FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)


Q. WHAT COUNTRIES DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH AT PRESENT?

A. Since 1996, when Congress for the first time specifically authorized federal-level agreements regarding child support enforcement, the United States has entered into a number of reciprocal agreements, which do not require U.S. Senate advice and consent. For a current list of countries where we have a bilateral agreement in force, see the HHS Office of Child Support Enforcement Foreign Reciprocating Countries page .

Q. WHERE DO I GO TO GET HELP IN TRYING TO ENFORCE A CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION INVOLVING A RESIDENT OF THE U.S. AND A RESIDENT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY?
A. The first step for U.S. residents seeking international child support enforcement is to contact your local child support office . These offices are generally known as the state IV-D Agency, for Title IV-D of the 1975 Social Security Act which established the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s U.S Federal Child Support Enforcement program. Although addresses, phone numbers and web pages for state child support agencies are available here, contact information for state agencies changes regularly. You may wish to contact your state child support enforcement office via the Internet or check the address feature of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)'s Online Interstate Resource Guide . If you do not have access to the Internet at home or at work contact your local public library.

Residents of other nations should contact family maintenance officials in their nations for information and other assistance and review our discussion about enforcing a foreign child support order in the United States.

The U.S. Child Support Enforcement Program is a Federal/State/local partnership. Each State in the United States runs a child support program, either in the human services department, department of revenue, or district attorneys office, often with the help of prosecuting attorneys, other law enforcement agencies, and officials of family or domestic relations courts. U.S. local child support offices can provide information about Federal international support agreements and state-level arrangements with foreign countries, as well as about the increasing variety of aggressive techniques now available to pursue enforcement in the U.S. and abroad, including garnishment of wages and federal income tax refunds, revocation of licenses, direct contact with foreign employers, criminal enforcement proceedings, etc.

Q. HOW CAN A U.S. PASSPORT BE DENIED TO A PERSON OBLIGED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT?

A. U.S. passports cannot be denied based on requests from private individuals. 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). See 22 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 51.70 (a) (8) . If a person applies for a U.S. passport or other consular services abroad, and that person's name does not clear the Passport Name Check System due to an outstanding child support obligation certified by HHS, the U.S. embassy or consulate will deny the request for a passport or revoke a passport already issued.

The person may be issued a limited validity passport which is also limited for return to the United States. "Revoke" means that the U.S. government has officially removed the passport from the person - it does not necessarily mean that the original passport (which may include multiple foreign visas) is destroyed or canceled. If there is a hold for HHS certified child support reasons, the passport will not be returned to the person until the name clears the passport lookout system. The formal passport revocation letter prepared by the U.S. embassy or consulate informs the person that the passport is legally revoked and he or she is not entitled to it until HHS gives the Department of State official permission.

Once the name of the person clears the passport lookout system electronically, the passport may be returned. This means that the state where the child support is owed must notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that the $5,000 or more in arrears has been paid. HHS will in turn notify the U.S. Department of State that the individual's name may be removed from the passport name check system. The Department of State and its embassies and consulates abroad have no information concerning individual child support obligations and have no authority to take other action until HHS removes the person's name from its list. Please direct any questions to the appropriate state child support enforcement agency. You may go to the Department of Health and Human Services - State Child Support Enforcement Web Site for a listing of HHS state and local agencies. See also the HHS letter to all state IV-D Directors requesting updated information.

Q. IF THERE IS NO FEDERAL OR STATE RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT ON CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

A. If there is no Federal or state arrangement, a state child support agency or an individual seeking child support may want to consult an attorney in the foreign country to learn if there are any remedies available under foreign law. Consult the U.S. Department of State home page for list of foreign attorneys prepared by the U.S. embassy or consulate abroad and information on retaining a foreign attorney . See also general information about enforcement of judgments. Lists of attorneys are also available from the U.S. Department of State, Overseas Citizens Services, Office of American Citizen Services and Crisis Management at 202-647-5225 or via mail at Room 4811A, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520. Also, domestic enforcement tools such as tax offset, passport restrictions, or lien registries may be effective even if the person who is obliged to pay child support resides in a country without enforcement procedures available to U.S. residents. Consult your local your local child support agency for assistance with these domestic enforcement tools.

Q. HOW CAN A FOREIGN CHILD SUPPORT ORDER BE ENFORCED IN THE UNITED STATES?

A. If there is an existing federal bilateral child support arrangement between the United States and the foreign country, or a U.S. state-level arrangement with the foreign country, the foreign country should contact the local child support enforcement agency in the state where the person owing child support resides. If the parent’s whereabouts are unknown, the foreign central authority can contact the U.S. Central Authority, Director, U.S. Central Authority for International Child Support, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services, Phone: 202-260-5943; Fax: 202-401-5539. If there is no state-level or federal arrangement with the foreign country, it may be necessary for the individual seeking enforcement or the foreign authorities working on behalf of that individual to retain the services of a private attorney in the United States to attempt to enforce the foreign judgment in accordance with U.S. law. There is no treaty in force between the United States and any foreign country on the subject of enforcement of judgments. See our general guidance regarding enforcement of judgments. Information about lawyer referral services is available from the American Bar Association.

Q. WHICH U.S. STATES HAVE CHILD SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS WITH WHICH FOREIGN COUNTRIES?

A. Contact your state child support agency to find out about the existence and provisions of a state-level arrangements with a specific foreign country. You can also find whether your state has a state-level arrangement with a specific foreign country by going to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) Online Interstate Roster and Referral Guide (IRG) and selecting your state from the map, then going to section C "Reciprocity."

