conversation: User (camobit): "There's one detail of the EMV cards that I was looking for some clarification on.  What happens when you try to use an American credit card in a place that generally only accepts Chip &amp; PIN?  Would it have to fall back to a card swipe, and if that weren't available you're out of luck?\n\nIf I were to have a PIN added to my credit card (normally to use for a cash advance in an ATM), would it allow this card to function as a native Chip &amp; PIN card in Europe?"
  Self: "No. US cards are exclusively chip &amp; sign. If you added a PIN, it would most likely be categorized as a debit/cash advance, which you really don't want.\n\nI've never had a problem in a foreign country with my chip &amp; sign or swipe &amp; sign cards. Carry a bit of cash around just in case, but it's never been a problem so far for me."
  trekologer (trekologer): "Not exactly. It is an option for the issuer to be chip&amp;sign or chip&amp;pin. There are some domestic US chip&amp;pin credit cards but they're rather rare."
  