A new enforcement policy allows the revocation of a parent’s passport if they fail to pay child support, a measure designed to prioritize the needs of children.
Since 1996, the passport denial program has targeted parents owing $2,500 or more in child support, denying new applications and renewals.
Over the years, the program has generated more than $660 million in collections, yet passports are renewed only every ten years, limiting opportunities for immediate compliance.
In May, a new initiative revoked passports for parents with arrears of $50,000 or more, with plans to lower that threshold.
A Nevada father paid $119,000 to restore his passport after it was revoked, enabling him to travel with his son for a graduation celebration.
A Connecticut parent cleared nearly $180,000 in arrears to secure a passport needed for a European business trip.
A Maryland father paid over $100,000 after receiving a revocation notice, having not made a payment since 2021.
A Montana father settled $147,000 of past‑due support for a mother of four children.
An Arizona parent paid more than $170,000, including interest, to regain passport privileges.
In Texas, one father paid $16,000 to avoid loss of his passport, while another preemptively paid $6,000 after media coverage of the policy.
Since the policy’s launch in May, parents have paid nearly $1.5 million in arrears, and more than 6,000 passports have been revoked, averaging about 1,000 revocations per week.
The program, previously considered burdensome, is now emphasized as a tool to hold non‑paying parents accountable for the benefit of children and society.
Because passports are essential for travel and employment, revocation serves as a powerful incentive for timely payment.
Additional enforcement mechanisms include tax refund offsets, property liens, financial account levies, and insurance claim intercepts.
In 2024, 74% of child support collected came from employee paycheck deductions.
The collection program achieved a return of $4.24 for every $1 spent in 2024.
All available tools are employed to ensure parents meet their child support obligations.
