# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/81 "2016-05-08T17:31:05Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Then my grandchildren are adopted, so I had to get them done for that too. What’s the purpose of this? If my kids want to adopt children, why would I be involved at all? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/82 "2016-05-08T19:25:46Z")
During citizenship process. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/83 "2016-05-08T19:35:35Z")
The only time I recall being fingerprinted (other than an arrest) was about 40 years ago during a routine entrance to the main computer center of Texas Instruments. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/84 "2016-05-08T22:05:59Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > 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. Not Utah, though! Seems strange to me the license that’s accepted in the most states, kicks it totally old school with having to mail in a passport photo and print card with hand written application. Contrast that with the hardest state to get licensed in (Illinois), where everything but the training’s electronic. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/85 "2016-05-08T23:13:27Z")
I used to teach, and had to be fingerprinted first. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/86 "2016-05-09T06:05:16Z")
once when arrested, once going into the military, a couple of time while in the military, don’t remember why for those two times, two or three times after the military, job related. One that stands out was for delivering fitness equipment to the BlueCross/BlueShield of Idaho headquarters. The only area that wasn’t secure and compartmentalized was the lobby. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/87 "2016-05-09T06:26:39Z")
I hold a Series 7 brokerage license , so I’ve been fingerprinted at least 3 times that I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/88 "2016-05-09T10:53:18Z")
Fingerprinting is routine here (South Africa) for e.g. driver’s licences, passports and IDs. I’ve also been fingerprinted for getting a Schengen visa. Then there was the arrests… ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/89 "2016-05-09T13:25:14Z")
Fingerprinted for federal employment. Fingerprinted every time I enter Japan (5X now). Fingerprinted recently for [TSA Global Entry program.](https://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart) ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/90 "2016-05-09T13:34:16Z")
I don’t recall ever being fingerprinted. I’ve work for a utilities company which required peeing in a cup. I did have to have a background check in order to work with kids at church though. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/91 "2016-05-09T13:52:10Z")
I worked in the banking industry, which required finger prints as a prerequisite to employment and was printed again when I got my GA weapons carry license. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/92 "2016-05-09T14:50:42Z")
Fingerprinting is extremely uncommon here. I can’t recall ever being asked about it. There was a case here a few years back when a cop was fired and prosecuted (and eventually acquitted) when prints found inside the scene of the crime were supposedly identified as hers, when all she had done was stand guard outside the house. The people working at the time in the fingerprint records department continue to assert that they are hers. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/93 "2016-05-09T15:36:31Z")
I can’t recall ever being fingerprinted. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/94 "2016-05-09T16:04:10Z")
Just once, when I worked for an oilfield services company and worked in an area where both nuclear sources and explosives were stored. Anyone with access to that building (For obvious reasons) had to be printed. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/95 "2016-05-10T01:33:23Z")
Yes. When I gave up my Canadian immigrant status to become a permanent resident in the U.S and when I got my Green Card. Also another time, but I can’t remember what that was for. I was really young, and it was for some legal document. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/96 "2016-05-10T01:36:44Z")
I was assaulted in my home, many, many years ago. The police took prints, and also took my fingerprints to tell which were mine, which were my husband’s and so on. I was in the military, don’t think my prints were taken then, but it’s been a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/97 "2016-05-10T03:44:02Z")
I’ve been fingerprinted for security clearances a handful (hah) of times. I do like the newer technology where they take your prints using a scanning device versus inking up your hands - places that do the ink-based sort for whatever reason never have a good place to wash up with soap and water :(. It’s actually been a pain to get done - around here you have to find a police station that is open (and provides the servicve) during hours when you can make it. I wound up going to a station in the next county because the only place in my county was a real nightmare to get to during the day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122.md?page=4)