§1543. Forgery or false use of passport

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 10 years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 771 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XIII, §130009(a)(2), title XXXIII, §330016(1)(I), 108 Stat. 2030 , 2147.)

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.

Amendments

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.

Canal Zone

Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.

Cross References

Jurisdiction of offenses, see section 3241 of this title.

Letters, writings, etc., in violation of this section as nonmailable, see section 1717 of this title.

Limitations, period of, see section 3291 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 14, 1717, 3291 of this title.