When is a case eligible for Passport Denial Program? An obligor is eligible for the Passport Denial Program if his/her arrears total $2500 or greater on one or across multiple cases.  Eligible obligor’s names are electronically submitted weekly to the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).  The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement notifies the Department of State when the passport should be denied. All passport services agencies are updated with the denial information.

How is the obligor notified? OCSE issues the Pre-Offset Notice which advises the obligor their passport may be denied. This provides the obligor with his/her due process.

How does an obligor get removed from the Passport Denial Program when the reason for travel is leisure? The obligor must contact the CSEA make a lump sum payment to liquidate all arrears owed.  If the obligor has more than one case, even if in another Ohio County, a lump sum payment must be secured for each case with arrears.  The release process will take approximately 6 to 8 weeks to complete at the federal level.  After 6 weeks the obligor may begin contacting their Passport Services Agency.  If after 8 weeks the Passport Services Agency still indicates the passport is denied, the obligor will need to contact their local congressperson’s office for assistance.

How does an obligor get removed from the Passport Denial Program when the reason for travel is a family emergency? The obligor must provide documentation to each County CSEA that will show the reason for travel is related to a family emergency.  The CSEA will fax a Passport Denial Release Form to Ohio Child Support (OCS) Passport Denial Program Coordinator, who will manually process the expedited release request in the federal system.  The total release process will take approximately one week to complete at the federal level.  Three business days after the CSEA has faxed OCS, the obligor may begin contacting the Passport Service Agency.  If after 1 week the Passport Services Agency still indicates the passport is denied, the obligor will need to contact their local congressperson’s office for assistance.

How does an obligor get removed from the Passport Denial Program when the reason for travel is business/employment? The obligor must provide documentation to each County CSEA that will show the reason for travel is business/employment related.  CSEA must either secure a lump sum payment to pay the arrears in full or below the $2500 threshold or any other amount accepted by the CSEA, but not less than 1 month’s child support obligation for each of the obligor’s cases and/or orders.  The CSEA will fax a Passport Denial Release Form to Ohio Child Support (OCS) Passport Denial Program Coordinator, who will manually process the expedited release request in the federal system.  The total release process will take approximately one week to complete at the federal level.  Three business days after the CSEA has faxed OCS, the obligor may begin contacting the Passport Service Agency.  If after 1 week the Passport Services Agency still indicates the passport is denied, the obligor will need to contact their local congressperson’s office for assistance.

How does an obligor get removed from the Passport Denial Program when the reason for travel is for a military obligation?  The obligor must provide a copy of the travel orders from the branch of service to each County CSEA.    The CSEA will fax a Passport Denial Release Form to Ohio Child Support (OCS) Passport Denial Program Coordinator, who will manually process the expedited release request in the federal system.  The total release process will take approximately one week to complete at the federal level.  Three business days after the CSEA has faxed OCS, the obligor may begin contacting the Passport Service Agency.  If after 1 week the Passport Services Agency still indicates the passport is denied, the obligor will need to contact their local congressperson’s office for assistance.