The Passport Denial Program, which is part of the Federal Offset Program, is designed to help states enforce delinquent child support obligations. Under the program, non-custodial parents certified by a state as having arrearages exceeding $2,500 are submitted by the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) to the Department of State (DoS), which denies them U.S. passports upon application or the use of a passport service.

Policy and Technical Operations Information

• Action Transmittal 99-14 (AT 99-14)
  Provides policy information and citations to the law.
• Federal Offset Program User Guide
  Provides detailed information on procedures for submittal to the Federal Offset System, including timeframes, technical information and record specifications.
• Department of State Passport Services Information
  Provides detailed information for obtaining passports provided by the Department of State.

How To Obtain Your Passport After Release From The Program

The Passport Agency will hold your application for 90 days. If OCSE has released your case before the end of the 90-day hold period, the Passport Agency will mail the passport to you within two to five working days. If the release process exceeds 90 days, a new passport application must be submitted. If you need your passport before the end of the 90-day hold period, the following options are available for obtaining your passport:

• Passport Agency Contact Information
  If you need your passport urgently, generally in less than 2 weeks, you may contact the Passport Agency listed on the upper right hand corner of the denial letter issued to you by DoS. Most Passport Agencies require an appointment.
• The National Passport Information Center (NPIC)
  Individuals whose applications were denied at either the Charleston, SC Passport Agency or the National Passport Center Passport Agency, located in Portsmouth, NH, should contact the NPIC call center provided by the Department of State. These two Passport Agencies are not open to the public.
• State Child Support Enforcement Agencies Passport Denial Contacts
  [PDF, 40 KB]
  If your passport was denied for reasons of child support and you do not know which state submitted your case, or if you have never owed back child support, please consult this list for the contact information of the state where you currently reside, or your home of record if you are in the military and stationed overseas.
• Foreign Entry Requirements/Visas
  If you are traveling overseas on tourism/business (not emigrating) and want to know what you must do to enter a foreign country, this site provides information on foreign entry requirements, visas, foreign embassy telephone numbers and addresses.

Denial Of Passports To Children Involved In Child Custody Disputes

• Two Parent Consent Law
  As of July 2, 2001, as provided by Public Law 106-113, Section 236, both parents are required to execute the passport application for a minor child under age 14 or prove that the applying parent has sole authority to obtain the passport.
• Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP)
  The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is a service for the parents and legal guardians of minor children. It enables the Department of State's Office of Children's Issues to notify a parent or court ordered legal guardian that a passport application has been filed before issuing a U.S. passport for his or her child.
• The Office of Children's Issues
  The Office of Children's Issues formulates, develops and coordinates policies and programs, and provides direction to Foreign Service posts on international parental child abduction.
• Child Support Enforcement Abroad
  Information concerning child support enforcement abroad is also available on this DoS website.