How to FILL IN AND SIGN an Adobe document when the SIGN ICON is greyed out

[rkRxn285ado]

I have been completing a Canadian Immigration document IMM5227E. I have validated the form. The bar codes have appeared at the foot of the document. I have checked properties and the document is marked as "can accept a signature". The document is NOT saved as a "reader extended pdf" as someone suggested as that file extension is not available to me. My version of Adobe is 2018.011.20055. This version is NOT a "Pro" version. Has anyone any ideas as to how to solve this problem? I tried to find out how to contact the Canadian UK embassy to seek help, but their website quotes a non-existent phone number, so that avenue of help is no use.

[AnandSri]

Hello RkRxn285ado,

We're sorry for the trouble you had while signing the form using Adobe Reader. Is it possible to post a screenshot of the window where the sign option is greyed out? To share the screenshot please refer to https://forums.adobe.com/docs/DOC-7043#jive_content_id_How_do_I_attach_a_screenshot

Also, navigate to PDF properties from File>Properties>Security, and share the screenshot of the window.

And it's correct that the document needs to be Reader-enabled. This allows Reader to do certain things it normally is not able to do, such as saving a filled-in form and signing a digital signature field.

If you have Acrobat, then you can save the PDF as Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features from File>Save As>Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features.

If the PDF file is not Reader Extended PDF with additional features enabled, you won't be able to sign the PDF file.

Is it possible to share the PDF file with us so that we can check it at our end? To share the file, please use Adobe Send feature, upload the file, share the link to files via private message only, How Do I Send Private Message

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[rkRxn285ado]

Dear Anand,

I think I now have the answer - the form has been designed with a place for a signature and all the expected "fill i and sign" links or icons, but it has also been designed so that YOU CAN'T SIGN IT.

Yes, that is right - you can't sign this form digitally, but you can sign it using a pen if you print if off and use paper. The lazy developers have used the same form for both an online application AND a paper application. Now I have to admit there are warnings in the instructions, which I never noticed on my first 50 times of reading, that warn you not to sign this form, because you'll be asked to sign something else instead later. However, it takes so long to fill in all the fields that finally when you reach the signature part, you naturally assume you need to sign it.

This has caught many people out and one person contacted the Canadian Visa Help Desk and received a reply saying "they didn't know" why it couldn't be signed, they'd have to ask "another department".

So beware of the form that looks like it needs signed, but actually you can't sign it.

And thank you for your quick reply.

Should you wish to examine the form, you can download it here - Create an account or sign in – Immigration and citizenship - Canada.ca - but only after you have created an account. But I'll try and find a way of sending you a blank one based on your instructions.

[rkRxn285ado]

Dear Anand,

I tried to follow your instructions to send a private message, but they are very unclear. I have no idea how to use Adobe Send, or where it exists, and when I clicked on "Send a Private Message", I was routed to a discussion about "going to the recipient's profile and clicking a non-existent suggestion. Can you please make these instructions clearer to a first time user of this forum?

[AnandSri]

Hello RkRxn285ado,

Sorry for the delayed response and inconvenience caused. To share the file, please use Adobe Send feature, login to https://cloud.acrobat.com/send using your Adobe ID(email) and password, upload the file, share the link to files via private message only. I have sent you a private message, please check your email inbox.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.