Ink ? AFAIK at all ports of entry they are inkless scanners (certainly at JFK and SFO they are).

Why do Drive-in ATM's have Braille

Probably the same reason an optician in Manhattan had the following sign in his window:

Eye-tests while-u-wait

We rarely travel together to the US, just meet each other there (him from NRT me from LHR) I just remembered that he told me about a time in the past when his finger reacted to an ink. I think the point is that as I don't have exzema I completely didn't recollect the process myself. He DOES keep antisceptic wipes with him... just in case.

Good to be reminded that technology has made this process safer!

The last time I entered the USA, there was a problem with my fingerprints not matching. This was my second trip, so only the first time that my fingerprints had been re-scanned. I was sent to this holding room where my passport, landing card and customs form was put in something like a toast rack. Lots of officials kept coming into the room and picking up the assortment of passports, looking at them, and putting them back in the toast rack. Mine disappeared off into a side room and then eventually made it's way back. The guy said 'your all set' and I buggered off to get my case...

I have Eczema on my fingers too, but they said that the original scan had not been completed properly, or they had my left and right hands mixed up. It was all a bit vague, and I�m not really convinced that they knew what they were doing.

Anyway, I�ve got two trips to the States coming up, so I�ll find out in my own time whether they managed to sort it out last time.

I also suffer from this kind of allergy. It happened to erase all my fingerprinta. I'm processing my visa and is worried that this might bring any problem. I'm worried that I might have problem getting some clearances. Do you think it will help of I get a supporting documents from my dermatologies? I don't want to have any delays.

In my case ,I don't really have a finger print at all. I was able able I get a passport though coz it was not that sever back then. But still they had trouble getting my prints. Do you think it'll help if I have a medical certificate from my dermatologist before I fly to the US?

Welcome to Flyertalk elysaarriola, welcome to the BA Forum. It's good to see you here and I hope you will continue to participate here. Don't been too concerned if your posts gets moved to somewhere else, there are various guidelines about this, but we all recognise that FT navigation can be confusing to new people.

I would certainly carry something from your doctor regarding your condition, it may be useful in terms of prescribed medicines/creams etc. However I don't think you need worry too much, it may slightly delay your entrance, but if your prints are a bit cracked the technology these days can cope with this very well. It is not worth worrying about, eczema and psoriasis are very common conditions and CBP processes hundreds of people with skin conditions every day.

I've had occasions when it has taken a few attempts to get a accepted fingerprint, but I got the impression that the officers are used to this happening.

I would second this (as if anything CWS says needs confirmation!). I am told my own fingerprints are almost unreadable by their scanner due to excessive amounts of hand-washing in the past and it has never led to anything more than passing comment by the agents who must see the problem all the time.

I have dermatitis and the skin on my hands sometimes resembles fish scales. The fingerprint area has been cracked and the skin falling off but they've managed to do what they needed to do with the fingerprints at CBP.

The only time it's failed was when I was pregnant and suffering from a hot flush because it was insanely hot and my hands were too sweaty for the fingerprint reader

I wouldn't worry. It won't be the first time they've seen a skin condition.

I have arthritis in the little finger of my right hand which makes it difficult for me to lie it flat on the scanner and get an accepted print, however at SFO in August the officer was very helpful and he gently positioned my finger so that it did in fact scan OK.

Slightly OT, but perhaps useful info .... Although not suffering from any skin condition, my wife frequently had problems getting the fingerprint scanner to work for her. Eventually, on a recent trip through screening, the Agent explained she was pressing down too hard. Since then, no problem.

I guess she has delicate fingerprints

I have exactly the same problem, I have now found that (sometimes) a quick slosh of hand sanitiser also helps.
After several aborted attempts at ORD at the kiosk and then with an agent we finally got them to work with some rubbing alcohol.