The information contained below, drawn from the individual state reports, may not be entirely accurate as state reciprocal arrangements change without notice. It is wise to consult the most up-to-date information, which is available on the HHS home page.

  • Alabama: Ireland, Slovakia.
  • Alaska: Australia , Canada (only the following provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territory), England, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Sweden.
  • Arkansas: Canada (all provinces), Germany, Ireland, Poland, United Kingdom .
  • Arizona: Australia , Canada ( including provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick , Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan); France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom , British Virgin Islands.
  • California: Australia , Austria, Bermuda, Canada (all provinces), Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand , Norway, Poland, Republic of South Africa, Slovak Republic, Sweden, United Kingdom .
  • Colorado: Australia , the following provinces in Canada : (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Yukon Territory), France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom .
  • Connecticutt: Australia ; Bermuda; Canadian Provinces: (Alberta, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick); France; Germany; Hungary; Ireland; Mexico (the following 27 of 32 states: Aguascalientes, Nayarit, Baja California, Nuevo Leon, Campeche, Puebla, Chiapas, San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua, Queretaro, Coahuila, Quintana Roo, Colima, Sonora, Distrito Federal, Tabasco, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Jalisco, Yucatan, Michoacan, Zacatecas, Morelos); Norway; Poland; Slovak Republic; United Kingdom ..
  • Delaware: Australia , Canada (the following provinces in Canada , Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon; England, and Germany.
  • District of Columbia: None.
  • Florida: Australia , Austria, Bermuda, Canada (including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom .
  • Georgia: Australia , Canada (the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan), Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom .
  • Hawaii: Australia , Germany and United Kingdom.
  • Idaho: Australia , Austria, Bermuda, Canada (all provinces), Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico (Referrals/Payments thru Consulate of Utah or California), New Zealand , Norway, Poland, Republic of South Africa, Slovak Republic, Sweden and the United Kingdom
  • Illinois: Australia , Austria, Bermuda, Canada (all provinces), Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand , Northern Ireland , Norway, Poland, Scotland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sweden and United Kingdom.
  • Indiana: Australia , Canada (provinces of Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador), Norway, Sweden, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
  • Iowa: Australia , Canadian Provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territories), France, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, Poland, Scotland, Slovak Republic, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
  • Kansas: None
  • Kentucky: , Australia , Bermuda, Canada (all provinces), Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand , Poland, Republic of South Africa, Slovak Republic, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
  • Louisiana: Australia , Canada (provinces of Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland Poland, and United Kingdom .
  • Maine: Canada (provinces of Newfoundland, Labrador, and Quebec), Germany, Sweden, and United Kingdom .
  • Maryland: Australia , Canada (Provinces of Edmonton Alberta, Winnepeg Manitoba, Frederickton New Brunswick, St. John's Newfoundland , Halifax Nova Scotia , Toronto Ontario, Charlottetown Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory) , France, Ireland, Heidelberg Germany, Berlin Germany, Hungary, Jamaica, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom.
  • Massachusetts: Austria, Canada (provinces of Quebec), Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom .
  • Michigan: Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island), France and Germany.
  • Minnesota: Australia , Austria, Canada : (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territories), Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom .
  • Mississippi: Canada (provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovak Republic and Sweden.
  • Missouri: Australia , Austria, Canada (provinces of Alberta, New Brunswick, Northwest Territory, Ontario and Saskatchewan), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Micronesia, Poland, Slovak Republic and United Kingdom.
  • Montana: All Canadian provinces and all countries with which the U.S. has federal agreements.
  • Nebraska: Australia , Canada (provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the Slovak Republic..
  • Nevada: Austria, Canada (provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic and the United Kingdom .
  • New Hampshire: None.
  • New Jersey: Australia , Bermuda, Canada (provinces of Alberta, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory), Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, United Kingdom .
  • New Mexico: Austria, Canada (provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario,- Nova Scotia), Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom .
  • New York: Australia , Austria, Canada (all provinces), Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden, United Kingdom .
  • North Carolina: Australia , Canada (provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia), Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom , ,
  • North Dakota: Australia , Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory), France, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom.
  • Ohio: Australia , Austria, Canada (all provinces, except Nunavit), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand , Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden and United Kingdom
  • Oklahoma: Australia , Canada (provinces of Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan), Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom , .
  • Oregon: Australia , Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Jamaica, Micronesia, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, United Kingdom and British Virgin Islands.
  • Pennsylvania: Australia , Canada (provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan), France, Germany, United Kingdom , Sweden, Ireland, .
  • Rhode Island: All countries with which the U.S. has federal agreements.
  • South Carolina: None
  • South Dakota: Australia , Canada (provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, Territory of Nunavut, Yukon, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan,), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden, United Kingdom .
  • Texas: Austria, Australia , Canada (provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon Territory), Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom .
  • Utah: Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory), France, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom.
  • Vermont: Vermont has no official arrangements with foreign countries.
  • Virginia: Australia , Austria; Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Islands, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory), Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe.
  • Washington State: Austria, Australia , Bermuda, Canadian Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, NW Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Islands, Quebec, Saskatchewan; Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand , Norway,Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden and the United Kingdom .
  • West Virginia: Not Available.
  • Wisconsin: Australia , Austria, British West Indies (pending), Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories (pending), Nova Scotia (pending), Ontario, Prince Edward Island (pending), Quebec (pending), Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory, Newfoundland and Labrador), Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland (pending), Mexico (all states except Durango, Mexico, Oaxaca, Sinalos) New Zealand , Nigeria (pending), Norway, Palau (pending), Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom .
  • Wyoming: None