Parents who do not pay child support as they should in the United States risk being sanctioned. Starting this Friday, the American state department will begin revoking passports of citizens who have accumulated significant child support arrears, as reported by the Associated Press on Thursday.
The measure first targets passport holders with debts of over $100,000 (just over €84,000). Approximately 2,700 people are affected, according to figures from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided to the press agency.
Eventually, anyone with over $2,500 in arrears can have their passport revoked, as established by a law passed in 1996 but rarely enforced.
“Common sense practice that has already proven its effectiveness”
So far, the sanction mainly affected individuals seeking passport renewal. Now, federal authorities will directly transmit the names of delinquent parents to the state department, and their document will be revoked, even if it is still valid.
“We are expanding a common-sense practice that has already proven its effectiveness to push those who owe child support to settle their debt,” detailed Mora Namdar, deputy secretary for consular affairs, to the Associated Press. She added, “Once their debts are settled, these parents can once again enjoy the benefits of a U.S. passport.”
Since the announcement of this tightening in February, several hundred parents have reportedly regularized their situation. However, the causality link cannot be confirmed in all cases, the ministry clarified.
Individuals whose passports are canceled will receive a notification indicating that they can no longer use their document for travel. After settling their debt, they will need to apply for a new passport. Those abroad at the time of revocation will have to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate to return to the United States.
