§1543 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It is a crime to make, fake, change, or damage a passport (or anything pretending to be one) if you intend it to be used. It is also a crime to knowingly use, try to use, or give someone a fake, altered, or voided passport. A person can be fined and jailed. Punishments are up to 25 years if it helped an act of international terrorism (see section 2331), up to 20 years if it helped a drug trafficking crime (see section 929(a)), up to 10 years for a first or second offense not tied to terrorism or drug trafficking, or up to 15 years for any other offense, or both a fine and prison.

Title 18, §1543

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, mutilates, or alters any passport or instrument purporting to be a passport, with intent that the same may be used; or Whoever willfully and knowingly uses, or attempts to use, or furnishes to another for use any such false, forged, counterfeited, mutilated, or altered passport or instrument purporting to be a passport, or any passport validly issued which has become void by the occurrence of any condition therein prescribed invalidating the same— Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929(a) of this title)), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facilitate such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense), or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 222 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title IX, § 4, 40 Stat. 227; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, § 7, 54 Stat. 80). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. Mandatory-punishment provision with authorization for added fine in discretion of court was rephrased in the alternative. Punishment of five years’ imprisonment was substituted for “ten years” to conform with other sections embracing offenses of comparable gravity. Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–273 substituted “to facilitate” for “to facility” in last par. 1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929(a) of this title)), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facility such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense)” for “imprisoned not more than 10 years” in last par. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(I), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “under this title” for “not more than $2,000”, could not be executed because the words “not more than $2,000” did not appear in text subsequent to amendment by Pub. L. 103–322, § 130009(a)(2). See below. Pub. L. 103–322, § 130009(a)(2), substituted “under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years” for “not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years” in last par.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–208 applicable with respect to offenses occurring on or after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 211(c) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1028 of this title.

§1543 Forgery or false use of passport