Selective Service SNAFU

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

So, I mentioned in a thread a few weeks ago that I was considering going back to college and getting a degree. Well, everything is rolling along, and I actually start classes next week.

I applied for financial aid before Christmas, and received a fairly quick response from FAFSA (the organization that controls student loans) that everything was in order, except one thing. I had to log on to their website to find out what that one thing was, and it turned out that it's because Selective Service has no record of my registration. This isn't surprising, of course, since I arrived in the U.S. long after I turned 26, and am automatically exempt. So I went on Selective Service's website, and in one click found the page that stated all the exemptions. Not only that, it actually has a paragraph that says "Note to financial aid officers", and proceeds to say that so long as the student can prove that he matches the conditions of exemption (such as showing a passport stamp with date of entry etc.), a letter of status from the SSS is NOT required.

Armed with this knowledge, I headed down to the college yesterday morning to talk to the financial aid folks about putting it through. I was completely stonewalled. After talking to the financial aid receptionist and going through several steps, she sent me in to an actual financial aid officer who explained to me that they needed a letter of status. I tried to explain that I didn't, in fact, need a letter of status, based on what the Selective Service themselves state on their website. She would have none of it though, and gave me a number to call, and a number to fax a letter of status to.

I returned home, rather annoyed, and double-checked all of the information on SSS.gov, verifying that I was right about all of it. I went ahead and filled out a letter of status request anyhow, though discovered that processing times are often over three months. Deadline for tuition payment is this Thursday. So this morning, I printed out all the Selective Service information, grabbed my passport and went down to a different campus of the college, hoping I'd have better luck with their financial aid personnel. The financial aid receptionist once again told me that I would need to have a letter of status, and I began to lose my composure a little bit, causing her to slate me in for a financial aid adviser, "so that they can tell you what you need to do." I had to wait another forty-five minutes to see the financial aid person, and when I DID see her, it seemed that I finally managed to convey that there was no need for me to register with the Selective Service, and no need for me to EVER have registered with Selective Service, as I arrived in the country long after the age of Selective Service registration! She took my passport, made copies, talked to her supervisor, had me fill out a form stating my reason for exemption etc., then let me know that I could go ahead and start my classes as per usual on Monday and not worry about the financial aid portion.

I was happy. Overjoyed, in fact. If need be, I could scrape together the money to pay for a semester out of pocket...but it would make things tight. A student loan is a great boon.

However, shortly after I returned home, I received an email stating:

"Selective Service was unable to confirm your registration. Please provide proof of registration for Selective Service. You may contact them at 1-847-688-6888, or you may register online at www.sss.gov. Males over the age of 18 who have not registered with Selective Service are not eligible for federal student aid."

ARRRGH! It's proving to be impossible to convince them that I have never needed to register with Selective Service, nor that I don't require a letter of status. As a result of pure ignorance and bureaucracy, it's looking like my financial aid won't go through, and I'll need to pay for the first semester out of pocket...costing over $2500, when textbooks are factored in.

It's one of the first times I actually feel a little persecuted against for being an immigrant. I have any and all proof they need...yet they're insisting on some letter that another arm of the government clearly states isn't required.

So tomorrow I'll go down yet again to see if I can make any headway. I'm not holding my breath, however. This whole situation is leaving a very bad taste in my mouth though, and I really needed to vent!

[Krikit 1,165]

Wyatt, you need to get in touch with the Department Manager. Do not deal with the Officers any further. You should also contact (via email and phone) the VP of Academics and even the President of the College. Trust me. They pay attention to stuff like this. Good luck.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

And if that doesn't work, you may even want to have one of your elected officials contact them and advise them of the Federal policy that states you do not need to provide Selective Registration status as you are exempt, not being a US citizen or resident during the qualifying time frame. Good luck!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

And if that doesn't work, you may even want to have one of your elected officials contact them and advise them of the Federal policy that states you do not need to provide Selective Registration status as you are exempt, not being a US citizen or resident during the qualifying time frame. Good luck!

Thanks to you both.

Realistically, given that tuition is due tomorrow, I'm not sure if there's much I can do at this point, other than go in once again and try to show financial aid folks all of the information I've got. I'll try to take it to a higher level, if need be, but I also don't want to sour relations with the college before I've even started classes.

Ultimately, I've resigned myself to having to pay out of pocket for this semester, as I just don't trust that things will be corrected in time (and I received an automated message last night informing me that all of my enrolled classes will be dropped automatically if payment isn't made on the 5th).

