COMPASSION, KNOWLEDGE AND
Experience You
Can Rely On

Does owing back child support affect your passport?

On Behalf of | May 2, 2022 | Child Custody & Parenting Time |

If you want to visit another country and have planned a vacation for years or you need to go overseas for business purposes, you need to realize that failing to pay child support could disrupt your plans. In fact, many parents who owe child support face harsh penalties after falling behind, including the loss of their passport privileges.

It is vital to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of passport revocation and denial due to unpaid child support, and you should also go over the process of restoring your eligibility.

When does back child support affect your passport?

The U.S. Department of State covers passport denial and revocation due to unpaid child support. According to their site, you cannot obtain a U.S. passport if you have back child support totaling $2,500 or greater. The Department of State asks parents to pay arrears to the agency that enforces child support in their state prior to submitting a passport application.

How should you deal with unpaid child support?

If the government rejected your passport application or revoked your passport because you owe more than $2,500 in back child support, you need to go over the process of getting caught up and restoring your passport eligibility. After reaching out to the child support agency in your state and paying arrears, the agency will report that you have made suitable payment arrangements, after which the government will remove your name from their blacklist. However, you should note that it can take a few weeks for them to clear your name.

In addition to losing your passport, unpaid child support can impact many other aspects of your life. Whether you want to modify your child support order or make payment arrangements, you need to review your options carefully.

FindLaw Network