The People’s Clerk Opens the Door to the World: Beverley McGrew Walker Hosts Fort Bend County Passport Fair
By Francis Page Jr.
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July 9, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Fort Bend County families, business travelers, students, dreamers, cruisers, mission-trip planners, wedding guests, and everybody who suddenly remembered that “international getaway” requires more than matching luggage—mark your calendars. Beverley McGrew Walker, Fort Bend County District Clerk affectionately known as “The People’s Clerk,” is hosting a special Passport Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Cottage House in the Veranda Community, 23323 Pearl Glen Dr., Richmond, TX 77469.
This community-centered event is designed to make applying for a U.S. passport easier, more convenient, and less intimidating for residents across one of Texas’ fastest-growing and most beautifully diverse counties. In other words, before you can say “bonjour,” “hola,” “ciao,” or “where is my boarding pass?” Walker’s office is making sure Fort Bend County is ready for the runway.
“The Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office continues to offer passport application services to the greater Fort Bend County community,” said District Clerk Walker. “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 has always been a labor of love.”
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That labor of love is more than a slogan. It reflects the kind of public service that meets people where they are—especially working parents, busy professionals, seniors, students, and families who may not have time during the traditional workweek to navigate passport paperwork. A Saturday Passport Fair is government with its sleeves rolled up, clipboard ready, and community first.
Walker’s leadership carries historic weight. A licensed Texas attorney and longtime public servant, she is serving her second term as Fort Bend County District Clerk. Her background includes public education, law, civic leadership, community outreach, and a trailblazing chapter as the first African American woman to serve on the Houston City Council. She has also been recognized for a lifetime commitment to volunteer service—proof that public service is not just what she does, it is who she is.
Fort Bend County itself is a powerful backdrop for this passport push. With an estimated 975,191 residents as of July 1, 2025, and a population that has grown more than 18 percent since 2020, Fort Bend is not simply expanding—it is connecting. Its families, entrepreneurs, students, veterans, professionals, and first-generation Americans represent a global community with local roots. A passport, then, is not just a document. It is a bridge to family, commerce, education, culture, opportunity, and sometimes a much-needed beach chair.
Appointments for the Passport Fair are limited and can be made by visiting fbctx.gov/passports. Residents are encouraged to schedule quickly and check back periodically if appointment slots are filled, as cancellations may open additional times.
Applicants should come prepared. All applicants must appear in person, including minors. Children under age 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is unavailable, the applicant must bring a completed DS-3053 Statement of Consent form or a notarized authorization letter from the absent parent, along with a copy of that parent’s identification, front and back.
Current U.S. passport processing times listed by Fort Bend County are 4–6 weeks for routine service and 2–3 weeks for expedited service, which requires an additional $60. Passport photos will be available on-site for $15. Applicants should also note that payments are separated: passport application fees must be paid by check or money order to the U.S. Department of State, while acceptance fees are paid to the local acceptance facility. Cash will not be accepted at this fair.
For first-time adult applicants age 16 and older, the U.S. Department of State currently lists the passport book fee at $130, passport card at $30, and book-and-card combination at $160, plus the $35 facility acceptance fee. For children under 16, the passport book is listed at $100, the card at $15, and book-and-card combination at $115, plus the $35 acceptance fee.
Walker said it best: “There is no higher calling than serving the public.” And on July 25, that calling comes with forms, photos, family logistics, friendly guidance, and a reminder that good government can still feel personal.
For Fort Bend County, this Passport Fair is more than a convenience. It is a community invitation to move boldly, travel wisely, and prepare for the world—one stamped booklet at a time. Passport Fair – Event Details: What: Fort Bend County District Clerk Passport Fair Host: Beverley McGrew Walker, Fort Bend County District Clerk When: Saturday, July 25, 2026 Time: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Where: The Cottage House in Veranda, 23323 Pearl Glen Dr., Richmond, TX 77469 Appointments: fbctx.gov/passports Questions: Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office, 281-341-4515
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Kierra LeeKIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM4096658446