This Saturday (March 27) the King County Licensing Office in the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent will open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for residents who want to apply for a passport.

No appointment is necessary. During this event, both options of routine processing and expedited processing for an additional fee of $60 are available.

The Regional Justice Center is at 401 Fourth Ave N., No. 1A.

Currently, The U.S. Passport Book costs $100 for first-time adult applicants and $85 for all minor applicants under 16. However, a proposed rule for new passport fees will make first-time adult passport applicants pay $135 for a passport book and $105 for all minor applications. The proposed rule is in a public comment period.

In addition to the U.S. Passport Book, the U.S. Passport card is a wallet-size travel document which can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. It cannot be used for air travel. Fee increases have been proposed for this document as well.

Questions can be directed to the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 or the King County Community Service Center Licensing office at 206-205-7330.