[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1544]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 75--PASSPORTS AND VISAS
Sec. 1544. Misuse of passport
Whoever willfully and knowingly uses, or attempts to use, any
passport issued or designed for the use of another; or
Whoever willfully and knowingly uses or attempts to use any passport
in violation of the conditions or restrictions therein contained, or of
the rules prescribed pursuant to the laws regulating the issuance of
passports; or
Whoever willfully and knowingly furnishes, disposes of, or delivers
a passport to any person, for use by another than the person for whose
use it was originally issued and designed--
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.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 771; Pub. L. 103-322, title XIII,
Sec. 130009(a)(2), title XXXIII, Sec. 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108
Stat. 2030, 2147; Pub. L. 104-208, div. C, title II, Sec. 211(a)(2),
Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-569; Pub. L. 107-273, div. B, title IV,
Sec. 4002(a)(3), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1806.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 221 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign
Relations and Intercourse (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title IX, Sec. 3, 40
Stat. 227; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, Sec. 7, 54 Stat. 80).
Mandatory-punishment provision rephrased in the alternative.
Punishment of five years' imprisonment was substituted for ``ten
years'' to conform with other sections embracing offenses of comparable
gravity.
The phrase ``which said rules shall be printed on the passport'' was
omitted as inconsistent with administrative practice and because the
existing rules are too voluminous to be printed on a passport.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
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, Sec. 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, Sec. 130009(a)(2). See below.
Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 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.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104-208 applicable with respect to offenses
occurring on or after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 211(c) of Pub. L.
