Step 3 - Personal Appearance
Once you have assembled all the necessary documents, you must make a personal appearance at a County Courthouse or Post Office which performs passport work. Use the link to the left to find the nearest location to you.
In addition to the previously listed documents, you will also need:
- a State-issued picture ID such as a Driver's License or State ID and
- your checkbook or credit card to make the payment to the State Department
The Passport Agent there will review your documents, swear you in, and ask you to sign the DS-11 application.
You will need to make your payment to the US State Department at this time. It will be $170 for applicants over 16 years old or $140 for applicants under 16. This includes the Governments $60 "Expediting Fee" which must be paid for American Visa Service to handle your application. You will also make a separate payment of $25 to the agent as an Execution Fee. If the correct fee is not included inside your sealed envelope, it will result in delays and additional fees from American Visa - see Important Notes below.
The Agent should seal all your documents including your payment to the US State Department into an envelope and place raised or embossed seals on the envelope; that envelope is what you send to American Visa Service. You must include the complete name, date-of-birth and last 4 digits of the Social Security number for each applicant OUTSIDE the sealed envelope. Click HERE for a premade form to fill out.
Ship the sealed envelope to:
American Visa Service
Attn: Passports
53 West Jackson
Suite 1228
Chicago, IL 60604
Once we receive your sealed envelope, we take it to the Chicago Passport Agency where a Passport Agent opens it and reviews the documents. If the documents satisfy the requirements, the Chicago Passport Agency will begin processing your passport - please see Important Notes below regarding possible difficulties. When the passport is complete, American Visa will pick it up and ship it to you. If you require a passport in less than 3 weeks, you must provide proof of departure in the form of an itinerary on Travel Agency or Airline letterhead or a copy of tickets. Applications for children under 16, please read Important Notes.
Important Notes
There are several situations which can complicate or delay the issuance of a Passport. Many of these relate to obtaining a passport for a child under 16 years of age. If that is your case, please click HERE and visit the State Department site which explains the requirements and process. The easiest way to avoid difficulty if for both parents to appear with the child when submitting documents but if both parents cannot appear, a notarized copy of the DS-3053 must be provided. Click HERE for that form. Minors must present a birth certificate and previous passport if they have had one. The child MUST appear with the parent or parents! If a case becomes complicated and American Visa Service must submit additional documents, we will charge additional Service Fees.
Passport applications will be delayed or possibly denied if the applicant owes back taxes and/or child support. In these cases, American Visa Service will charge additional Service Fees.
Please again note: You must provide a signed Authorization Letter for each applicant. If you require a passport in less than 3 weeks, please provide Proof of Departure and pay the Expediting Fee!
** For any application that is incomplete or incorrect, American Visa Service will double the Service Fee originally charged and require full payment before we return the passport. **
If you have questions please call us at: 312-922-8860 between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm (CT)
Step 4: Place your order
Once you have made your personal appearance, place your order with American Visa Service. If you require a passport in less than 8 business days, call us to make an appointment.
You must also provide the complete name of the applicant, their date-of-birth and last 4 digits of their Social Security number somewhere OUTSIDE the sealed envelope. Click HERE for a premade form to include.
Enter your departure date and type of processing requested below and this will generate the cost of the request. If you are paying by credit card (Visa , MC, or Amex) follow the instruction below. If you are paying by check, generate the cost below then click HERE to proceed.
