As a parent who owes child support, you could face different hardships. Whether you struggle to make payments on time as a result of financial challenges or you have already fallen behind, it is crucial to understand your options (such as creating a payment plan or modifying your child support order). Additionally, you should familiarize yourself with the repercussions you might face if you become delinquent.
If you plan on heading abroad for business or sightseeing, you need to understand that failing to pay child support could affect your passport and prevent you from leaving the country.
Unpaid child support and passports
The U.S. Department of State reports that when a parent does not pay child support, they lose their eligibility to receive a U.S. passport if they owe at least $2,500 in back support. It is also important to understand that if you already have a U.S. passport, authorities could revoke it if you hand it over to the government (such as trying to add pages or change your name).
If you need to apply for a passport and you owe more than $2,500 in back child support, you need to pay arrears to the child support agency in your state before applying or the government will not approve your application.
Paying back child support and applying for a passport
After you make suitable payment arrangements for back child support you owe, you should realize that it can take up to three weeks for the removal of your name from the government’s list. Once they take your name off of the blacklist, the government will process your passport application as usual. In order to protect your passport privileges and other aspects of your life, make sure you address child support issues carefully.