Chicago North Chapter


Going to Latin America

Passports

Chapter Information How to Join Going to Latin America Latin American Projects Amigos: Who We Are Home

 

Passports & Visas for Amigos: Overview Renewing or Applying for a U.S. Passport Passport Offices in Chicago Area: Hours and Locations

Passports & Visas for Amigos: Overview

All Volunteers

bulletAMIGOS requires that all volunteers, regardless of country assignment, send two copies of the first page of their passport to the International Office by April 1.
bulletVolunteers’ passports should be valid through September of the project year.

Volunteers Assigned to the Dominican Republic, Paraguay and Michoacan-Mexico (not Oaxaca or Guadalajara)

bulletCurrently, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and Michoacan-Mexico (not Oaxaca or Guadalajara) are requiring a visa.
bulletAMIGOS will collect the passports of these volunteers, along with completed application forms and applicable fees.  (Information will be sent out in February or March to all impacted volunteers.  These documents are due at IO by April 1. Please make sure that the volunteer has signed all passports before mailing them to the International Office. To ensure the safe arrival of passports, send them via certified mail or through an express mail carrier that will insure them. These passports will be returned to volunteers at the gateway departure city.
bulletThe volunteer is responsible for the cost of processing and obtaining a visa, if such an expense is incurred.

Volunteers with Non U.S. Passports

bulletChapters must call the International Office to report the name and country of citizenship of each volunteer with a non-U.S. passport as soon as that information is known.
bulletCitizenship may affect project assignments and the need for special visas.
bulletVolunteers traveling with a non-U.S. passport are required to obtain their own visas for travel to their assigned host country. If they are traveling to Brazil or the Dominican Republic, the International Office will assist them in obtaining a visa.
bulletResidence Cards - Volunteers must travel to the field with the original document (not a copy) of their residence card in order to re-enter the U. S. at the end of their project. Send two copies of the Residence Card to the International Office by April 1.

Lost or Forgotten Passports

bulletAll volunteers will be responsible for traveling with their passport to the gateway departure city. If a volunteer arrives in the gateway departure city without a passport, he/she will NOT be permitted to travel to the field. In such an instance, the volunteer will be held liable for any related expenses.

 

Renewing or Applying for a U.S. Passport

Getting Information: The process and requirements for obtaining a passport are outlined on the State Department Web site: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html.

The National Passport Information Center can provide information by phone, for a fee. The number is 900-225-5674. The fee is 35 cents a minute for automated service or $1.05 a minute for a live operator. Alternatively, you can call 888-362-8668 and pay a $4.95 flat fee for information.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO APPLY! The cost of applying for expedited service to receive a passport within the last 2 months of traveling is astronomical, and the chances of not receiving the passport in time are considerable. Normal processing times take about 6 weeks, although this time can increase as the summer travel season approaches! Apply NOW if you need a passport.

If the volunteer is applying for his or her first passport and is under age 18, the volunteer and a parent must both be present and apply either at the Washington Passport Agency or at a post office that processes passport applications. If the volunteer is age 18 or over, the volunteer can apply on his or her own. The fee for a first passport is $60. It can be paid by personal check, money order, or traveler’s, cashier, or bank draft check made out to "Passport Services."

The applicant must take documentation to apply for a passport.

bulletProof of US citizenship– normally a birth certificate, report of birth abroad, or proof of naturalization or derived citizenship.
bullet Documentation proving identity – with a signature, photograph, and physical description. A driver’s license (but not a learner’s permit) is normally the best identity document. If the volunteer does not have a driver’s license, the parent may show their driver’s license and attest to the volunteer’s identity.
bulletTwo identical 2" x 2" passport photographs taken within the last 6 months.

Renewals of passports that were issued before the holder’s 16th birthday must also be made in person, as described above. The fee for a renewal passport is $40. The old passport is cancelled and returned with the new one.

 

 

Passport Offices in Chicago Area HOURS AND LOCATIONS

General Passport Hours: Monday Through Friday

10:00 AM - 3:-00 PM - NO SATURDAY HOURS!

Call to Confirm (Some hours may vary)

601 - 603 AREA

 

ELGIN

66 Grove Ct.

Elgin, IL 60120-9998

(847) 741-0725

 

ELMHURST

/154 W. Park Ave

Elmhurst, IL 60126-9998

(630) 833-1230

 

OAK PARK

901 Lake St.

Oak Park, IL 60301-9998

(708) 848-7900

 

SCHAUMBURG

450 W. Schaumburg Rd .

Schaumburg, lL 60194-9998

(847) 885-6500

 

WHEATON

122 N. Wheaton Ave.

Wheaton, IL 60187-9998

(630) 668-3530

610-611 AREA

 

BELVIDERE

1800 Doc Wolf Dr.

Belvidere, IL 61008-9998

(815) 547-5456

 

FREEPORT

103 N. Chicago

Freeport, lL 61032-9998

(815) 232-7118

 

ROCKFORD

5225 Harrison Ave

Rockford IL 61125-9998 (815) 229-4812

600 - 602 AREA

 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS

909 W. Euclid Ave

Arlington Heights. Il 60004-9998

(847) 253-7456 .

 

DES PLAINES

1000 E. Oakton St.

Des Plaines, IL 60018-9998

(847) 827-5591

 

EVANSTON (8:30-5pm)

1101 Davis St.

Evanston, lL 60201-9998

(847) 328-6288

 

HIGHLAND PARK

833 Central Ave

Highland Park, IL 60035-9998

(847) 433-3200

 

PARK RIDGE

333 Busse Hwy

Park Ridge, IL 60068-9998

(847) 825-6651

 

SKOKIE

4950 Madison S1.

Skokie,lL 60076-9998

(847) 676.2200

 

WAUKEGAN

326 N Genessee St. .

Waukegan, IL 60085-9998

(847) 662-6800

You Will Need:

bullet

Certified Birth Certificate

bullet

2 passport photos

bullet

Valid driver's license or State ID

bullet

Two personal cheeks (fill out with registration)

The U.S. Department of State runs the Passport Services Department. Inquiries on passports can be answered by calling one of two numbers: 1-900-225-5674. Automated responses are received at the rate of $.35/minute, 24-hours a day. Customer Service Representatives can be contacted at a rate of $1.05/minute. Credit Card users can access a Passport Services Inquiry line for a flat rate of $4.95 per call by dialing 1-888;.362-8668.

For changes to this webpage contact:  webmaster@amigoschicago.org