It just bugs me, being in the right, but having no one recognize it out of pure ignorance.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I would also encourage you to seek more senior help with this. Escalate as high as you can. Even if you do end up paying out of pocket, they need to know they are wrong!

Also - I would almost be inclined to threaten with a lawyer (even if you don't really have one) especially since the documentation is there. I'd probably do it diplomatically of course, but it's funny how quickly people react to things like that here in the US.

I know you said it would be tight to pay for it out of pocket, but honestly, as someone who is stuck paying back student loans, I WISH I had just scraped for the money and paid for it back then so I'm not stuck paying it back now. Sure, life was easier with the student loans, but I wish I had sacrificed more back then. So, maybe it'll all work out in the end

[Flames9_RN 358]

One pretty much has to keep going up the chain--as when it comes to the next semester, ur back in the same situation. What school are you going to?

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Thanks folks -- going up the chain worked! I sent a lengthy, detailed email to the Director of Central Financial Aid, and within three hours, she called me directly to apologize for all the inconvenience. She confirmed that I was correct about having all the proof they needed to process my student loan, and she personally went into the college's computer system and pushed everything through. Needless to say, it's a big weight off my shoulders!

I really couldn't be happier with how this was ultimately dealt with, though I hate having to resort to contacting "higher-ups" about things.

By the way, Flames9_RN: I'm going to Tidewater Community College for my Associate's degree, then will likely transfer to Old Dominion University (or possibly Norfolk State University or College of William and Mary) for my Bachelor's degree.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Wyatt's Torch

[Flames9_RN 358]

Glad to hear it all worked out

[Kimbear 53]

Thanks folks -- going up the chain worked! I sent a lengthy, detailed email to the Director of Central Financial Aid, and within three hours, she called me directly to apologize for all the inconvenience. She confirmed that I was correct about having all the proof they needed to process my student loan, and she personally went into the college's computer system and pushed everything through. Needless to say, it's a big weight off my shoulders!

I really couldn't be happier with how this was ultimately dealt with, though I hate having to resort to contacting "higher-ups" about things.

By the way, Flames9_RN: I'm going to Tidewater Community College for my Associate's degree, then will likely transfer to Old Dominion University (or possibly Norfolk State University or College of William and Mary) for my Bachelor's degree.

Hate to say it but from what i've noticed in 1.5 years of being here..this is the only way to get stuff done. Whether its with Immigration, Comcast, Comed, or my landlord, seems you wont get anything sorted out unless you go to the higher ups...

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Hate to say it but from what i've noticed in 1.5 years of being here..this is the only way to get stuff done. Whether its with Immigration, Comcast, Comed, or my landlord, seems you wont get anything sorted out unless you go to the higher ups...

Yeah, that's been my experience too! Now that you mention it, we just had a horrible customer service experience with Cox Cable, causing us to ultimately cancel because we couldn't even get a higher-up on the phone. Seriously. We were told all supervisors were too busy to help us and to expect a call back in 48 hours...

I hadn't really thought about it, but I think it IS endemic to the U.S. I don't remember having so many "go up the ladder" issues in Canada...or maybe I'm just wearing maple-colored glasses?

[Kimbear 53]

Yeah, that's been my experience too! Now that you mention it, we just had a horrible customer service experience with Cox Cable, causing us to ultimately cancel because we couldn't even get a higher-up on the phone. Seriously. We were told all supervisors were too busy to help us and to expect a call back in 48 hours...

I hadn't really thought about it, but I think it IS endemic to the U.S. I don't remember having so many "go up the ladder" issues in Canada...or maybe I'm just wearing maple-colored glasses?

Nah your not wearing glasses..lol honestly..and i know its stereotypical but i think we (Canadians) honestly are nicer when it comes to custoemer service anyway. Most of the times up north be it with Bell, hydro etc, i always got SOMEONE who really wanted to help solve whatever issue i was calling about. Down here, its like they are too busy and just dont care.

Cable companies imo are the worst..i got the same line from comcast about no supervisors then they xfered me to another country FFS! Or they say they are not equipped to xfer me to a higher up and tell me to call one with another number so i can sit on hold for another hour....Right...

And they hung up on us multiple times. After two months of this i said to heck with em and cancelled and amazingly got a nice person who gave me all my money back and then some.