By Our Correspondent
National News – The United States government has warned that parents owing more than $2,500 in unpaid child support could lose their passports under existing federal regulations.
The warning was issued on Thursday by the U.S. Department of State, which said affected citizens may be denied passport renewal or have valid passports revoked.
The move is aimed at enforcing child support payments and improving compliance across the country.
According to the department, individuals with outstanding child support debts exceeding the legal threshold are no longer eligible to receive or renew a U.S. passport.
Authorities explained that parents affected by the policy would receive official notifications through email or the mailing address linked to their passport applications.
The State Department advised debtors to immediately contact their state child support enforcement agencies to arrange repayment plans and avoid travel restrictions.
Officials also stated that once a passport is revoked, it cannot be used again, even after the debt has been settled.
A fresh passport application would be required before international travel can resume.
The agency further revealed that the process of clearing a debtor’s name from government records may take between two and three weeks after payment confirmation.
This means travellers with urgent trips could still face delays despite settling their obligations.
For Americans living abroad, the department noted that those whose passports are revoked due to unpaid child support would only qualify for limited-validity passports meant strictly for direct return travel to the United States until the debt issue is resolved.
The policy is based on a federal law introduced in 1996, which empowers the U.S. government to deny or revoke passports of individuals owing more than $2,500 in child support.
Improved cooperation between the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department now allows authorities to identify debtors more effectively and enforce the regulation nationwide.
