Register with Selective Services

[SrilankanstoUS 11]

Hey guys!! I will be moving to US next week. I will be turning 26 on February 6th next year. I was thinking if I should get registered with selective services once I moved in. As it’s just a couple months for me to be 26 years old. Any opinion would be highly appreciated. Thanks!!

[Dashinka 24,494]

Personally (and I believe you would be legally obligated), I would register, I believe it only takes a few minutes online, and avoid any hassles later.  Any potential obligation to serve would go away when you turn 26.

 

Good Luck!

Edited December 14, 2020 by Dashinka

[SrilankanstoUS 11]

7 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Personally (and I believe you would be legally obligated), I would register, I believe it only takes a few minutes online, and avoid any hassles later.  Any potential obligation to serve would go away when you turn 26.

 

Good Luck!

Thanks a lot for your response.

[JeanneAdil 6,501]

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Personally (and I believe you would be legally obligated), I would register, I believe it only takes a few minutes online, and avoid any hassles later.  Any potential obligation to serve would go away when you turn 26.

 

Good Luck!

Yep,  gotta do it anyway as you are under 26 when you come

[SrilankanstoUS 11]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

Yep,  gotta do it anyway as you are under 26 when you come

Yes thanks

[Mike E 11,739]

To register online requires an SSN.  You can register by mail without an SSN.  I’ve read on forums like Reddit that a side benefit of registering without an SSN is that Selective Service will get you an SSN, but this might be apocryphal.  But during these times when the social security offices are closed, it would be nice if it were true. 
 

Failure to register means:

 

* You cannot apply for US citizenship until you turn age 31.  If you would applying under the 5 year rule then given your age this makes little difference.  If under the three year rule well it makes 2 years difference.  
 

* You must still go through hassle of explaining why you didn’t register. This includes getting a status letter from Selective Service.  The result will be that you will just further delay naturalizing because there will always seem to be better uses for your time.

 

* You won’t be able to in general work for the federal government whether the job requires citizenship or not, whether you are older than 31 or not.   
 

This is one of first major life decisions you will have to make as an immigrant to the USA.  Think carefully about your decision.  
 

good luck.  

[SrilankanstoUS 11]

6 minutes ago, Mike E said:

To register online requires an SSN.  You can register by mail without an SSN.  I’ve read on forums like Reddit that a side benefit of registering without an SSN is that Selective Service will get you an SSN, but this might be apocryphal.  But during these times when the social security offices are closed, it would be nice if it were true. 
 

Failure to register means:

 

* You cannot apply for US citizenship until you turn age 31.  If you would applying under the 5 year rule then given your age this makes little difference.  If under the three year rule well it makes 2 years difference.  
 

* You must still go through hassle of explaining why you didn’t register. This includes getting a status letter from Selective Service.  The result will be that you will just further delay naturalizing because there will always seem to be better uses for your time.

 

* You won’t be able to in general work for the federal government whether the job requires citizenship or not, whether you are older than 31 or not.   
 

This is one of first major life decisions you will have to make as an immigrant to the USA.  Think carefully about your decision.  
 

good luck.  

Very informative. Thanks for your response.