|
We are a legally licensed and registered Corporation with the
Illinois Secretary of State
and the Internal Revenue Service. To check us out, please click here.
About Us
We work with U.S. Passport Agencies and Foreign Consulates to secure new US passports, passport renewals, and international visas for US citizens in as little as 24-48 hours. We are registered with the Chicago Passport Agency and have standing appointments there.
The owner of Bucktown Visas & Passports became interested in international travel while serving in the Navy in 1985. Bucktown Visas & Passports has been in the travel industry since 1991 and specifically processing expedited visas and US passports in international travel for the past 12 years.
We keep up to date with all of the latest documentation that is required in order to process your visas and passports and make sure you are ready to leave for your destination on time! It is our expedited and personal service that distinguishes us from other companies.
We personally hand carry your international documents to the Chicago Passport Agency and then personally pick them up and FedEx them to you as soon as they have been processed, whether it be new US passports, a passport renewal, a child's passport, or a China visa.
Please be advised that there are only 13 passport agencies in the United States. The Bucktown neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, happens to be within a few miles of the Chicago Passport Agency and many foreign Consulates, and that is why we are able to get international documents expedited quickly. So we encourage anyone who is a US citizen from any state that does not have a passport agency to apply with us. Otherwise, you may have to wait anywhere from 6-8 weeks to have your international documents processed.
So, please continue on our site, and you will see that we process all different types of international documents. We guide you through all of the various requirements needed by US citizens . For US citizens many documents, such as new passports, a passport renewal, and even some visas can be processed in as little as 24 hours. Below are some of the services we offer:
(Please contact us if you do not see an expedited service that you need listed below.)
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Areas that fall under the WHTI:
Canada
Mexico
Bermuda
The Caribbean region (includes 17 nations)
Air Travel
All persons traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
Land And Sea TravelThe following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security's website.
Currently:
U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (scheduled to be in full production beginning in July, 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Later:
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.
NOTE: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.
U.S. Passport and WHTI Compliant Documents:
U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land, or sea between the U.S. and the aforementioned Western Hemisphere countries.
The Passport Card: Passport card applications are currently being accepted in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. Based on current projections, we expect the passport card to be in full production beginning in July 2008. We will provide additional updates as available. Once in production, the passport card it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
WHTI-Compliant travel documents for U.S. citizen travel via land or sea, as of January 31, 2008:
- Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (when available)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
- U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
- Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
- Form I-872 American Indian Card
For further information see U.S. Customs and Border protection.
About WHTI
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.
The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.
|
