Signing up with Selective service and extended stays outside US??

[realizment 18]

Hey guys,

I recieved my green card today!! Great feeling!! I am currently reading over thr "Welcome to the USA" brochure and have some questions just to make sure!!

It says if your a male between the age of 18-26 you MUST sign with the selective service, I just want to double check as this is the first time I heard of this, its also in the brochure which was a download of selective reading. It says this is important if you plan to become a citizen. It also say there is no draft. So is it just basically being obligent and telling them you are available, but nothing will probably ever come of it? Can anyone break this down a little more please.

My second question is regarding extended stays outside US, while I can see no reason why i would ever be gone beyone 6 months I just want to be certain, in the booklet it states if you leave for a period of 12 months or more then you will need to apply for a re entry permit, I thought I heard before it was 6 months so I thought it was interesting when it said 12 months. Also it says if you wish to become a citizen and maintain status "

• Don’t leave the United States for an extended period of time or move to another country to live there permanently.

Does this also mean 12 months? And what is involved in applying for a re entry permit?

Thanks guys much appreciated!!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, you must sign up for the Selective Service. It is the law and they always deny citizenship on "moral character" if someone neglected to do this.

It is a list kept for draft purposes, but we no longer have a draft. So nothing will come of it, unless catastrophic world events happen. We haven't had a draft since the 1970s, if that helps you put things into perspective. You can sign up on sss.gov. Once you are 27 then you are no longer on the list.

Yes, you can travel for up to 12 months without needing a reentry permit. People say 6 months based on rumor. I do think that your citizenship clock is paused at over 6 months, but I can't remember the details on that. You can read about citizenship requirements on the N400 instructions.

And to get a reentry permit, you fill out I-131 and follow the instructions for reentry permit, and pay $$.

Edited April 28, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There is little chance of having a draft again , the last time was in the early 1970's. So people that don't sign up because they don't want to go to war are just messing up their ability for citizenship for no reason.

When it comes to outside travel. 6 months is a point that affects your citizenship filing and 1 year means it is up to you to prove you didn't abandon your green card. If you travel for periods greater than 6 months when you file for citzenship you will be asked for proof that you maintained your residency. Many people mistakenly think that if they aren't in the US they don't have to file taxes. This is totally wrong. If you travel make sure to read up on maintaining your residency.

[realizment 18]

Thanks guys really appreciate the info. Any good links on learning how to file taxes in the US, for example my situation, is startinng a company, we are currently talking with with investors and the likes. But in a situations where you dont earn for the first year and a half or so what exactly do you do?

Cheers guys!

[realizment 18]

Ive tried signing up via online, and it is having an issue with my SS number. Anyone else have this problem?