Selective Service Organization for Immigrants

The Importance for Men to Register

The U.S. does not take a drafted military; the decision to join the military is entirely voluntary. Nonetheless, all male U.S. citizens and immigrant not-citizens betwixt age 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System. The Selective Service maintains a list of names in case in that location is a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of the armed forces.

Registering does non mean yous are joining the military. However, registering is even more of import for non-citizens equally it may touch their hereafter ability to go U.S. citizens through naturalization.

selective service system registration

Who Must Register for Selective Service

If you are a homo ages xviii through 25 and living in the U.S., so you lot must annals with Selective Service Organisation. According to constabulary, a human being must register within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service will accept belatedly registrations only not after a human being has reached age 26. Visit their website for a detailed look at Who Must Register. In general, the following persons must register:

  • U.S. citizens
  • Permanent residents (green carte du jour holders)
  • Refugees and asylees
  • Undocumented aliens (includes DACA beneficiaries)
  • Only non-immigrant visa holders (international students, visitors, diplomats, etc.) do not need to register

"The Selective Service Organization has not now, or in the past, collected or shared whatever information which would betoken a homo'due south immigration status, either documented or undocumented. The Selective Service System has no authority to collect such information, has no employ for it, and it is irrelevant to the registration requirement. Consequently, there is no immigration information to share with anyone."

Richard Due south. Flahavan
Acquaintance Director for Public & Intergovernmental Diplomacy

Why Registering is Important for Immigrants

As a resident of the United States, registering is a legal obligation. Failure to register as required is grounds for denying:

  • An awarding for U.S. citizenship
  • Federal student loans and grant programs
  • Federal chore training under the Workforce Investment Act
  • Federal jobs or security clearance every bit a contractor
  • Potential path to citizenship through future legislation (such as DREAM Deed or Comprehensive Immigration Reform)

selective service logo

See how declining to register for Selective Service creates a problem for men filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

How to Register for Selective Service

To annals, only call 1-888-655-1825 or go to www.sss.gov. It's easy to sign up and get proof of registration and then that you may file Grade N-400, Application for Naturalization in the hereafter.