Washington: The US State Department has announced plans to revoke the passports of Americans who owe significant amounts in unpaid child support, expanding enforcement under an existing federal law.
According to the department, individuals with child support debt exceeding $2,500 could face passport revocation if they fail to resolve outstanding payments through state agencies.
Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening compliance with child support laws and ensuring parents meet their legal responsibilities toward their children.
Under the new approach, passports that are revoked will no longer be valid for international travel. Affected individuals will also be unable to obtain a new passport until the debt has been cleared.
The policy is based on a 1996 federal law that allows the government to deny or revoke passports for unpaid child support obligations. However, the law has historically been used mainly when people applied to renew their passports.
The State Department said it will now work more closely with the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify individuals with overdue payments and begin direct enforcement.
Officials described the measure as a “commonsense” tool designed to support American families and improve accountability among parents with unpaid obligations.
The department did not confirm the exact implementation date, though reports indicated enforcement could begin immediately.
People whose passports are revoked while abroad may need to contact a US embassy or consulate to obtain emergency travel documents allowing them to return to the country.
The decision marks a tougher stance by US authorities on child support enforcement and could affect thousands of Americans with outstanding payment obligations.
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