Selective Service issue

[RobbieG 94]

OK, my clarification is what I thought you were saying was untrue.

Undocumented aliens must register was and is my point.

Thanks guys.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Hello Everyone,

I am a LPR in the United States, i started my first full time job almost 6 months ago and was thinking about applying for Citizenship (i've been here for more than 5 years).

When i talked to my neighbour about it , she told me that i can not apply for Citizenship if i didin't submit a request to be a part of "Selective Service" which i never even heard of!!!! , so when i went to the website and checked it out i figured i am not eligible to register anymore because my 26th birthday was almost 5 months ago!!

How bad is this on my citizenship application? should i apply for citizenship or should i wait? some people also told me i should wait until am 31 or sthn..... what's the deal with that????

What if i apply and get rejected, will i lose my Green Card???? or just lose the money??!

I really need to apply for citizenship to sponsor my wife-to-be faster

Some people told me i can send them a letter and tell them i honestly did not know about it until my neigbour told me which was already too late, but i don't know if that could help!

Anyone??

You register at 25, that is the rule for all citizens and LPR; and not after being a citizen.

It's actually more of a formality since there is no draft anymore (of course, you could still be dragged to the front in dire situations). I'd still contact the Selective Service people and seek an exception (I do not know if one exists however).

Also, it depends on when exactly you became a LPR, if you were already older than the registration age, you did not have to register. Given your timeline, it would seem like you have been a LPR for 5-6 years and thus, the line above will not apply

Most -if any- LPR have ever heard of the Selective Service. I've seen other cases like yours but I do not know how it ended, they never reported back to how the process went on seeking an exception.

In seeking one, there is nothing to lose. Waiting to be 31 or so will not help, the requisite is still there and I'd say it's easier to get an exception (possible outcome is that they will provide documentation that you were not required to register) form Selective Service than from USCIS

[GazaSlimaz 43]

Hello Everyone,

I am a LPR in the United States, i started my first full time job almost 6 months ago and was thinking about applying for Citizenship (i've been here for more than 5 years).

When i talked to my neighbour about it , she told me that i can not apply for Citizenship if i didin't submit a request to be a part of "Selective Service" which i never even heard of!!!! , so when i went to the website and checked it out i figured i am not eligible to register anymore because my 26th birthday was almost 5 months ago!!

How bad is this on my citizenship application? should i apply for citizenship or should i wait? some people also told me i should wait until am 31 or sthn..... what's the deal with that????

What if i apply and get rejected, will i lose my Green Card???? or just lose the money??!

I really need to apply for citizenship to sponsor my wife-to-be faster

Some people told me i can send them a letter and tell them i honestly did not know about it until my neigbour told me which was already too late, but i don't know if that could help!

Anyone??

I do not know if it is a requirement or not but I don't know that not being registered will affect your citizenship application especially if you didn't know.

Edited July 17, 2014 by gazaslimaz876

[jenny8 8]

Apparently USCIS got smart. My husband was automatically registered when we submitted his AOS. I guess there is a clause on the form that if you are the right age, it is submitted for you.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I do not know if it is a requirement or not but I don't know that not being registered will affect your citizenship application especially if you didn't know.

It is nearly impossible not to know. In the E verify signature of the DS 260 you acknowledge the requirement as part of your signing and you must read the selective service document before signing. In AOS is it also part of what you are signing and agreeing to ( page 5 ) . It is mentioned in the welcome to the United State booklet/pdf and it is in the sheets that come with your green card. Unless someone other than yourself did the DS 260 or AOS form and you ignore the papers with your green card there is NO WAY to not know the requirement.

[JimmyHou 613]

It is nearly impossible not to know. In the E verify signature of the DS 260 you acknowledge the requirement as part of your signing and you must read the selective service document before signing. In AOS is it also part of what you are signing and agreeing to ( page 5 ) . It is mentioned in the welcome to the United State booklet/pdf and it is in the sheets that come with your green card. Unless someone other than yourself did the DS 260 or AOS form and you ignore the papers with your green card there is NO WAY to not know the requirement.

Here's what it's says on page 5 of the current I-485 application:

Selective Service Registration

The following applies to you if you are a male at least 18 years of age, but not yet 26 years of age, who is required to register with the Selective Service System: "I understand that my filing Form I-485 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorizes USCIS to provide certain registration information to the Selective Service System in accordance with the Military Selective Service Act. Upon USCIS acceptance of my application, I authorize USCIS to transmit to the Selective Service System my name, current address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and the date I filed the application for the purpose of recording my Selective Service registration as of the filing date. If, however, USCIS does not accept my application, I further understand that, if so required, I am responsible for registering with the Selective Service by other means, provided I have not yet reached 26 years of age."

Going further back, it looks like back in 2000, INS (which then became BCIS and then USCIS) added a reminder to the I-485 form and even said that they would automatically register new permanent residents although the ultimate responsibility was still with the applicant.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/pressrelease/AdjStatusFormI-485_090700.pdf

From September 7th, 2000:

"With the new Form I-485 young men between the ages of 18 and 25 will be registered automatically with the Selective Service when INS receives their application for adjustment of status. Under the law, male legal permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service. Failure to do so can lead to the denial of a naturalization petition. With the old form INS had to wait until the application was adjudicated before sending registration information to the Selective Service. This posed a problem for some males who needed to register when they filed their application but were too old once INS had adjudicated their petition. This streamlined process eliminates this potential problem."

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I think the " I didn't know I had to register" fib lies just behind the " my sweetie just happens to be in the US" one in popularity

[JimmyHou 613]

I think the " I didn't know I had to register" fib lies just behind the " my sweetie just happens to be in the US" one in popularity

I don't see any reason at all why anyone would knowingly ignore this requirement. Do they really think that the government is going to reinstate the draft? I think that almost everyone who fails to register really didn't know they had to. They're not lying, they just didn't read their paperwork.

[Ian H. 207]

Exactly. I completely agree with the above. People just don't care about reading things let alone the welcome letter. All they see is the shiny new green card and forget about the rest of the envelope.

[Hypnos 6,578]

Apparently USCIS got smart. My husband was automatically registered when we submitted his AOS. I guess there is a clause on the form that if you are the right age, it is submitted for you.

That's been on the last page of the I-485 for a long time.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

And you signed a form that declares you understand your responsibility It is just above the signature on both forms.