How can the Passport Denial program create a disaster for me if I owe substantial child support arrears?
Ordinarily, the process to obtain or renew a passport is relatively a simple process. Once a payor goes into their local passport office, it takes about four or six weeks to process. If the payor pays an additional fee, then he may expedite the process and receive his passport in two to three weeks. Unfortunately, a payor may hit a roadblock during this process if he owes child support arrears. A payor can’t apply for a passport if there is a block that is filed with the Department of State. Basically, if a person owes more than $2,500 in child support arrears, then the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center (FSPC) can file a block on your ability to apply or renew a passport. At the time of determination of ineligibility, any delinquent payor is instructed to contact probation in order to make payment arrangements. If there appropriate arrangements made within the ninety (90) days, then the National Passport Information Center must be notified in writing or by calling. Thereafter, a
