Stuck with selective service question

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

If someone is too lazy to review all the information they receive from the government that provides them with immigrant status then they deserve the mess. I know most just think they can shine this requirement and it is forgotten about later. There is no need to molly cuddle people for bad behavior. A bit of personal responsibility goes a long way in this world. My guess is you are a member of the young and not responsible for anything generation. It is clearly stated as a requirement It is on page 2 in large bold font with ages listed and an 800 number and a web site. One of 4 requirements on the page , the others being filing taxes , registering change of address within 10 days and filing for a re entry permit if you leave for over a year. In fact it is before the change of address requirement.

NigeriaorBust,

It's a bit harsh and considerably unfair to state that failing to register for Selective Service is the "stupidest" thing an immigrant can "ignore" given that many, many immigrants are not aware of this requirement and it is very, very easily overlooked in the plethora of requirements expected of immigrants. The requirement is not highlighted properly enough (indeed, more people are aware of the requirement to inform USCIS of an address change than they are about the need to register for Selective Service) and a great many immigrants are registered not because they paid attention, but because they were fortunate enough to have been registered automatically (without their knowledge) when they signed up for some other government benefit/privilege.

Let's take a step back, shelve the criticism, and put things into perspective for the Original Poster.

Original Poster: your best bet now is to apply anyway with a personal notarised statement stating several ways the requirement to register for the Service escaped your attention with documented examples. In addition, seek out personal references (employment, police certificate of Good Conduct, religious instiitution (if any), educational institution, neighbours) who can testify to their perception of you as one who has a good moral character.

Good luck!

[Darth Vader Q 4]

I'm not particularly keen on starting an argument here, but:

1) It is hardly lazy to review every single blueprint-style requirement that is noted with a benefit/contract/obligation, etcetera. In fact, the legislative arm of the very same government that provided you an immigration benefit realised this very fact and they...wait for it...wait for it....(gasp!) passed legislation pushing for simplification of language that is attached to many, many contractual obligations in the United States

That said, I do agree with you that in serious affairs, such as receiving an immigration benefit from another country, extra care should be paid by the recipient of the benefit to ensure compliance with all directions; however, to to colour all who fail to note every single one of these requirements as lazy is a stretch. Perhaps they don't have as much leisure time as you do.

2) I am not advocating molly-cuddling people for their lapses, and I never implied that the Original Poster be absolved of responsibility for his lapse. I simply acknowledged the situation for what it was and proferred solutions accordingly. Attempting to fix a wrong is not the same as condoning it.

3) You guessed wrong with your stereotype about which generation I belonged to; however, I am part of the no-BS generation that calls a spade a spade. Hope that specificity helps?

4) I'm not sure what document you're referring to, but you can be sure that it's not serving its purpose adequately since, despite its exsistence, MILLIONS of obligated immigrants fail to register for Selective Service due to ignorance not intentional avoidance.

If someone is too lazy to review all the information they receive from the government that provides them with immigrant status then they deserve the mess. I know most just think they can shine this requirement and it is forgotten about later. There is no need to molly cuddle people for bad behavior. A bit of personal responsibility goes a long way in this world. My guess is you are a member of the young and not responsible for anything generation. It is clearly stated as a requirement It is on page 2 in large bold font with ages listed and an 800 number and a web site. One of 4 requirements on the page , the others being filing taxes , registering change of address within 10 days and filing for a re entry permit if you leave for over a year. In fact it is before the change of address requirement.

NigeriaorBust,

It's a bit harsh and considerably unfair to state that failing to register for Selective Service is the "stupidest" thing an immigrant can "ignore" given that many, many immigrants are not aware of this requirement and it is very, very easily overlooked in the plethora of requirements expected of immigrants. The requirement is not highlighted properly enough (indeed, more people are aware of the requirement to inform USCIS of an address change than they are about the need to register for Selective Service) and a great many immigrants are registered not because they paid attention, but because they were fortunate enough to have been registered automatically (without their knowledge) when they signed up for some other government benefit/privilege.

Let's take a step back, shelve the criticism, and put things into perspective for the Original Poster.

Original Poster: your best bet now is to apply anyway with a personal notarised statement stating several ways the requirement to register for the Service escaped your attention with documented examples. In addition, seek out personal references (employment, police certificate of Good Conduct, religious instiitution (if any), educational institution, neighbours) who can testify to their perception of you as one who has a good moral character.

Good luck!

[Ketsuban 1,034]

My husband didn't even know about it and he was born in the States. I remember asking him about it randomly and he was like "the selective what?". Luckily he got automatically put on it when he got his driver's license at 19 years old.

[tristanz 0]

They should just make this a part of the permanent residence processing if it is really that important...

[Hypnos 6,578]

It is...

[dioxide45 25]

I always thought, "Ignorance of the law is not an excuse"?

[jhunjhun 7]

Omg! Guess what? I called them and they said i did register.lol..i almost died!!

Great! That's a good news.

[Buckyball 22]

I wouldn't apply. I've not read about a single case that wasn't declined and the applicant was told not to apply before 31.

Oh wait, maybe there was one case when someone had an offical form that was saying he automatically got registered but he wasn't.

[Hypnos 6,578]

Someone here posted they successfully overcame not registering very recently. They were under 31.

[JimmyHou 613]

Someone here posted they successfully overcame not registering very recently. They were under 31.

That's true. the applicant you're talking about was well prepared and took a lot of evidence with him to show that he didn't knowingly avoid registering. What he provided convinced the interview officer, but I think that another officer may well have denied his application.

The packet you get in the same envelope as your green card says you have to register; how do you prove that you didn't read it?

Don't get me wrong... I think that for such an important requirement, it should be advertised better, but I think that it's going to depend on the officer you get and his supervisor. The hurdle to naturalization is "knowingly" not registering and "knowingly" is a very wishy-washy term.

They could add check-boxes to green card application forms to indicate that you understand the selective service requirement... then no one can say they didn't know about it.

Or they could just make it official that anyone who failed to register (knowingly or unknowingly) has to wait until they are 31.

I would prefer either of those to leaving the consequences vague.