8 FAM 1303.2
U.S. Passports Limited for Direct Return to the United States
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
(Office of Origin: CA/PPT/S/A)
8 FAM 1303.2-1 (U) Introduction
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
a. U.S. passports may be restricted for use only for direct return to the United States. "Direct return" means that the passport is only valid for transit to the United States.
b. Although a direct return passport permits transit through another country, e.g., to change planes, a passport limited for direct return should not be used for admission into any country other than the United States. A passport limited for direct return does not mean that the bearer is only eligible for non-stop or direct flights.
c. Passports limited for direct return are also issued for a limited period of validity--they are only valid long enough for the bearer to complete the trip with a few days' margin of error to account for travel delays.
8 FAM 1303.2-2 Endorsements
(CT:CITZ-74; 06-28-2022)
Only emergency passports may be limited for direct return using endorsements 105 and 106 (see 8 FAM 505.2-2 for further guidance on endorsements, including guidance regarding passport fees).
8 FAM 1303.2-3 Reasons for Direct Return
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
U.S. passports are limited for direct return for the following reasons:
(1) Some passports issued under the special-family circumstances exception (22 CFR 51.28(a)(5)(ii) (see 8 FAM 501.5);
(2) Failure to repay or make appropriate payments on a repatriation loan (22 CFR 51.60(a)(1)) (see 8 FAM 803.9-1);
(3) Arrears on child support (22 CFR 51.60(a)(2)) (see 8 FAM 501.5-14);
(4) Refusal by a covered sex offender to accept the endorsed passport (22 CFR 51.60(a)(4)) (see 8 FAM 501.5-26(C));
(5) Abduction, wrongful removal, or retention of a minor applicant in a foreign country in violation of a court order or decree (22 CFR 51.60(E)) (see 8 FAM 502.1-3);
(6) Sex tourism (22 CFR 51.60(h)(1)) (see 8 FAM 501.5-3(A));
(7) Seriously delinquent tax debt (22 CFR 51.60(h)(2)) (see 8 FAM 501.5-13);
and
(8) To facilitate the return to the United States of U.S. citizens who are otherwise ineligible for a full-validity passport (22 CFR 51.60(i)). This category includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) Subjects of a state, local and/or federal felony arrest warrant (see 8 FAM 501.5-22);
(b) Unaccompanied minors found or abandoned abroad (see 8 FAM 502.1);
(c) Repatriation, crisis evacuation, or emergency medical and dietary assistance loans (see 8 FAM 803.9-5);
(d) Failure to provide a Social Security Number (see 8 FAM 403.5-2);
(e) Victims of serious crime (see 7 FAM 1911);
(f) Extradition, deportation, prisoner transfer, or revocation on law enforcement grounds (see 8 FAM 602.2-5, 8 FAM 803.6, and 22 USC 214a); and
(g) When the passport fee is waived on humanitarian grounds under 22 USC 214a (see 8 FAM 602.2-5).