Helping to prevent possible international parental child abductions is the U.S. Department of State’s Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP). CPIAP provides a mechanism for a parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) to be contacted and alerted when someone submits a passport application for a registered child.
Any parent or legal guardian may request that his/her child be registered with CPIAP by completing CPIAP’s Entry Request Form. If your child already has a U.S. Passport, you may still want to register with CPIAP because CPIAP will attempt to contact and alert you of any application for passport renewal is received. CPIAP’s Entry Request Form can be found here.
It is important to note the following:
• If you have any concern that a parent or someone acting on his/her behalf may try to abduct or remove your child from the United States, you should obtain a Court Order for custody that prohibits such removal. A Court’s custody Order that prevents or restricts the child’s international travel, which is enforceable by law enforcement and/or airline personnel, may stop your child from being taken out of the United States. (Likewise, obtaining a Court Order for custody that prohibits out-of-state travel provides protection if you have concern that a parent or someone acting on his/her behalf may try to take or remove your child from the Commonwealth but not necessarily outside of the United States.)
• CPIAP does not apply to passports that are issued from other countries.
• CPIAP applies to United States citizens under the age of 18. Once a child reaches age 18, he/she will be automatically removed from CPIAP.
• In seeking to enroll a child in CPIAP, you must be sure to provide CPIAP with your current contact information and remember to keep that information updated in the event of any changes. While CPIAP will attempt to contact and alert you of a registered child’s passport application or passport renewal application, it may not be successful if the contact information on record is not current.
For more detailed information regarding the U.S. Department of State Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program, please click here.
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