DCL-08-10, Additional Reciprocating Nations

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-08-10

ATTACHMENT: Additional Reciprocating Central Authority Contacts

DATE: March 26, 2008

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Additional Reciprocating Nations

Dear Colleague:

I am pleased to announce two new Federal level international reciprocity agreements on child support. Finland and the United Kingdom have each been declared a “foreign reciprocating country” or FRC for child support enforcement purposes by the United States pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 659A authority.

State IV-D agencies should now provide these FRCs the same services provided pursuant to other intergovernmental and interstate requests. Outgoing requests for services should be sent to the FRCs’ respective Central Authorities. A list of contact information (address, phone, and fax) for these jurisdictions is attached and will also be made available in the address feature of the online Intergovernmental Referral Guide (IRG) [http://ocse3.acf.hhs.gov/ext/irg/sps/selectastate.cfm], where any future changes in contact information will be reflected.

OCSE’s international child support resources can be accessed through the “OCSE International Resources” web link page [http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/international/index.html]. Also, the Department of State, in collaboration with OCSE, provides general information on international child support enforcement on its website [http://travel.state.gov/family/services/support/support_582.html]. Additional guidance on these FRCs will be forthcoming after collaborative discussions on forms, policy, and procedural matters have been concluded.

The Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, plans to publish a public notice updating the list of foreign reciprocating countries to include Finland and the United Kingdom. OCSE will disseminate the Federal Register notice as soon as it is published. Please note that the text of the agreement (Finland) and declaration (UK) are on the “OCSE International Resources” web link page.

For further information about any reciprocity declaration or other international child support enforcement matters, please contact the U.S. Central Authority for International Child Support, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447. Policy questions should be directed to the Division of Policy at (202) 401-9386. Case-specific questions should be directed to the Division of Consumer Services at (202) 401-9373, fax: (202) 205-5927, email: ocseinternational@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: Regional Administrators
Regional CSE Program Managers