No ball point pen to sign U.S. passport?!?

[Jingthing]

Am I the victim yet again of reading the internet too much?

I have read on multiple sources that it is not OK to use a ballpoint pen to sign a U.S. passport.

Is this for real?

Can't find an actual official source saying you can or you can't though.

What do you think?

"Use a blue or black ink felt-tip, roller ball or calligraphy pen, according to New Citizen.us. Do not use a ballpoint pen."

Edited September 20, 2015 by Jingthing

[55Jay]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

[Jingthing]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

Did you just make that up?

The only reason I could find was that ball point pen ink is easier to erase if the passport is stolen.

[maprao]

You can sign it with whatever pen you like. There are no rules with regard to this. The signature page is a paper page so there are no chips or anything to be damaged.

[Jingthing]

You can sign it with whatever pen you like. There are no rules with regard to this. The signature page is a paper page so there are no chips or anything to be damaged.

You have a link to verify that because I didn't make this up -- I saw multiple links saying very explicitly NO BALLPOINT PEN.

Also, less weirdly, the color must be black or blue.

No ballpoint pen:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7599995_sign-passport.html

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/sign-passport-107239.html

http://passportsonline.org/how-to-sign-your-passport-book/

http://www.newcitizen.us/passport.html

https://fastportpassport.com/blog/passport-signature-requirements

Edited September 20, 2015 by Jingthing

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

I guess I will be using a ball point pen every time, if that's the case.

[maprao]

I signed mine in blue ballpoint. Never gave it a second thought. Maybe I'll find out later that it is not ok.

Read your reference links. All I can say is oops!

Edited September 20, 2015 by maprao

[Jingthing]

Who even has those other kinds of pens?!?

[MAJIC]

This seems to be Official?

https://www.google.com/search?q=no+ball+point+peen+to+sign+american+passport&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[Jingthing]

That's the thing.

I have yet to locate an official U.S. government page that says you must not use a ballpoint.

If this was such a big deal, you'd think the U.S. government would make an effort to communicate it offiicially.

[BB1950]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

I don't think so... The signature line is on page 3 of my passport.

Jingthing, why don't you just call or email the embassy and ask?

7 years ago I had to replace my passport through the Embassy in Bangkok. I seem to recall the Embassy staff wanted me to sign the passport in their presence in which they provided the pen. I just looked at it and it was signed with a black ink ball-point pen.

From what I see, there's no official site that states the requirements. The no ball point pen requirement seems to originate from non-official sites! Some sites advise different, as a ball point pen leaves an impression in the paper. Some sites claim the ink fades or is easier to forge. (I don't believe this claim)

Knowing the U.S. Government, they would specify if there is a requirement. For example: On the next page which is titled "PERSONAL DATA AND EMERGENCY CONTACT" they state at the top of the page "FOR YOUR PROTECTION. COMPLETE THE INFORMATION BELOW USING PENCIL. PLEASE KEEP THESE ENTRIES UP TO DATE."

Edited September 20, 2015 by BB1950

[bendejo]

why don't you just call or email the embassy and ask?

I haven't tried lately, but US passport offices have been notorious for refusing to answer questions over the phone -- if you have a question you're supposed to make an appointment to visit the office etc.

JT, you're worrying too much. What are they going to do, ship you off to a supermax? If you're that worried go to Tesco and blow 20b on a black sharpie knock-off.

[Smokin Joe]

From USA Today article.

"Sign on the line using a non-ballpoint pen, as per the instructions that came with your passport"

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/sign-passport-107239.html

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

You can sign it with whatever pen you like. There are no rules with regard to this. The signature page is a paper page so there are no chips or anything to be damaged.

You have a link to verify that because I didn't make this up -- I saw multiple links saying very explicitly NO BALLPOINT PEN.

Also, less weirdly, the color must be black or blue.

No ballpoint pen:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7599995_sign-passport.html

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/sign-passport-107239.html

http://passportsonline.org/how-to-sign-your-passport-book/

http://www.newcitizen.us/passport.html

https://fastportpassport.com/blog/passport-signature-requirements

i signed with a ballpoint pen when I got my new U.S. passport last year here in BKK.

Haven't been deported yet!

Don't recall any guidance in any of the official U.S. State Department passport info stuff that said otherwise.

[emilymat]

Who even has those other kinds of pens?!?

I have a 20 year old Waterman fountain pen. Used it reently to mark my card on the golf course and the caddy looked at it as though it was something from Mars.

On the question, I thought it was simply sgning in black ink within the box.

[IMA_FARANG]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

I guess I will be using a ball point pen every time, if that's the case.

-----------------------------------------

At any rate there is NO GPS transceiver in a U.S. passport to be damaged.

What there may be is a small chip, not unlike the I.D. chip in your ATM card, if you have one of those passports with the chip in it, that can be scanned and read when placed in those passport scanners you sometimes see at airports.

But it is NOT a GPS transceiver in any way.

[55Jay]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

Did you just make that up?

The only reason I could find was that ball point pen ink is easier to erase if the passport is stolen.

Of course I did. I mean really, you're posting about what kind of pen can and can't be used to sign a passport.

Edited September 21, 2015 by 55Jay

[55Jay]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

I guess I will be using a ball point pen every time, if that's the case.

Never can be too careful when it comes the The Man.

