BBC World reports: Those with such debt were advised to arrange payment to relevant state agencies to prevent passport revocation. Once a passport has been revoked, it will no longer be able to be used for travel. Those whose passports are revoked won't be eligible for a new one until their child support debt has been paid, the State Department said."This action supports the welfare of American children by exacting real consequences for child support delinquency under existing federal law," the department said in a statement.Passport revocations for unpaid child support of more than $2,500 is allowed under a rarely-enforced 1996 federal law.Previously, the consequence was only doled out when people with such debt sought to renew their passports.
With the new policy, the State Department said it will work with the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify those with outstanding debt and revoke passports. The department did not state when the policy would start to be enforced but the Associated Press reported it would begin on Friday. The BBC has contacted the State Department.
Background
Those who are outside the US at the time of revocation will need to visit a US embassy or consulate to get an emergency travel document allowing them to reenter the country, the AP reported.US politicsUnited StatesPassports
Key facts
- Those with such debt were advised to arrange payment to relevant state agencies to prevent passport revocation.
- Once a passport has been revoked, it will no longer be able to be used for travel.
- With the new policy, the State Department said it will work with the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify those with outstanding debt and revoke passports.
Originally reported by BBC World. This story has been edited and re-presented by BRIC Team.
