The United States Department of State has announced plans to revoke the passports of Americans who owe significant child support debt as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with federal law and protect the welfare of children.
Under the policy, parents owing more than $2,500 in unpaid child support could face passport revocation, making the document invalid for international travel until the debt is settled.
According to the State Department, the move is aimed at enforcing the “legal and moral obligations” parents owe to their children, while using what it described as “commonsense tools” to support American families.
The policy is backed by a 1996 federal law that allows authorities to deny or revoke passports for unpaid child support obligations, though the law has rarely been enforced in the past.
Officials said affected individuals are advised to work with relevant state agencies to arrange payment and avoid sanctions. Americans whose passports are revoked while abroad may need to obtain emergency travel documents from a US embassy or consulate before returning home.
