Travel Restrictions & Passports in International Cases

Passports are one of the few points of real leverage across borders — for the parent who owes, and for protecting the child.

U.S. passport holds

When arrears exceed the threshold, certification to the Department of State can block a passport's issuance or renewal until the balance drops or a payment plan is in place — a strong motivator for an expat or frequent traveler.

Foreign exit controls

Some countries impose travel bans for unpaid family obligations; others don't. How effective it is depends on whether the parent's country recognizes the order through its Central Authority.

Protecting the child

Both parents generally must consent to a child's U.S. passport except in sole-custody cases, and the State Department's Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) plus a court order can restrict travel without written consent or a disclosed itinerary. Courts distinguish support from parenting time, but for extended overseas visits an order may require proof of current support and arrears installments, detailed itineraries, round-trip tickets, and contact information abroad.

Since 1997, the lawyers for child support team at Sinkin Law Firm has recovered unpaid support for parents statewide.