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

[Jingthing]

Oh, one of those dreaded "U.S. government" pens! I know all about those. I'd say ballpoint for sure.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[FBlue72]

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

None of those sites are official State Dept so disregard. I am looking at my brand new passport and no where does it state any instructions as to use of pens on the signature page. It only requests the personal info and notification info be filled out in pencil so it can be changed at a later date.

[Jingthing]

Like I said an official pamphlet I got says to use INK for the signature. Pen type not specified. I agree if they meant to restrict type of pens, they would bloody SAY SO!

To add, I think this thread can be closed now.

Conclusion: USE A PEN. Period.

Not sure about PINK INK though.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[lopburi3]

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!

A lot less expensive to just buy a Gel pen (such as Pentel Energel).

[Jingthing]

I agree and I looked at those but I really liked the rollerball a lot better. I think buying one semi fancy pen won't break me.

[lopburi3]

Perhaps not - but then again.

[Jingthing]

My penmanship needs all the help it can get.

[fakename]

Seems like some are over thinking! 

[chaz2]

I can remember when ball points first came into use, somtime in the 40's.  Banks would not accept signatures with them, especially on checks because you could roll the palm of your hand across the signature then roll it onto another piece of paper effectively printing your signature on the 2nd piece of paper.  But ball point ink rapidly improved and no one gives any thought about that anymore.  These days how many people have ever even used a "real" pen..?  Which we used to call a fountain pen.  They were refillable and had a rubber bladder inside to contain the ink.

 

Also it is interesting that ball points were not cheap then.  And I was told the man who invented them got very wealthy by receiving a royalty of one cent per pen.

 

As an aside, in Malaysia they have 'Commissioners of Oath" rather than notaries.  Once when i Signed a document with a red ball point the Commissioner of Oaths was irritated and jumping sideways because I signed with red ink.  Said a signature with red ink is not legal and is invalid.  I did not know that but also didn’t know I had a red pen as am color blind.  Didn’t tell him tho, just let him rant then told him we don’t care about that kind of stuff but in the USA they might be worried about HIM as Americans use notaries and don’t know what a commissioner of oaths is.  So he gave me an A4 size picture of himself dressed up in fancy clothes looking like some sort of 1000 year ago European military officer that I mailed along with the document that also looked impressive after he put his fancy seal on it and a government tax stamp.  And there were no repercussions about the red ink.  Actually, every time those guys put their seal on anything they are required to enter the particulars in a ledger, which makes it secure.  I don’t remember if USA notaries do that.

 

Anyway, if you need to sign somthing just sign it, with ink.  Black or blue probably preferred but no need to worry yourself black and blue about what a lot of forum posters might have to say.  A lot of them have thousands of posts but have never said anything

[Fred white]

On 9/21/2015 at 2:38 AM, Jingthing said:

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

signed mine with a ballpoint at the airport