Whether you lose your job unexpectedly or suffer a sudden health crisis that impacts your finances, paying child support on time can become difficult for various reasons. However, it is crucial to make sure that you stay caught up in order to avoid serious consequences. On top of potentially losing your driving privileges or your tax refund, you could face other significant setbacks, such as passport denial.
Without a passport, you might have to miss out on a critical business trip, a family event held overseas (such as a wedding) or a holiday that you have planned for many years.
Passport denial because of unpaid child support
The Administration for Children and Families reports that the government has the ability to revoke, restrict and deny passports as a result of back child support when a parent falls at least $2,500 behind on their obligations. In order to restore your passport privileges, you have to make payments with the child support agency in your state. In some states, parents have to pay the full amount of back child support they owe in order to restore their privileges.
Staying current on child support to avoid passport denial
If your financial circumstances have changed, you should immediately take a look at the options in front of you. Establishing a payment plan and changing your spending habits could help. Furthermore, you could have the opportunity to modify your child support order and reduce the amount you owe in monthly support, making it easier to stay current and preventing passport denial and other penalties.