On the topic of Selective Service

[Shub 78]

I'm 25, I will turn 26 on this coming October 31st.

I arrived in the US on a K-1 visa on July 3rd, got married on July 21st and applied for AOS on July 30th.

It's my understanding, based on what I've been reading here, that when you apply for AOS within my age range, USCIS automatically forwards your data to Selective Service. Is that true and should I not worry about it at all then?

Or should I bother registering with Selective Service on my own anyway, just in case?

I looked myself up on their system (using my name, SS number and date of birth) and it didn't find me.

[rebeccajo 14]

Dunno, but it's easy enough to register for the service online. Why not just do it and get it over with?

[bszoom42 0]

Don't take the chance - registration is important if you don't want to lose out on certain benefits.

Register Online Now!

http://www.sss.gov/

[John & Annie 0]

do it yourself, if you do not you will not be eligible for citizenship, if you choose to go that route

[ELW 5]

My husband turned 26 less than 2 months after arriving in USA, so he registered. Like you, when he tried to sign up online, he was not found in the system. When the system cannot find the info, it shows instructions to send in the application in by snail mail, so we did that. (Forms are also available at any post office.) After some weeks we got a letter confirming his registration.

I suggest you print up the online application and send it in to the snail mail address too.

[Jasmin 1]

What is selective service? I have never heard of that...

[Shub 78]

What is selective service? I have never heard of that...

Selective Service is a branch of the US military. Basically and if I'm not mistaken, when you're on it, you're on a list of males who could potentially serve in the military if:

1) there is a draft

2) you are selected (people are selected randomly)

3) you are physically fit

Read up on it on www.sss.gov.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Edited September 1, 2007 by Shub

[l.j./1999 1]

I'm sure it won't hurt to sign yourself up, but I believe that you are supposed to be automatically registered when you submit your AOS application. My husband was 25 at the time he applied and never did anything separate to register, but we got some kind of card in the mail from Selective Services around the same time as his AOS approval confirming that he had been registered.

[caybee 21]

You must register if you are male permanent resident over 18 years of age who arrives before your 26th birthday. Filing AOS may result in automatic registration, but it may not, so it's a good idea to register yourself to make sure it's done. When you adjust status, you may be asked to prove to USCIS that you have registered. If you arrive after your 26th birthday, USCIS may ask you to prove that you are not required to register (this happened to a friend of ours). Selective Service can give you a letter which serves as proof that you are exempt from registration. You can request this letter on their website at no charge. It's good to have this on file at home anyway, since you may be required to prove your registration status if you apply for naturalization, a federal student loan, or employment with the federal government, among other things. It will save a little time.

[desert_fox 32]

What is selective service? I have never heard of that...

Selective Service is a branch of the US military. Basically and if I'm not mistaken, when you're on it, you're on a list of males who could potentially serve in the military if:

1) there is a draft

2) you are selected (people are selected randomly)

3) you are physically fit

Read up on it on www.sss.gov.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Its not a branch of the military, but a list of elgible males that would be called to serve in the military (typically the Army or Marine Corp) involuntarily for two years. This would only happen in a dire national emergency such as Canada invading North Dakota.

[mendeleev 68]

What is selective service? I have never heard of that...

Selective Service is a branch of the US military. Basically and if I'm not mistaken, when you're on it, you're on a list of males who could potentially serve in the military if:

1) there is a draft

2) you are selected (people are selected randomly)

3) you are physically fit

Read up on it on www.sss.gov.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Its not a branch of the military, but a list of elgible males that would be called to serve in the military (typically the Army or Marine Corp) involuntarily for two years. This would only happen in a dire national emergency such as Canada invading North Dakota.

Or is we start yet another war and the army can't get enough enlistments. They are running dangerously short now.

Wasn't the cover on one of the most recent Time magazine's all about the case for "national service"? You can bet that wouldn't happen if the President hadn't started one war too many and gotten our military dangerously overstretched.

A 25 hr old K1 or K3 male (or any male immigrating between 18 and 26) had better register with Selective Service, or his ability to stay with his (future) wife could be endangered. If the 25-yr-old beneficiary can delay entry until after the 26th birthday, then registration is not needed under current law.

[thesnowman 1]

I arrived in the USA 3 days before my 26th Birthday. When I got my welcome to American letter and my green card it only said I had to register if I was under 26, which I wasn't, so I wont be registering.

[mawilson 2,133]

Don't take the chance - registration is important if you don't want to lose out on certain benefits.

LOL @ "lose out on benefits"

What exactly are the "benefits" of selective service?

[Mags 112]

Don't take the chance - registration is important if you don't want to lose out on certain benefits.

LOL @ "lose out on benefits"

What exactly are the "benefits" of selective service?

I'd be interested in that answer as well...

[payxibka 10,045]

Or is we start yet another war and the army can't get enough enlistments. They are running dangerously short now.

Actually the last I read, all the branches of the service ex one had met or had exceeded there recruiting goal so far this year...

Edited September 5, 2007 by fwaguy