The Chicago Passport Agency serves travelers with urgent international travel within 14 calendar days, or travelers who need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days. Appointments are required. If you have not yet applied, use the State Department's online appointment system. If you already submitted an application and your travel became urgent, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
The agency decides how and when an approved passport will be issued based on the travel date and the application. Same-day pickup can happen in some cases, but it is not guaranteed.
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Who can use the Chicago Passport Agency?
You can request an appointment if you have urgent international travel within 14 calendar days, or if you need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days. Passport agencies handle first-time applications, renewals, corrections, and other eligible urgent passport needs.
Life-or-death emergency? That is a separate State Department process for qualifying emergencies involving an immediate family member abroad. See our emergency passport guide.
If your trip is farther out, use a Chicago passport acceptance facility for an in-person application, or follow the appropriate passport renewal process.
How to make an appointment
If you have not applied yet
Use the online passport appointment system. The system checks your travel date before showing available appointments. The State Department does not charge a fee to make an appointment.
If you already applied
Call 1-877-487-2778 when you are within 14 days of international travel. The State Department will first check whether the agency already handling your application can issue the passport in time. If not, it may schedule an agency appointment if one is available.
Your appointment is personal to you. Do not buy an appointment or use an unofficial service that claims it can sell or transfer one. The State Department says appointments are free and may not be honored if booked through a third-party appointment service.
If you have urgent travel but cannot make the trip to a regional passport agency, a registered passport courier may be able to handle eligible submission and pickup logistics. Couriers are private companies, charge separate fees, and cannot make the State Department process an application faster than the agency process itself.
What to bring to your appointment
Bring the documents required for your specific application, including:
- Printed appointment confirmation
- Printed proof of international travel - for air travel, a flight receipt or itinerary; for qualifying land or sea travel, documents such as a hotel reservation, cruise or bus ticket, or international car insurance may be accepted
- The correct passport application form
- Original supporting documents and required photocopies, including citizenship evidence and photo ID when applicable
- One compliant passport photo
- Application and expedite fees
The Chicago agency currently accepts credit cards, debit cards that are not ATM-only cards, and contactless payment such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
For a situation-by-situation checklist, see what to bring to a passport appointment.
Chicago Passport Agency location and hours
Chicago Passport Agency
101 Ida B. Wells Drive (formerly 101 W. Congress Parkway)
9th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Appointments are required. The agency is also closed on federal holidays.
Getting there: transit, entrance, and parking
The agency is on the ninth floor at 101 Ida B. Wells Drive. The State Department identifies the LaSalle Street "L" station as the closest rail stop. Several bus and train stops are nearby.
There is no dedicated passport-agency parking garage. Public garages are available on Clark Street and West Harrison Street, and parking rates can change.
Before leaving for the appointment, verify the address and entrance in your appointment confirmation. Older maps and directions may still use the building's former address, 101 W. Congress Parkway.
What recent visitors say about the Chicago Passport Agency
Our original 2025 review audit examined more than 100 Google reviews of the Chicago Passport Agency. The overall pattern was positive, but the reviews also showed that the appointment itself and the time it takes to receive a passport are two different parts of the visit.
This is a snapshot of third-party visitor feedback, not a promise of how long your appointment or passport issuance will take. Staffing, demand, application issues, and travel dates can change the experience.
Recurring positives
- Efficient application review: many visitors described the document-review portion as organized and relatively quick when their paperwork was complete.
- Professional staff: courtesy, patience, and clear instructions appeared repeatedly in positive reviews.
- Organized flow: reviewers often described a structured check-in and waiting process even when the agency was busy.
- Help with urgent travel: travelers with tight deadlines frequently appreciated having a regional agency option available.
- Clear guidance at the window: many visitors said staff explained the next step and pickup or delivery plan once the application was reviewed.
Recurring complaints
- Long waits for issuance or pickup: some visitors finished the appointment quickly but then waited much longer for the completed passport.
- Building navigation: several reviewers reported confusion over the correct entrance or old address references.
- Unclear pickup expectations: some complaints came from assuming an early appointment meant an early passport pickup.
- Inconsistent customer-service experiences: although most staff comments were positive, some reviewers described individual interactions as abrupt or unhelpful.
Practical checklist based on applicant reviews
- Arrive 15 minutes early. That is the State Department's current instruction for security screening.
- Verify the building address and entrance before you leave. The former Congress Parkway address still appears in older directions.
- Bring every required original, photocopy, form, photo, and proof-of-travel document. Missing items can stop the application from moving forward.
- Leave room in your schedule after the appointment. The document-review appointment and the time your passport is issued are not the same thing.
- Do not assume your appointment time is your pickup time. The agency determines issuance options based on your travel date and application.
Chicago Passport Agency FAQs
No. The Chicago Passport Agency is appointment-only.
The State Department says to arrive 15 minutes early for security screening. Bring valid government ID to enter the building.
Not necessarily. The State Department says your number may not be called at the exact appointment time.
Same-day issuance may be possible for some applicants, but it is not guaranteed. Agency staff review your application and travel date, then explain the available issuance or pickup options.
There is no universal pickup time published for every Chicago applicant. Do not rely on older claims that all same-day passports are picked up during a fixed afternoon window. Follow the instructions the agency gives you after reviewing your application.
Yes. You may bring someone to help you apply, such as an attorney, interpreter, or family member. For a child under 16, the child and the required parents or guardians must attend under the minor-passport rules.
No. The appointment holder must attend the appointment. A registered passport courier operates under a separate process and is not a substitute person using your personal appointment.
If you are traveling within 14 days and already applied, call 1-877-487-2778. The State Department will first check whether the agency processing your application can issue it before your trip and may schedule an appointment if needed and available.
Last reviewed: September 28, 2026.
Our role: U.S. Passport Service Guide is an independent passport information resource. We explain the official passport agency process first, then summarize third-party visitor feedback and compare private courier options when they may help with urgent logistics.
