Your passport being delayed or denied can be one of the most frustrating things when applying for a passport, especially if you are applying for an expedited passport. Although some reasons are simple, like mix-matched signatures or having an outdated passport photo, others can cause severe delays.
Significant delays can be caused by having felony charges or misdemeanors. Being a convicted felon, in many cases, will not stop you from being able to obtain a passport. However, certain felonies may prevent you from being able to travel internationally. More, if you are a convicted felon, you may be able to obtain a passport. Still, you may have certain restrictions for specific countries that require a visa or do not want to let a convicted felon enter their country. Again, most felons can get ahold of a passport, but here are a few reasons a felon’s passport may get denied.
If you aren’t a convicted felon, there may be other reasons why you may experience a delay.
1. Felony Drug Convictions
The U.S Government will not make a passport for anyone with a federal, state, or felony drug offense especially if the felon is charged with international cross-border drug trafficking. The distribution of drugs and or substances is another big one that will give you a small to no chance of being able to travel internationally.
Periods of Ineligibility
There is also a period of ineligibility that applies if the individual is imprisoned or is legally required to be imprisoned. Also, being on probation or any other supervised release after being imprisoned for a felony drug-related charge fall under a period of ineligibility.
Exceptions
The only drug-related offenses the U.S. Department of state may consider may be first-offense possession charges. Still, this reason only gives you a one hundred percent chance of being able to receive a passport, depending on the individual’s circumstances.
Although it is rare, the U.S Department of state may also issue a passport during emergency and humanitarian exceptions.
2. Child Support Payments
If someone owes $2,500 or more in child support, they are not eligible to receive a U.S. passport. This rule is set in place by the Passport Denial Program. The program allows for not only the denial of a passport application but has the right to revoke or restrict your passport if you owe $2500 or more in child support.
How to Get a Passport if You Owe Child Support
There is a critical list put together by The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and district attorney offices of people who owe child support at or over the $2500 threshold. If you want to travel internationally, this is not a list you want to be on! Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to get on your way to obtaining a passport.
Those who owe child support at or over the $2500 threshold will be able to get off the list once all of their child support payments are alleviated.
- First, it is vital that you make arrangements to pay the remaining balance.
- After all, payments are alleviated HHS will take your name off the list and report it to the U.S Department of State. This process can take about two or three weeks.
- The U.S Department of State will verify that your name does not remain on the list.
After completing all of these steps, your passport may typically be processed. Remember that the time required to pay off child support payments and the processing time between name removal can take weeks or even months. Make sure you plan accordingly before you make any international plans.
3. Certain Unpaid Taxes
Yes, you may be denied a passport, or even have your passport revoked for owing tax money to the IRS. The IRS actually notifies the U.S Department of State of any delinquent tax debt, which will then generally deny the passport application of any applicant with those outstanding debts.
This applies to owing Individual income taxes, business taxes, and trust fund recovery penalties that are or are over the amount of $55,000.
If You apply for a passport with such outstanding tax debt, the IRS will send a notice at the time the U.S Department of State has been notified of your outstanding tax debt. The U.S Department of State will then hold on to your application for 90 days before they deny it.
The 90-day waiting period is implemented to give the applicant time to make full payment, a satisfactory payment with IRS, and to resolve any erroneous issues. However, the respective departments will not grant you access based on a payment that puts you below the threshold of 55,000
How to Obtain a Passport
First, you will need to pay off your taxes. If the payment is not able to be completed in full, you are able to set up a payment plan with the IRS. In some cases, you are even able to obtain an Offer in Compromise, which can allow you to adjust the amount owed.
Next, you will receive certification on whether your passport has been revoked or denied. If not after all have been processed and verified, your application may continue as normal.
4. Denial of Passport Photo
One of the most common reasons why your passport application may be denied has to do with your passport photo. Though there are many reasons why your passport photo may get denied, here are some of the most common reasons and how to avoid them.
Your Passport Photo May Have Expired
Your passport photo needs to have been taken within the last six months. Passport acceptance facilities will know if your passport photo is older than six months because all printers print a light white serial code that says when a photo was printed and when it was printed. Provide an up-to-date passport photo to avoid delays or denial of your passport application.
The other common ones include the obstruction of facial features in a photo caused by shadow and lighting, accessories, and headpieces. Some fail by not meeting the basic requirements:
- The dimensions of your passport photo must be in a 2”X2” format
- The photo may be printed on glossy or matt paper
- The photo must be printed in color
- You must take your photo in front of a plain, white, or off-white background
- The photo may not be digitally altered
5. Application Errors
Application errors can be some of the easiest mistakes to look over. In all cases, it is important to review your application a few times before applying. Make sure your application is filled out correctly. Make sure you have accurate information, and that you have all the documentation that is required to send in with your application.
6. Your Signatures Don’t Match
A mistake that might set you back in your application process may be as simple as your signature not matching the signature on your check to the U.S. Department of State.
Just to let you know, passport facilities exist mainly to verify your identity and are most likely to catch if your signatures do not match.
7. You Share a Name With a Criminal
Although it may seem silly, the government may hold your passport if they suspect someone with a criminal’s name is trying to apply for a passport. The good news is that this is very rare. The bad thing is the government will hold your application and will not tell you why.
Receiving an Expedited Passport
It may take ages to receive your passport if it has been denied for any of these reasons. Average processing times take about 6-10 weeks. Some may need more time to spare after their application has been denied. It takes about 6-10 weeks, and some may need more time to spare after their application. Remember that you can only apply for a passport with your passport acceptance facility if the U.S. Department of State has your application on hold.
Apply for an Expedited Passport
If you are in need of an emergency passport or an expedited passenger, try applying with a private courier like The Passport Office. The Passport Office offers services that can get you your passport within 3-5 days. They have offices that offer expedited passport services Orlando, Miami, Hollywood, and Tampa.
Apply for an expedited passport today with The Passport Office!
