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LOCATING THE PARENT OVERSEAS


Q. HOW CAN I LOCATE AN ABSENT PARENT OWING CHILD SUPPORT WHO MAY BE OVERSEAS?

A. Contact your local child support agency which has access to a variety of sources for assistance in locating the absent parent , including state, Federal ( Federal Parent Locator Service , 42 USC 653 ) and some foreign reciprocating countries location resources.

Q. HOW DO I REQUEST INFORMATION FROM U.S. EMBASSY RECORDS TO TRY TO LOCATE A U.S. CITIZEN ABROAD WHO IS OBLIGED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT?

A. Consular sections in U.S. embassies and consulates can respond to requests from your local child support agency for information from consular registration records regarding U.S. citizen parents registered with the U.S. embassy or consulate.  Information regarding the whereabouts of U.S. citizens abroad contained in Department of State passport records or U.S. embassy or consulate registration records abroad is protected by the Privacy Act. For consideration of a request for release of such information from U.S. embassy or consulate registration records, the state child support enforcement office must submit a written request to the Consular Section, American Citizens Services Unit of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or to the U.S. State Department, Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Policy Review and Interagency Liaison (CA/OCS/PRI), Room 4811A, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, tel: 202-647-3666, citing the specific law being enforced for which release of information is being requested under the law enforcement provisions of the Privacy Act . Requests cannot be made by individuals, only by state enforcement agencies.

Q. HOW DO I REQUEST INFORMATION FROM U.S. PASSPORT FILES TO LOCATE A MISSING PARENT ABROAD WHO OWES CHILD SUPPORT?

A. Information regarding the whereabouts of U.S. citizens abroad contained in Department of State passport records is protected by the Privacy Act.   Child Support Enforcement Agencies may submit requests for information from U.S. passport records to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Passport Services, Research and Liaison Branch (CA/PPT/TD/RL), Suite 510, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20522-1705. Requests must be made in writing citing the specific law being enforced for which release of information is being requested under the law enforcement provisions of the Privacy Act . Requests cannot be made by individuals, only by state enforcement agencies.

Q. CAN THE U.S. EMBASSY FIND A MISSING PARENT WHO OWES CHILD SUPPORT?

A. Because we must dedicate our limited consular staff to handling critical emergencies of Americans abroad, such as deaths, arrests, medical evacuations, and disasters, we are not in a position to conduct actual searches for U.S. citizens owing child support who are not registered with the embassy or consulate. The U.S. embassy or consulate can provide you with a list of foreign attorneys who may be able to direct you to local private investigators.