Passport for military spouse?

Question

I might need a passport in the next few years. but i have read that if you are over 1000 dollars in debt with child support you won't be able to get one. but, is that for everyone, or is there an exception for military spouses? just wondering...and please no smart answers, this is a serious question

i have made arrangements to pay the back child support, and i am doing well now. can you still get one though if you still owe?

Answer 1

If your spouse is on orders for an accompanied overseas assignment you are entitled to a no fee passport.

Regardless, I've not heard of any financial history requirements which limits who can get a passport?

Annie, better check your source on that information. I was stationed in Germany for 5 years, my wife got a no fee passport and traveled all over Europe. Generally, the military has no say as to where a spouse can travel while overseas...

Answer 2

If you are given orders to accompany your spouse on an overseas assignment, the military will issue you a passport just for traveling to and from the US to the country you are stationed in. You will not be able to use it to travel anywhere else.

I have no idea on how this would be affected by being in arrears for child support. According to the state department website, if you owe more than $2500 in back child support, you can not get a passport. However, if you have contacted the state office managing your child support and make arrangments to pay it off, you will then be eligable. If you know this may be an issue, it is best to address it now.

Answer 3

Once he has order for overseas, you will set up appts. to get your no-fee gov't issued passport. Depending on where you go, it will have your SOFA stamp and your VISA (not every country requires a VISA). Your financial history will have no impact on getting the passport.

As for travel, the military RECOMMENDS but does not require you to use a tourist passport. Like Victor, while stationed in Germany we traveled all over and never had any problems. And, now in England, we are doing the same thing. Still no problems entering or leaving the country with a gov't issued passport. Here, it would be more of a problem with a tourist passport, as it would not have my VISA in it!!

Annie, get your facts straight!

Answer 4

The limit is $5000: " 42 U.S.C. 652 (k) provides that the Secretary of State must deny issuance of a passport to a person who is in arrears of child support of more than $5,000 based upon a certification to that effect by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)." http://travel.state.gov/law/info/info_608.html#passport

Answer 5

if your spouse is on orders to go overseas, once he gets his orders he can get you a passport and all you have to do is pay for the pictures

Answer 6

if you are in arrears, there are no exceptions made for military spouses. As long as you have a payment plan and are not delinquent, you should be okay.