It is certainly a sign of the times that pass ports for children are being harder to get but this really isn’t all bad. The numbers of children who are being abducted by parents is on the rise as is the divorce rate in homes with children. Passports can actually be used as a tool to create division between a parent and a child so in a difficult divorce, passports can become weapons. A law has been created to protect both parents as well as the child when child support is withheld and yet a costly vacation is planned.
In Section 51.70 (a) (8) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a parent who has been ordered to pay child support but is negligent to the tune of $2500 or more, application for the child’s US passport will be withheld until restitution is made. With the number of single moms and dads struggling to support their children because child support payments are not being made, this regulation is certainly a welcome when.
When a parent who attempts to apply for a passport for their child is found on the list of those who are neglecting to pay their child support, they are referred to their local county probation agency and must arrange to make payment. No further action will be taking regarding the acquisition of the child’s passport until the US Department of Health and Human Services receives proof that payment has been made. They, in turn, notify the State Child Support Enforcement Agency that payment has been made and they, in turn, notify the Department of State who remove the payer’s and their child’s name from the list of those to have passports withheld.
Many other laws exist that aim to help enforce safety when it comes to children getting passports. One of these is the Two Parent Consent Law. This law, enacted in 2008, requires that both parents give their consent when applying for a passport. The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program, or CPIAP, is another service established to protect children. This program lets the parents or guardians know that a passport has been filed for their child before the passport is actually issued. The Office of Children’s Issues charges itself with providing information to foreign countries and creates programs and policies in order to track down parents who have abducted their child.
These programs, policies, and laws combine to create a powerful tool of justice against parents who are negligent of their children. Hopefully, other areas of American life can follow suit and find ways to further crack down on parents who refuse to support their children. Also, the parent who supports her child can rest easy that the neglectful parent won’t be able to skip town in order to head to Cancun with his new girlfriend. Because the parent won’t be able to obtain a United States passport, he will be forced to pay the child support he has been ignoring, down to every cent.
For more information about whether you are eligible for get a US passport, visit www.uspassportnow.com.
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