Hi there

i have a thai friend who has an American boyfriend. She mentioned that her bf cannot get an American passport (he lives in the States) due to the fact that he has outstanding debt (maybe credit default).

Is this a valid reason for being denied a passport if your an american citizen? I thought the only reason would be because of a criminal record.

Any thoughts?

If he owes $2500 or more in child maintenance he will be on a list and not be issued with a US passport until the arrears are cleared.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/legal-matters/child-support.html

Only for arrears in child support.

Any other civil debts have no bearing on the issuance of a US Passport

Also a criminal conviction is not automatically a bar to obtaining a US Passport

More here regarding denial of a passport in regards to police, court, and criminal actions:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/legal-matters/passpoirt-information-for-criminal-law-enforcement-officers.html

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Looks like civil default probably not included.

Mac

If he owes $2500 or more in child maintenance he will be on a list and not be issued with a US passport until the arrears are cleared.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/legal-matters/child-support.html

When Slick Willie signed that in to law in 1995 it was 5000 USD. See they have gotten tougher. I personally know of individuals who have gone into a US Embassy for business showed their passport and the results came up tilt and were issued a temporary pp as their original was confiscated for this very reason.

Would solve some problems for abandoned Thai girls if Thailand had a strong AND ENFORCED Dead Beat Dads law.

Think of Thai society where a father would have to pay for the children he fathered... wow !