Schengen Visa at Italy consulate in Chicago: a pattern and timeline

Hello folks,

Just thought this might help whoever are trying to look for appointments in the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago. I just got an appointment for Thursday! I am applying to go on a school trip. My trip starts on May 27th, 2025.

The looking for the appointment process took only a week, but I was high on stress. Whoever are still looking, I believe you’ll get one.

I noticed a pattern that I either get appointments on Sunday or Monday. I started checking from 5:45pm up till 6:30pm. (11:45pm - 12:30am Rome time). Any days that were outside of this didn’t even matter. Nothing was available; I couldn’t even get to the calendar view.

I got the infamous message “account bloccato” mid-week cos I refresh too much. I didn’t use any bot, I was just fast. Believe it or not, the consulate actually replies my desperate unblock-email in a timely manner. I emailed them Wednesday, with a follow up Friday morning, and they got to me the afternoon of Friday (which was outside of office hours, around 2PM).

Please, if you wait for 24+ hours and it didn’t unblock automatically, email them (nicely). Don’t wait around, cos it won’t unblock itself. I waited and checked on the 3rd day, still blocked. U bet I was gonna be blocked for good.

About the timeline: I started trying last Sunday (March 16). I got an appointment on Monday night, for Tuesday 9AM. This happens around 5:30pm when I snatched it. I had to drop it eventually, realizing my document aren’t ready (didn’t get school letter eod). As soon as I released them, it is back online. Some folks took it 15 mins after.

Reddit folks are correct; the prenotami in Chicago are different from others. The cancelled ones are released immediately and up for grabs.

I got one today again (Sunday) at 6:05pm, which was awesome! The stress is over, I just have to go to the interview for the visa now.

I am also planning to not have my passport mailed like many others, as I am not from USA and my passport is my life - I will not risk it. The “consent to mail” form even stated that the consulate will not be responsible if lost.

Will update soon after my interview and visa retrieval (if anyone cares hahah). Oke bye!