VISA GENERAL INFORMATION

CHICAGO CONSULAR JURISDICTION

The Consulate General of Italy in Chicago can process visa applications for legal
residents in its district ONLY, i.e.: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. For other
States click here.

Students studying full-time at a University located in the district of the Consulate General
of Chicago will also meet the residence requirement.

Only holders of one of the following documents may apply for a visa:

• U.S. Passport;
• U.S. Permanent Resident Card (formerly Green Card), foreign students holding
valid visas and valid I-20, exchange visitors holding valid visas and I-
66;
• Valid long term visas except B1/B2.

THE SCHENGEN AREA

Fifteen countries make up the Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden. A Schengen Visa issued by a Consulate of one of the Schengen countries
mentioned above allows the holder to travel freely in those countries.

Short stays for either tourism or business purposes in one or more of the Schengen States
cannot exceed the 90 days over a period of 6 months.

AT WHICH SCHENGEN COUNTRY SHOULD YOU SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST

If you intend to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply at the Consulate of that
specific country.

If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply at the Consulate of the
country which is your main destination, or the country where you will be staying longer.
If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination or
will be staying the same amount of time in each of them, you must apply at the Consulate
of the country you will enter first.

If you do not need a visa for the Schengen country which is your main destination, please
note that a visa may be required for other Schengen countries. You should then apply for
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a visa at the Consulate of the country of first entry. A valid visa (if required) for the
Country that you are visiting after a Schengen country is needed.

PROCESSING TIME

According to Italian law, processing time for the visa can vary to a maximum of 90 days
depending on the applicant's nationality.
Since this matter is regulated by law, the visa officers cannot intervene in the process.
The applicants are therefore required not to discuss or try to negotiate the date of issuance
of the visa. At the same time, the applicants are advised not to buy a ticket, before
knowing exactly how long it will take to get their visa. Be advised that neither urgency
nor emergency fees are considered by the Schengen procedure.

MINOR APPLICANTS

For minor applicants, the following certification is needed:

• Authorization to travel signed by both parents, full printed names of both parents
must be mentioned and the signatures MUST be notarized by either the Chicago
Consulate or one of its peripheral consular offices;
• Birth certificate, original or a notarized copy;
• Notarized copies of both parents' picture I.D.

All foreign documents MUST be translated into English and the translations legalized by
the competent Consulate. No fee is required for minors aged below 6 years old.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Applicants must apply in person and must provide the original passport or a valid travel
document (photocopies are not accepted). The Visa Section is open to the public from
9.00 am to 12.30 pm, Monday through Friday. Closed on Wednesday. The phone
appointment service is available at the following numbers:

- 1-800-405-0044 (to pay using your credit card)

- 1-900-656-1111 (premium rate line)

The only exceptions are foreseen for educational reasons:

1. Universities which are recognized members of AACUPI (Association of

American College and University Programs in Italy) may send student visa
applications by mail directly to the Consulate General at the following address:

Consulate General of Italy - Visa section

500 N. Michigan Av., Suite 1850
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Chicago, IL 60611
Fax: 312-467-1335
E-mail: visti.chicago@esteri.it

2. Individual College students may apply through one of the Honorary Vice Consuls or
Consular Correspondents of the Chicago consular jurisdiction, if there is one in the state
where they reside or go to school full-time. Please note that Honorary Vice Consulates
are only entitled to notarise the signature of the Applicant on the Application Form
EXCLUSIVELY FOR STUDENT VISAS.

HONORARY CONSULATES

DENVER (Colorado) - Honorary Vice Consulate

Honorary Vice Consul - Maria Elisabetta SCORDO ALLEN
7325 So. Jackson St.
Centennial, CO 80122
Tel: 303-224-9927
Fax: 303-224-9930
Sito web: www.italianconsulatecolorado.org
e-mail: italyconsulcolo@msn.com

KANSAS CITY (Kansas) - Honorary Vice Consulate

Honorary Vice Consul - Roberto L. SERRA
New Brotherhood Building
753 State Avenue, Suite 102
Kansas City, KS 66101
Tel: 913-281-2222
Fax: 913-321-6525
e-mail: RSerra@wycokck.org

ST. LOUIS (Missouri) - Honorary Vice Consulate

Honorary Vice Consul - Joseph COLAGIOVANNI
One Metropolitan Square, 211 North Broadway, Suite 3000
St. Louis, MO 63102
Tel: 314-259-5931
Fax: 314-259-5985
e-mail: jcola@sonnenschein.com

CONSULAR CORRESPONDENTS

MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin)
Consular Correspondent - Carmela MASECCHIA
Tuesday and Thursday from 09.00 am to 11.30 am
Monday and Friday from 02.00 pm to 05.00 pm
e-mail: italconsmke@wi.rr.com
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Tel: 414-469-8192
NOTICE: Please contact Mrs. Masecchia via email rather than phone unless you urgently
need to communicate with her.

MAILING INFORMATION

If the applicant wants the passport with the visa returned by mail, a self-addressed, pre-
stamped "UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (Express Mail)" envelope is required.
No other courier will be accepted.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT:

• There is no legal right to a visa;

• The consular administration has full authority to evaluate and request other
documents in addition to those submitted by the applicant. The latter is hereby
informed that submitting the application does not guarantee automatic issuance of
the visa;
• The passport or travel document must be valid for at least three months over the
planned stay in the Schengen countries and should have a blank page to affix the
visa;
• All documents must be submitted in original and copy (i.e. passport, green card,
bank statement, travel itinerary/ticket etc..);
• The proof of residence in the jurisdiction of the this Consulate General in the form
of a notarized copy of the applicant’s driver license / State I.D. or student I.D. is
to be submitted;
• Italy requires traveler's health/accident insurance. The applicants must secure
OVERSEAS coverage from a company of their choosing, and then provide a
written proof of said coverage to the Consulate at the time of application. For
insurance purchased for the trip only, the whole travel period must be covered and
the coverage for medical expenses must not be less than $50,000;
• Applications are accepted and processed ONLY if all the required supporting
documents are provided. All incomplete applications will be returned without
processing.