The United States government has warned that citizens who fail to pay child support risk losing access to their passports.
According to the U.S. Department of State, individuals owing more than $2,500 in unpaid child support may be denied a new passport or have an existing one revoked under federal law.
“To be eligible for a U.S. passport, you must pay any outstanding child support”, the agency said on its website.
It added that, “If you owe more than $2,500, federal regulations do not allow us to issue you a U.S. passport, and we may revoke your valid U.S. passport. The agency said affected individuals must clear their debts before becoming eligible for another passport and advised them to contact the state where the debt is owed to arrange repayment.
“If your U.S. passport is revoked because you owe more than $2,500 in child support, you will need to contact the state where you owe child support to pay your debt”, the government stated.
Authorities also warned that a revoked passport remains invalid for travel even after payment has been made.
The Department of State further noted that restoring passport eligibility may take at least two to three weeks after payment, as the Department of Health and Human Services must verify the individual’s status before a new passport can be issued.
