Issue with Fingerprinting

[DolnaM 0]

Hello,

 

I need help on what to do next on this. 

 

We are in the final stages of the green card process, and my elderly parents just went to get their new passport. In order to get a passport they needed to provide fingerprints. They could not take a fingerprint from my father, they said his fingertips are too smooth with no ridges.

He received the passport for only 1 year. Which is a problem by itself, but the biggest issue is that I think this is definitely going to be an issue when either getting the visa or when trying to enter the United States where fingerprinting is a must. 

 

What do i do next to make sure there are no roadblocks for them to get the visa or to travel into the US? 

[payxibka 10,044]

13 minutes ago, DolnaM said:

Hello,

 

I need help on what to do next on this. 

 

We are in the final stages of the green card process, and my elderly parents just went to get their new passport. In order to get a passport they needed to provide fingerprints. They could not take a fingerprint from my father, they said his fingertips are too smooth with no ridges.

He received the passport for only 1 year. Which is a problem by itself, but the biggest issue is that I think this is definitely going to be an issue when either getting the visa or when trying to enter the United States where fingerprinting is a must. 

 

What do i do next to make sure there are no roadblocks for them to get the visa or to travel into the US? 

Your father isn't the first.   They have alternate procedures 

[Celebi 135]

17 minutes ago, DolnaM said:

They could not take a fingerprint from my father, they said his fingertips are too smooth with no ridges.

I had the same issue with my fingerprints. When I arrived at the airport, the officer made me transfer to another officer who was more patient and tried for about 5 minutes to have my prints on file. Same with my AOS proceedings (EAD/ AP). They kept wiping my fingers and I think I was there for about 10 - 15 minutes but they were able to get it. They will do everything to get the fingerprints and they are used to it, apparently. 

Edited June 24, 2021 by Celebi
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[DolnaM 0]

Just thinking about this and researching it I am suspecting he has adermatoglyphia which is genetic, so it is not like his fingerprints are damaged. My mom mentioned his fingers always appeared to be smooth but it never caused issues with anything until now.

[Timona 3,941]

I read somewhere on USCIS, if I am not wrong, that they have a way to work around this as was already mentioned by @payxibka

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

They do have ways to work around it. For some people it’s genetic, for some damaged in accidents or fingertips entirely missing. They have alternatives. 

[DolnaM 0]

So an update on this for those that may run into this. 

 

I have reached out to the Internal Ministry in the home country and received instructions that if we are able to prove that the condition is permanent the application can be filed as a "deficiency" or "disability" and thus receive approval for a 10 year passport. We started off at the police station to see if they could take fingerprints and provide a note that we can take to a doctor but the police did not know how or did not want to touch this. So off we went to get a written letter directly from a medical professional. We tried the PCP but he was unwilling though he did give a referral to a dermatologist but the appointment we got was months out. We eventually set an appointment with a private dermatologist who examined his hand and provided a letter that due to his age he no longer has a readable fingerprint. This we took back to the local document office where they said they will process a new 10 year passport and invalidate the 1 year passport.

 

The only catch we have right now is that the US visa is in the 1 year passport. So i am trying to confirm with the Embassy that even though the 1 year passport is invalidated, if presented with the 10 year passport the visa remains valid and they can enter the country without an issue. - If anyone can offer any input on this it would be very helpful.