens better, passport agencies throughout the country have been devising ways of accelerating processing times and improving efficiency. In 1999, we anticipate that a record 6.9 million U.S. citizens nationwide will apply for passports. The Chicago, Ill. Passport Agency is inaugurating an automated telephone appointment system for its customers who are traveling within 21 calendar days or who are pressed for time because they require foreign visas.

On March 28, the Chicago Passport Agency's automated appointment system will begin scheduling appointments for Thursday, April 15. Effective that date, the Agency, which is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will only offer service by appointment. Customers may schedule an automated appointment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 312/ 341-6020. The Chicago Agency joins the New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Stamford, Conn., Passport Agencies that already have automated appointment systems in place.

When customers arrive at the Chicago Passport Agency, they go to the intake window to have their appointment verified. Customers must present acceptable evidence of their U.S. citizenship (such as a certified birth certificate, previous U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate), valid identification (such as a driver's license), proof of immediate travel (airline ticket, confirmed airline-generated itinerary, or a travel letter from an employer for business travel), two identical photographs (2x2 inches in size), completed passport application and the appropriate fees. In addition to the regular passport fee, customers must pay a $35 expedite fee for each application. Applications without acceptable documentation cannot be processed. After the appointment, and citizenship and identification have been verified, customers are issued numbered tickets indicating the estimated waiting time before being served.

Customers are advised not to arrive more than 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment time. Early arrivals cannot be admitted until their appointed time and late arrivals will have to reschedule their appointments. As space and public facilities are limited, only those individuals scheduled for appointments should come to the Passport Agency.

Individuals not traveling in 21 days or those who do not require extra time for visa processing must apply at one of the designated post offices, clerks of court or municipal offices authorized to accept passport applications. These customers will receive their passports in the mail within 25 business days from receipt of completed applications by a passport agency. Expedited service is also available for an additional $35 fee to ensure processing of the passport within three business days from receipt at a passport agency. If two-way overnight mail is also used, applicants may receive the passport in 7 to 10 business days, depending upon the timeliness of "overnight" service.

A list of the most convenient locations of the more than 4,000 passport acceptance facilities nationwide may be accessed on the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. This site also has information on application requirements and passport application forms for downloading. Another option for information, forms, or to check the status of a pending application is the National Passport Information Center at 1-900-225-5674 or 1-888-362-8668 (with a major credit card).

Customers who are renewing their passports may be eligible to apply through the mail and avoid a trip to a passport agency or designated acceptance facility. To use the mail, customers must have had a previous U.S. passport issued within the past 12 years and after their 16th birthday. They should obtain a DSP-82, "Application for Passport by Mail," and follow the instructions on the form. Customers should expect to receive their new passport within 25 business days from receipt of the complete application. Those wishing to receive a passport sooner may request expedited service for a $35 fee.

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