Slightly OT - VirtualBox VM doesn't connect to USB drive on Xubunt 16.04 host

[MR ZenWiz]

I run Xubuntu 16.04 on my desktop, but I use VB to test out other OSes
as VMs, including a solid Windows 7 VM I have used for about 6+ years
for work-at-home uses, like Outlook.

Yesterday I was trying to fill out a DHS I-9 form for a new employer
on this VM. I had to use Windows because it requires Acrobat Reader to
access the form, including fill in and print.

The problem arose when i tried to print to my USB printers (neither
one worked).  I followed the directions on the VB help pages to set up
the printers fro access, and the VM Devices menu showed the checkmark,
but te Windows never saw, installedor even had any access to the
printer.

I believe I tried the network access possibility, but i didn;t work
fast enough and this time around I was in a rush and used a different
laptop that has Windows on it, which worked.

Two questions:

1. Is there a Linux/Ubuntu app that can read secure PDF files the way
AR does and can fill them in and print them?  evince and xpdf did not
work.

2. Is there some way to enable USB printers such that a VM can access
them (other than the network access method, which didn't work eiter)?

Tanks.
MR