Argentine Finger Printing

January 16th, 2009 Posted in culture, day to day

Written by Jamie

I could bore you with the details of why, but the bottom line is we needed to get our fingerprints taken. The process is, shall we say, not quite up to 2009 standards.

After printing a form off the internet (that had to be re-formated to fit regular print paper), we showed up at our local police station. They informed us they do not do fingerprints there and we needed to go to another station. Since we have had the prints done there before, we chalked it up to classic A-factor, what happens today has no meaning for tomorrow.

We showed up at police station #2 yesterday and they informed us they only take prints until 1pm.

We returned to police station #2 today and the same officer was very kind and helped us.

I was able to take a picture of the whole system, consisting of black ink and a brush, a pad, a roller and a piece of wood to support the paper.

After completing the fingerprinting, the officer took us in the back room so we could wash our hands with some used mate. Not only does the national drink make for hours of sitting around and talking, but it acts as a hand cleaner as well.

Just another experience worth sharing in the life of two gringos in Patagonia.

  1. 8 Responses to “Argentine Finger Printing”

  2. By changcho on Jan 16, 2009

    Ah yes, lovely argentine bureocracy!

  3. By Angela on Jan 17, 2009

    Hey I had them done a few weeks ago too for my teachers license. Try the Prefectura Naval…they do them too.

  4. By Thaddeusmt on Jan 17, 2009

    In some strange way this makes me want to go to Patagonia. Even more than I already do.

  5. By Patagonia on Jan 17, 2009

    Angela,

    Already done in Playa Serena, much easier then el centro.

    Thad,

    That is a bit odd, but come on down.

    Jamie

  6. By Ries Niemi on Jan 18, 2009

    Actually, getting fingerprinted in the US is not that different.
    I needed to be fingerprinted a few years ago to be a chaperone on school field trips.
    The Bellingham Washington Police Department only fingerprints on two days a week, for a few hours.
    And then, you have to wait for the one, authorised crime scene technician to do it.

    They dont have a quaint looking piece of wood, but the new fangled, very expensive stuff they use is no cleaner, less intrusive, or better than the 19th century argentine kit.

    And there is NO used mate to clean up with. You gotta go to the $200,000 handicapped bathroom, and use the motion detector powered faucet and the computerised paper towel dispenser.

    It may LOOK more efficient, but it takes just as long, is just as messy, and costs a good 4 times as much. I seem to remember $15 US.

  7. By Patagonia on Jan 18, 2009

    Ries,

    Thanks for sharing. Our prints were actually free as was the used Mate.

    Suerte, Jamie

  8. By sonja on Jan 20, 2009

    love the detail about the used mate. and i’ve just been throwing it away, what a waste!

  9. By Patagonia on Jan 21, 2009

    Hola Sonja,

    The policemen told us “Mate para vida”, Mate for life.

    Beso, Jamie

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