U.S. passport processing returning to Fort Worth

April 20,2016

By Sandra Baker

The city of Fort Worth could start accepting U.S. passports applications in June, nearly a year after Tarrant County shut down its passport offices through the district clerk in a flap with the State Department.

But following Fort Worth’s action Tuesday, Tarrant County Clerk Mary Louise Garcia on Wednesday said her office would open passport facilities at subcourthouses in Southlake and Fort Worth. They will open in early summer, the county said. A date has not been determined.

The passport applications will be taken at the Fort Worth central library at Second and Taylor streets in downtown as part of a pilot program, likely beginning June 2 and running until year’s end, said Chris Dennis, the library’s assistant director of public service.

Libraries in several states, including in Houston, accept passport applications for the State Department.

“The State Department reached out to us,” Dennis said.

The Tarrant County locations will be at Southlake Town Hall, 1400 Main St., and the Southwest Subcourthouse at 6551 Granbury Road. Each office will employ two people and be open full time. Passport photo services will be available as well.

County Administrator G. K. Maenius said the fees charged for the services will likely add $100,000 to Tarrant revenues after expenses.

In January, the Fort Worth library applied to be a designated Passport Acceptance Facility. The application was accepted Feb. 18 and five library employees were named passport acceptance agents. Passport processing, such as background checks and approvals, are done by the State Department.

Initially, passport services are being offered 15 hours a week, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. And reservations will be needed for service, Dennis said.

But don’t call the library for an appointment just yet.

The City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to give the library authority to accept passport applications as well as collect fees. Councilwoman Gyna Bivens was absent. Dennis said the library will take the council approvals to the State Department to try to get set up by June.

Depending on demand, hours may be expanded and the service offered at other Fort Worth libraries. The program will be reviewed in December.

Applicants will pay a $25 processing fee to the library, which is set by the State Department. The library will offer passport photos for $15.

The city expects to bring in at least $60,000 in revenue from offering the service, a city report said.

Tarrant County has said it processed about 35,000 passport applications in 2014.

Tarrant County shut its six U.S. passport offices operated by the district clerk on June 24, but in September closed them indefinitely after receiving a notice from the State Department that stipulated new rules if they reopened. At the time, neither Tarrant County nor the State Department would say what the rules were.

Passport processing is also available at several post offices across Tarrant County.