questions on photo requirement

[ikyang 1]

instruction says "write name and Alien number lightly with pencil..." when i did mine i can't find a pencil so i use a ballpen......friends, does it matter????????????

[YuAndDan 153]

Should be fine, if I can recall that is what I did.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=36581

Edited March 4, 2009 by YuAndDan

[cassi9879 20]

I think they want you to use a pencil so it won't bleed through or leave an indentation on the photo...

Can't remember if we still wrote the info with a pencil or not....

[hearsay 1]

It may not matter. I like to follow the instructions very closely, so if it were me I would have somehow found a pencil.

I am sure there is a specific reason for wanting pencil and not ink though - cross your fingers if you already sent it.

[wil 0]

We used a pen to write it down on back of the photo because the pencil ink was not working well with the photo paper. Nothing could be written down on the photo paper with a pencil. So we had to use a pen instead... Just write it lightly.

[jasminelily 1]

It may not matter. I like to follow the instructions very closely, so if it were me I would have somehow found a pencil.

I am sure there is a specific reason for wanting pencil and not ink though - cross your fingers if you already sent it.

hmm...... I think the photos are for (1) to keep on file (2) certficate of naturalization. So if it really matters that much, I think they'll send RFE. You're going to the interview when called, so if you're getting paranoid, then take new pictures, buy or borrow a pencil, this time write the info with pencil instead, then bring them to the interview. I don't think they need to photos right away but more like at the very end of the process when they ask you to sign your photograph after they say you're approved.

Edited March 4, 2009 by jasminelily

[upstategal 0]

I used pen also on the back of the photos. I tried using the pencil first ......but did not write well on the picture backing.

[NickD 203]

I used pen also on the back of the photos. I tried using the pencil first ......but did not write well on the picture backing.

From http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=182613

That's exactly what my wife's IO did on her photos, on the front and in ink, she never paid attention to the rear of the photo, but you do this at the interview.

I used the softest drafting pencil I had to comply with the instructions. We also brought along four spare photos, it's the IO's job to compare those photos with the person they are interviewing.