[55Jay]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

I guess I will be using a ball point pen every time, if that's the case.

-----------------------------------------

At any rate there is NO GPS transceiver in a U.S. passport to be damaged.

What there may be is a small chip, not unlike the I.D. chip in your ATM card, if you have one of those passports with the chip in it, that can be scanned and read when placed in those passport scanners you sometimes see at airports.

But it is NOT a GPS transceiver in any way.

OK, you got me. You win.

[Jingthing]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

Did you just make that up?

The only reason I could find was that ball point pen ink is easier to erase if the passport is stolen.

Of course I did. I mean really, you're posting about what kind of pen can and can't be used to sign a passport.

Naughty!

[55Jay]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

Did you just make that up?

The only reason I could find was that ball point pen ink is easier to erase if the passport is stolen.

Of course I did. I mean really, you're posting about what kind of pen can and can't be used to sign a passport.

Naughty!

Naughty indeed. I was up late watching an Adam Sandler movie where he playing an ex-Israeli Commando named Zohan who wants to become a hair stylist in New York, and ends up working in a Palestinian owned salon. Soooo Clazie!

[Pib]

I've always heard that ball-point pen ink is easier to erase (for fraudulent purposes) and fades faster overtime in comparison to felt tip pens where the ink is better absorbed into the material written on...like paper fibers making up a passport page...and is basically much more permanent/in-erasable.

It's basically a preference/preferred/should way of signing many documents although some government instructions make it sound like you will be struck down by lightning or your government document invalidated if signing with a ball-point pen---sometimes that's the only way to get more people to do it the preferred way..try to put some fear of God (or the State Dept or IRS) in them.

Heck, some ball-point pens are so cheap it's hard enough to get decent ink flow when they are brand new.

[Mrjlh]

Use a "Fine Point Sharpie"......duh!

[MaeJoMTB]

Pressing with a ball point damages the circuits of the embedded GPS transceiver.

I guess I will be using a ball point pen every time, if that's the case.

30 seconds in the microwave is far more effective.

[Jingthing]

OK. I actually have a government issued brochure about this. It was sign it in INK. That's all. Just ink. Does a ball point pen use ink?

Is the Pope a Jesuit?

Anyway ... I didn't have a decent pen anyway and could have got a felt tip for peanuts but ended up buying type of pen I never heard of before, a ROLLERBALL, sort of fancy for 270 baht, and I love it!

I think the conclusion is that there isn't any official U.S. government requirement to not use a ball point pen, but somehow the idea that you shouldn't has been propagated over the internet!

Stressing over whether to sign with a ball point pen is OK ... as some might say .. white people's problems!

Edited September 22, 2015 by Jingthing

[Carmine6]

OK. I actually have a government issued brochure about this. It was sign it in INK. That's all. Just ink. Does a ball point pen use ink?

Is the Pope a Jesuit?

Anyway ... I didn't have a decent pen anyway and could have got a felt tip for peanuts but ended up buying type of pen I never heard of before, a ROLLERBALL, sort of fancy for 270 baht, and I love it!

I think the conclusion is that there isn't any official U.S. government requirement to not use a ball point pen, but somehow the idea that you shouldn't has been propagated over the internet!

Stressing over whether to sign with a ball point pen is OK ... as some might say .. white people's problems!

One of the links from your first post says "The U.S. Department of State website does not have specific requirements listed for passport signature instructions. " So as you deduced, this is more of a recommendation rather than a requirement. Ball point ink does sit more on top of, instead of in the paper versus more liquid inks. You can hold a ball point on a spot on paper and it doesn't turn into a huge blob. But use others and the ink will get sucked in.

I use a Uniball Jetstream for things like this. It is not only designed to survive plane flights, but has ink that is supposed to be fraud resistant. Other Uniballs tend to get ruined if you take them on a plane since the ink flows out of the pen.

"Exclusive pigment-based ink forms an indelible bond in paper, for intense coloration and document security"

http://www.uniball-na.com/products

[gk10002000]

why don't you just call or email the embassy and ask?

I haven't tried lately, but US passport offices have been notorious for refusing to answer questions over the phone -- if you have a question you're supposed to make an appointment to visit the office etc.

JT, you're worrying too much. What are they going to do, ship you off to a supermax? If you're that worried go to Tesco and blow 20b on a black sharpie knock-off.

Heck I was working in California on a contract job, away from my home in Florida. I brilliantly put my passport through the washer and dryer cycle. Oops. I made an appointment at the local post office down the road from where I was working in California. I went in for my appointment and the guy said, oh no, you are supposed to go to an office near your home. I said, there is no such warning, note, or policy anywhere on any government site I am aware of. I said this is the United states of America and this is a Federal office. He got moody and processed my application. What a jerk. He was just hoping he could get out on his lunch hour earlier.

[chuckd]

I solved the problem the Texas way.

Went to a US Embassy outreach program and stole one of their pens.

Nary a question since.

[Jingthing]

I solved the problem the Texas way.

Went to a US Embassy outreach program and stole one of their pens.

Nary a question since.

Ball point, was it?

[chuckd]

It has "Property of US Government" printed on it.

I don't really care now.

Sure looks like a ball point but since I read today the EPA spent $833 each for several thousand pencil holders, I feel cheap and used.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/24/golden-hammer-epas-fondness-for-high-end-furniture/

Edited September 25, 2015 by chuckd