Denied Boarding

[eyesing4u]

Has anyone ever been refused from boarding due to back child support owed? I know that you can not get a passport, but you can board with a birth certificate and an ID on closed loop cruises. And before anybody gets judgemental this would be a gift for someone. Thanks for any info!

 

[lanejudy]

Well...there was just a posted news item today about a woman who was arrested as she got off from her cruise because of a bench warrant for an unpaid fine from 20 years earlier.

Would someone be denied boarding? Possibly not. Would their name come to someone's attention and float to the top of a list while on the cruise? Possible. Would they endure similar to the woman in the aforementioned news item? I wouldn't want to chance it.

 

[2CME911]

Maybe you would consider gifting your friend's child support instead and he or she could repay you in the future when things are more stable?

 

[eyesing4u]

Maybe you would consider gifting your friend's child support instead and he or she could repay you in the future when things are more stable?

Clearly this is not was I was asking. I shouldn't have to explain that this would be a gift for him and his daughter and I am free to choose how I spend my money. I should have known better than to ask on this board. My bad. I will go to Cruise Critic and ask on the Carnival board.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Clearly this is not was I was asking. I shouldn't have to explain that this would be a gift for him and his daughter and I am free to choose how I spend my money. I should have known better than to ask on this board. My bad. I will go to Cruise Critic and ask on the Carnival board.

That's a good question. I guess there would have to be some violation of a court order? But I can't believe that anyone would be denied boarding for that. There's nothing in the Disney Contract that says that. Can you imagine if it stated "no felonies"! (BTW, I don't know if it does, does it?) Good luck eyesing!

 

[ChloroFiend]

As long as the back support owed hasn't resulted in a warrant, I can't imagine it would cause an issue.

If there are any active warrants, then I'd think your friend wouldn't want their name run through law enforcement computers.

 

[Jestocost]

Again, as a PP noted, I don't think DCL will run any kind of background check before boarding that would flag anything. What gets run during the cruise behind the scenes by Homeland Security or what the customs/immigration agents can see when they return is an open question.

 

[NurseDave]

 

[kcashner]

Can't you lose your driver's license for failure to pay child support? So he's going to use some sort of ID other than a driver's license? The point of not being able to get a passport is so that one cannot travel.

There was a news article about a person being arrested for an old warrant when trying to cruise.

My guess is that if this person is in violation of the law (which it sounds like he/she is based on your original post) that he/she can indeed be denied boarding. Of course, they have to catch him first. And that doesn't even address the issues of whether he can take the child out of the country without permission from the other parent...which would of course get into the court orders surrounding the divorce and custody issues.

I think I'll stop at this point as anything else I'd say would cross into the realm of the judgemental.

 

[neg58]

Just because someone is behind in child support and cannot get a passport or license of some sort (even fishing licenses can be withheld) doesn't mean there is a warrant out for that person. Many states now use a registry in the court system to track child support, and anyone diliquent is reported to the State Dept and cannot get a passport. Doesn't mean he's a criminal, just behind and one of the penalties is no passport/license renewals until it is cleared up.

I think he would be fine with a BC and ID. No agency is looking for him. A closed loop cruise will bring him back to where he started.

If there is a warrant out because he is so behind that it has been reduced to judgment and he has failed to appear when ordered to, I wouldn't risk it. Honestly, if he still has some visitation it is unlikely that there is a warrant out for him since the court would know exactly where to find him.

Just my opinion and NOT legal advice.

 

[eyesing4u]

He has custody of his daughter and these are back monies that are owed. I just know he wasn't able to get a passport.

 

[kcashner]

I think you need a lawyer or DCL on this one before you book.

 

[OrlandoDisneyFan]

Maybe you would consider gifting your friend's child support instead and he or she could repay you in the future when things are more stable?

The OP was asking a question and asked that we reserve any judgement. If you don't know the answer to his/her question, there was no need to post your suggestion.

 

[starry_solo]

No one here is really going to know the answer to your question. Even if someone worked for Department of Homeland Security, I highly doubt they would advertise it.

I also wouldn't take what people on the boards say as gospel. They can tell you their experiences, etc., but as far as what will really happen, no one knows until your friend and his daughter go on the ship.

Will the arrears in child support show up on a DHS security check? Who knows?

 

[NoodlesMom]

My cousin was in the same boat about two years ago and sailed with no problem. He owed back child support but they were taking a little bit at a time so he didn't have to pay it in one lump sum. He also could not get a passport but had no problems sailing with a BC. Sailed DCL two years ago and just sailed Carnival in November.

 

[eyesing4u]

My cousin was in the same boat about two years ago and sailed with no problem. He owed back child support but they were taking a little bit at a time so he didn't have to pay it in one lump sum. He also could not get a passport but had no problems sailing with a BC. Sailed DCL two years ago and just sailed Carnival in November.

Thank you! That is the answer I was hoping for! I realize I should ask an attorney but at least I know it is in the realm of possibility. DCFS took her away from her mom and gave him custody and he's been trying really hard to give her a good home! Thanks!

 

[jmarsh]

My understand is when child support is over $5000 in the arrears is when they deny a passport. If he is that far behind then I would think that his licence is also suspended. I do not know if DCL runs the ID or if it doesn't matter. I would call DCL and find out before I were to book.

 

[Nannylisad]

Thank you! That is the answer I was hoping for! I realize I should ask an attorney but at least I know it is in the realm of possibility. DCFS took her away from her mom and gave him custody and he's been trying really hard to give her a good home! Thanks!

Good luck. I had no idea that lack of payment of child support could deny a passport. I know first hand that if a parents takes a child with a different last name out of the country, with out "two" parents present or anything off... you may get grilled. It has happened twice to me and daughter. Make sure he has good ID linking him to his girl.:0) I always take several ID so there is no problem proving she is mine.

 

[ssnow32539]

My sister also had this problem. She wasn't able to get a passport, but she was able to sail on several cruises with me with only a picture ID and her birth certificate. Also, just because they suspend your license doesn't mean that you don't still have it. My sister had hers suspended about every three months because child support and the Florida court system couldn't communicate with each other. It's a long story... Her license would get suspended even though she was making her payments on time every month. With that being said, she never had the license confiscated. You can still use it as photo ID, even if it is suspended.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ktb2002]

I'm really glad this question was asked! I'm taking my older children on a cruise in May and had previously seen where people were unable to get passports due to owed child support, but i didn't even think about if it could be a problem in boarding. He pays every month, and there is no "charges" against him because of it, but a very valid point!