Department of state to begin revoking passports of parents child support obligors
U.S. parents who owe child support could be left without a passport, this even if they are outside the country
Starting this Friday, the Department of State (DOS) will initiate revoking passports for parents who have defaulted with child support, this according with information confirmed to news agency The Associated Press (AP).
Under such positioning assumed by the government, it is projected that about 2,700 U.S. citizens whose child support debt is more than $100,000 dollars they will lose their passport and, therefore, the possibility of leaving the country whether for work or a vacation plan.
Although since the start of the year the possibility of sanctioning parents unwilling to comply with child support was considered, there was no a record of offenders.
This number of delinquents emerged through information provided by the Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) to DOS.
Now, the government's next goal is to extend passport revocation to parents with child support debts exceeding $2,500, a threshold established by a 1996 law.
However, HHS is still collecting data from the state agencies that keep track of this group of people.
Until this week, only those who requested the renewal of their passports could revoke said document by proving that they had failed to pay more than $100,000 child support.
However, since you have a database, now, without the need for your passport to have expired, virtually,automatically, said document will be revoked by the government.
According to Mora Namdar, Undersecretary of State for Consular Affairs, once the delinquent parents get up to speed on child support they will be able to request a new passport.
“We are expanding a common-sense practice that has proven effective in getting those who owe child support to pay their debt. A v If these parents pay their debts, they will be able to enjoy the privilege of having a US passport,” he pointed out through social networks.
With regard to parents who are reluctant to cover their respective child support debts who are abroad at the time of revocation of their passport, they must go to a embassy or consulate of the United States to obtain a document that allows them to emergencyly return to the country, this in case their travel is required.