US to Begin Revoking Passports of Parents Owing Child Support

The United States Department of State has announced plans to revoke the passports of parents with significant child support arrears, starting this Friday.

Initially, the policy will target parents owing $100,000 or more in unpaid child support, with about 2,700 individuals expected to be affected in the first phase, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

This new move expands on a 1996 law that had not been strictly enforced. In the coming months, the revocation will extend to parents owing at least $2,500, a measure aimed at holding more individuals accountable for their child support obligations.

While the exact number of parents owing more than $2,500 is still being determined, officials anticipate it could reach thousands, as HHS continues to compile data from state agencies.

Previously, only individuals renewing their passports could face penalties for unpaid child support. Under the new rule, the HHS will forward the names of all parents with arrears above $2,500 to the State Department, which will then revoke their passports.

Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, stated, “We are expanding a commonsense practice that has proven effective in encouraging individuals to pay their child support debt. Once these debts are resolved, parents can regain their passport privileges.”

The department also noted that many parents have already begun paying their debts following February’s announcement of the policy expansion. “While we can’t confirm the exact impact of the policy, we are taking this action to encourage parents to fulfil their legal and moral obligations,” the State Department said.

Since its implementation in 1998, the policy has helped recover significant sums of unpaid child support, including about $657 million in lump-sum payments over the past five years alone.

Parents whose passports have been revoked will be informed that they cannot use them for travel. They may only apply for a new passport once their child support obligations are settled.

In cases where an individual’s passport is revoked while abroad, they will need to visit a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain emergency travel documentation to return to the U.S.