# Have you ever been fingerprinted? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122 "2016-05-07T00:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/61 "2016-05-07T21:54:13Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > [li]The Circle of Americans with a Passport. A small, select cadre of about 110,000,000 people.[/li][/LIST] > [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m pretty sure you can get a passport without fingerprints. I have never been fingerprinted for a US passport. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/62 "2016-05-07T22:16:22Z")
Once for my green card, once for citizenship. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/63 "2016-05-08T00:44:12Z")
Yes, for my CC handgun permit. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/64 "2016-05-08T00:58:52Z")
Several times. A couple of security clearances and for my SEC licensing. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/65 "2016-05-08T01:30:59Z")
When I was arrested. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/66 "2016-05-08T01:31:44Z")
Yes, fingerprinted (no ink, electronic scans) before they’d let me graduate nursing school and sit for my exam. I seem to recall I was thumbprinted for at least one of my stays in maternity. Probably matched to my baby’s footprint. I vaguely recall purple “ink” that wasn’t colored on my finger, but reacted with something in the paper to turn purple? Am I making that up? The nursing exam company also has scans of the veins in my right hand, which we had to use when we arrived and they checked again for any time someone went to the bathroom during the test. So you couldn’t have your identical twin stashed in the bathroom to come finish your exam for you. Same hand scan for one of my banks. It unlocks the door to the safe deposit box room. My university has biometric scans of my face and my typing pattern. We needed them to log in to take proctored exams with webcam surveillance. Yeah, I’m pretty much screwed if I commit a crime. Or if some evil villain mastermind decides to built a WhyBot. All the specs are out there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/67 "2016-05-08T01:52:03Z")
Yes, for a military security clearance. A while back I was informed that my fingerprints along with every other single part of the information for the clearance process, was potentially leaked in a hack of OPM servers. Potentially more than one government has my fingerprints. Weee! My DNA was also taken and kept on file. Fingerprints are the least of my worries if I ever decide to build a Unabomber shack and start writing my manifesto. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/68 "2016-05-08T02:08:51Z")
Yes, several times. Draft pre-induction processing, employment, secret clearance, CCW permits, NFA firearms transfers. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/69 "2016-05-08T02:25:52Z")
Yes, many times. I was a VIN Verifier and I’m a notary now and both of those required it. I was arrested once, so there’s that time. Then my grandchildren are adopted, so I had to get them done for that too. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/70 "2016-05-08T05:30:44Z")
yes, when I applied to go to law school and when I went into the military. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/71 "2016-05-08T06:13:03Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > In these parts, they take a thumbprint when you apply for, renew your drivers license. National ID for me, it’s also in the passport and in US Customs and NSA databases (“stick your finger in the reader…”). ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/72 "2016-05-08T06:41:57Z")
when I was born as the first preemie born in what was the state of the art(for 1976) neo natal unit that had been opened 2 weeks before in the silas b hayes hospital in fort ord ca I think they took my foot prints too 3 weeks later when I was disconnected from all the tubes and wires the costs I think was 25 k for my 6 week stay my dad thought(since he was ranked he didn’t have to pay a dime) that was a lot until he found out that it would of been double off base … ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/73 "2016-05-08T11:14:45Z")
I have a US passport, a PA driver’s license, and a PA concealed carry permit. Never been fingerprinted. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/74 "2016-05-08T11:22:14Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Well, two of the “circles” I “move in”:[ul] > [li]The Circle of Californians with a Driver License or ID card. We’re _ **very** _ exclusive. We only let in 8 million new members each year.[/li] > [li]The Circle of Americans with a Passport. A small, select cadre of about 110,000,000 people.[/li][/ul] I have a passport - never was printed for it. California =/= everywhere. My state does not use fingerprints on drivers licenses - in fact, we only started requiring a photo a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/75 "2016-05-08T14:00:53Z")
More times than I can count. Had a Q-clearance when working for the DoE, and now have a DoD secret clearance. I also have a concealed handgun license. Though as others have mentioned, nowadays they use scanners instead of ink. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/76 "2016-05-08T15:41:20Z")
In order to volunteer at my kids’ elementary school, I had to get a security clearance at our local Police Dept, which included a background check and fingerprinting. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/77 "2016-05-08T16:48:25Z")
Military took my prints (USMC) CIA took my prints (applied, didn’t join) SEC took my prints (stockbroker) California took my thumbprint (driver’s license) University of California (all employees when I was there) CalSouth Club soccer (coaches were printed to get our certifications) TSA Pre and CLEAR (airport go-fast lines) Plus Apple has my fingerprints and thumb prints… ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/78 "2016-05-08T17:16:14Z")
Just once, when hired by the Postal Service. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/79 "2016-05-08T17:20:54Z")
When I joined the USAF back in 1976. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/80 "2016-05-08T17:29:02Z")
Been fingerprinted many times. But as a heavy computer user+weekend yard work it doesn’t work very well except for my Thumbs(type on the sides) and pinkies(friggen useless). The main 6 straight on fingers are worn off usually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122.md?page=5)