Freaking out. selective services registration.

[Tarik 11]

Hi.

I entered the united states when I was 21 yrs old through a marriage visa. I got the restrictions off my Green card 3 years after that. Now I'm 28 yrs old and wanting to apply for citizenship, While reading the requirements I came across the selective services registration requirement witch was the first time I've heard I was required to register. I went to their website to register and It wouldn't let me because I'm too old now.

Does this mean I will not be approved for citizenship ? What can I do to correct this ? Any help is much appreciated

[Caryh 5,206]

Google is your friend. Its not impossible, but you might have to wait a bit longer. Read this article

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/naturalization-eligibility-men-who-failed-register-with-the-selective-service.html

[Tarik 11]

Google is your friend. Its not impossible, but you might have to wait a bit longer. Read this article

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/naturalization-eligibility-men-who-failed-register-with-the-selective-service.html

Very helpful info.. Thank you very much.

[Ian H. 207]

Hello,

The link above is good. Do not be overly concerned, there are plenty of people including USC's that don't know about the SSS registration, ignorance is bliss. One of my uncles didn't register because he didn't know and he was able to get the letter I believe. But he was over 31, I'm not sure how it works when you are under 31. The fault here isn't on you, it's on the US government. They need to implement policy which requires the person to be informed sometime during the immigration process that this is a requirement, that way no one can say they didn't know. How can they expect someone to follow a law on the off chance that they hear about it somewhere?

[asj2346 5]

I didn't register either but looked it up and one of the contingencies, if you want to apply for citizenship before you reach 31 would be to get a letter from SSS stating why you didn't register. I just requested one said that I didn't know about it and they sent a letter back stating that this is a letter regarding your request and that they did not send you any kind of notice or on any of their files that you needed a notice sent regarding the registration. I sent it along with my citizenship application. still waiting to be interviewed though...good luck

[cupcakefanatic 1]

You might already be registered with selective services without even knowing. That is what happened to me. I assume I was automatically registered through my immigration application. To check if you are in the books, go to https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfVerification.aspx

[Tarik 11]

Thank you guys. I'm gonna send the status request letter to the sss and see what happens.

You might already be registered with selective services without even knowing. That is what happened to me. I assume I was automatically registered through my immigration application. To check if you are in the books, go to https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfVerification.aspx

I did check and it said no records were found. So I guess I did not register

[DC85 113]

try to contact them the online system doesn't look everthing, you might be in deed registered , if not then wait untill you reach 31

[raven52 233]

I think you will be OK.,.,.,,with the inquiry you made will sure help, and the letter you sent from SSS,..,.,.,good luck.,.,.,

[Hypnos 6,576]

You were probably automatically registered; as stated above, contact them to find out.

[kcoyclay1 98]

Hi.

I entered the united states when I was 21 yrs old through a marriage visa. I got the restrictions off my Green card 3 years after that. Now I'm 28 yrs old and wanting to apply for citizenship, While reading the requirements I came across the selective services registration requirement witch was the first time I've heard I was required to register. I went to their website to register and It wouldn't let me because I'm too old now.

Does this mean I will not be approved for citizenship ? What can I do to correct this ? Any help is much appreciated

You are no longer require to register as you have past the age which is between 18 and 26. You can let them know that you were not aware of it. Maybe you will have to prove that as they usually send information about it with a copy of your greencard. But at this point I don't think it will go against you.

Edited September 9, 2014 by kcoyclay1

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Hello,

The link above is good. Do not be overly concerned, there are plenty of people including USC's that don't know about the SSS registration, ignorance is bliss. One of my uncles didn't register because he didn't know and he was able to get the letter I believe. But he was over 31, I'm not sure how it works when you are under 31. The fault here isn't on you, it's on the US government. They need to implement policy which requires the person to be informed sometime during the immigration process that this is a requirement, that way no one can say they didn't know. How can they expect someone to follow a law on the off chance that they hear about it somewhere?

It's blasted all over the "Welcome to America" letters you get when your GC is approved. And USCIS will not agree that it is not a big deal, it is cause for a denial of citizenship.

[Tarik 11]

It's blasted all over the "Welcome to America" letters you get when your GC is approved. And USCIS will not agree that it is not a big deal, it is cause for a denial of citizenship.

haha you really think I would willingly not register if I have seen it on the welcome letter.I'm pretty sure I'm not the first to not register and sure not everybody gets denied for that reason...thx for the info though very helpful .

[Ian H. 207]

Is that supposed to be an effective way of informing people of this requirement? It reminds me of the new immigrant fee that a lot of people are unaware that they have to pay.

When I say that it's USCIS/DOS fault, is because it is. They need to require the form to be filled out upon POE or include it as part of the NVC process to be processed after entry. These would prove to be effective ways and no one for sure can claim "they didn't know."

I would also like to add that I didn't say it wasn't a big deal. I informed the OP that there was no need to be overly concerned because if he didn't know about the requirement it would be up to USCIS to prove that he did know and willfully failed to register.

In order to be denied citizenship based on this requirement, the failure to register has to be willful. It's possible that the OP may be denied citizenship at this time and may not qualify until after he turns 31, however he would still have a chance for citizenship at the end of the day.

It's blasted all over the "Welcome to America" letters you get when your GC is approved. And USCIS will not agree that it is not a big deal, it is cause for a denial of citizenship.

[Ian H. 207]

As someone stated before, follow the instructions on the link they gave you. It has good info on how to obtain the status letter and/or see if you are indeed registered by calling in.

I know at least two people who have lived here for almost 30 years and didn't know they were supposed to register. They both applied for citizenship, one of them was given it without issue, the other one was going to get it, but he moved and never went to the oath ceremony, not sure what happened in that case.

haha you really think I would willingly not register if I have seen it on the welcome letter.I'm pretty sure I'm not the first to not register and sure not everybody gets denied for that reason...thx for the info though very helpful .