Passport events announced

The U.S. State Department has opened a new round of special passport acceptance fairs, with extra evening and weekend slots for people who must apply in person. (travel.state.gov) The department posted the fairs on April 6, 2026, and said they are hosted by passport acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, and libraries. The page lists events in April 2026 and May 2026. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2) The events are for first-time applicants, children, and other people who must use Form DS-11, the in-person application form. The State Department said some events at passport agencies may also accept renewals. (travel.state.gov) That makes these fairs narrower than a general passport backlog program. Adults who can renew are still directed to renew online or by mail, while first-time applicants and children still need in-person acceptance. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2) The practical change is access, not eligibility. The fairs add hours outside the normal workday and use local offices that already take passport applications on the government’s behalf. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2) The State Department’s current guidance says routine service takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks, before mailing time. It says mailing can add up to 2 more weeks to the total wait. (travel.state.gov) People traveling in less than 14 days are still told to seek an appointment at a passport agency or center, not rely on a fair. Those agency appointments are limited to urgent international travel within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days if a foreign visa is needed. (travel.state.gov) (travel.state.gov) For applicants who do not need emergency service, the State Department says to use the acceptance facility search tool if a listed fair does not fit their schedule. That database covers post offices, libraries, courts, and other local government offices, and it is updated weekly. (travel.state.gov) (travel.state.gov) So the announcement is a scheduling push before heavier travel demand, not a rewrite of the passport system. If you are a first-time applicant, applying for a child, or otherwise required to appear in person, the new fairs give you more places and more hours to file. (travel.state.gov) (travel.state.gov)