Thomas Henry Johnson

32 years of EXPERIENCE COUNTS!
yes: Twenty-FIVE years of extensive legal experience in the Courtroom, Boardroom, Contracts, and dealing with clients ranging from Corporate entities to individuals. Licensed to Practice Law in Texas & available to practice in all 50 states in federal immigration law.

JUDICIAL AND MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE as Former Special District Judge presiding over 100s of Civil and 1000s of criminal cases. Former City Attorney for local Municipalities in the Ark-La-Tex. Duties included advising City Board members of compliance with State and Federal Regulations, drafting and adoption of City Ordinances in civil and criminal aspects, easement and utilities issues, and eminent domain. A Texarkana based Lawyer with experience to help You with your immigration law needs in the ArkLaTex and beyond.

University of Arkansas - Little Rock

Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)

1992

University of Arkansas - Little Rock

B.S.

1989

Attorney at Law

Johnson Law Office

1992 - Current

Current.

From The Range

ALT Magazine

2014

Top 5% Legal Professionals in the Nation

American Registry

2023

Awarded for continuous professional recognition, an accomplishment realized by the Top American Professionals. All qualifying public recognitions of excellence are certified by The American Registry and include significant mentions in the press, honors by recognized trade groups, and acclaimed recognitions by peers or clients.

Texas State Bar  # 00796069

Member

1996 - Current

Texas

State Bar of Texas

Since 1996

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Q. Will a child support hold in Arkansas affect my international travel plans?

July 3, 2025

A: Hypothetically; If a gentleman already has a valid U.S. passport that was issued before Arkansas placed a hold due to child support arrears, he may still be able to travel internationally—but there are important caveats.

What Works in His Favor

- The passport is already issued and physically in his possession.

- He has been paying above the required amount since May and has documented payment history.

- There are no court orders per stated which would be restricting his travel.

- The hold appears to be placed after the passport was issued.

-What does the Hold” Means? Well,

when the passport information line indicates a “hold” from Arkansas, it typically means:

- The state has “certified his child support arrears” (likely over $2,500 at some point) to the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).

- His name has been added to the Passport Denial Program list, which is shared with the U.S. Department of State.

This list is used to DENY new passport applications or renewals, but it can also result in revocation of an existing passport in rare cases—especially if the passport is submitted for any service (like renewal or amendment).

BUT IS TRAVEL IS STILL POSSIBLE ON July 13?

- If the passport has not been revoked, and he is not required to interact with passport services before departure, he may still be able to travel.

- However, if the passport has been flagged for revocation or is invalidated in the system, he could be stopped at the airport or denied boarding.

What He Should Do Immediately:

1. Contact Arkansas OCSE

Ask whether his case has been certified to the federal Passport Denial Program and request removal based on his current payment compliance.

2. Request a Clearance Letter

If Arkansas agrees he’s in good standing, ask for a formal letter stating that and that they’ve notified the federal OCSE.

3. Call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC)

At 1-877-487-2778, confirm whether the passport is still valid for travel and whether it has been revoked or flagged.

4. Document Everything!

Keep records of payments, communications, and any letters from OCSE or NPIC in case he needs to present them during travel.

TIMING MATTERS!

Even if Arkansas agrees to remove the hold, it can take 2 to 3 weeks for the federal system to update and notify the State Department. Since travel is scheduled for July 13, time is tight!

*It’s always best to contact an Arkansas lawyer who specializes in family law on the issue of child support and coordinate with an Immigration attorney.

•THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT LEGAL ADVICE. NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN NOR IS CREATED BY SHARING THIS EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION. ... Read More