US to revoke passports of parents with child support debt

Parents who have outstanding debt of more than $2,500 (€1,844) in child support payments could be impacted.

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The department announced that parents who have outstanding debt of more than $2,500 (€1,844) in child support payments could be impacted, but would be targeting those with "significant outstanding" debt.

The State Department said it is using "commonsense tools to support American families and strengthen compliance" with US laws in an approach it said would enforce parents' "legal and moral obligations to their children".

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Once a passport has been revoked, it will no longer be able to be used for travel.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.