Fort Bend County District Clerk Beverley McGrew Walker will accept passport applications Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Seven Meadows Community Association, 23610 Seven Meadows Parkway in Katy.

Appointments are required, and space is limited.

The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can check availability and schedule through the county's passport website.

The Oct. 17 event is the latest in a series of Saturday passport fairs Walker's office has hosted across Fort Bend County, following events in Stafford on Aug. 22 and Richmond on Sept. 12. The Katy location gives west Fort Bend families a closer option ahead of the holiday travel season.

Walker, who has served as district clerk since 2019, described the program in a September My Neighborhood News article previewing the Richmond fair. "As the Fort Bend County District Clerk for the last seven years, making it easier to obtain a passport and improving the jury selection process have always been a labor of love," she said.

What to bring

Every applicant must appear in person, including children. Applicants need a completed Form DS-11 in black ink, printed single-sided, with the signature left blank for the acceptance agent. They must also bring original or certified proof of U.S. citizenship, a copy of that proof, a government-issued photo ID and copies of the ID's front and back, My Neighborhood News reported.

Children under 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent cannot attend, a DS-3053 form or notarized authorization letter from the absent parent is required, along with a copy of that parent's identification. Parents should also bring the child's original or certified birth certificate establishing parentage, even if the child has a previous passport.

Fees

Passport photos will be available on-site for $15. Application fees must be paid by check or money order. Acceptance fees must be paid by credit or debit card. Cash will not be accepted.

For applicants 16 and older, a passport book costs $130, a passport card costs $30, or both for $160. For children younger than 16, fees are $100 for a book, $15 for a card, or $115 for both. Each application carries a $35 acceptance fee. Expedited federal processing adds $60.

A passport card cannot be used for international air travel. It covers eligible land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Processing times

As of Sept. 9, the U.S. Department of State listed routine processing at four to six weeks and expedited processing at two to three weeks. Those estimates do not include mailing time, which can add up to two weeks on each end.

With Thanksgiving on Nov. 26 and Christmas less than a month later, families planning holiday travel abroad should factor in the full timeline when deciding whether to apply.

Residents with questions can call the District Clerk's Office at (281) 341-4515.