Men who wish to obtain citizenship usually need to register for selective service. Failure to register for selective service can come with devastating consequences, especially if your goal is to remain in the United States long-term. However, there is a lot of confusion around the selective service requirement, which can lead to issues. Keep reading to find out how selective service can impact citizenship and the process of registering for selective service.
Who Is Required to Register?
The first thing that male immigrants need to know if they are seeking citizenship is that they must register for selective service. This is a requirement that extends to almost all male immigrants and U.S. citizens who are 18 through 25 years old.
Keep in mind that registering does not induct you into the U.S. military. It simply keeps a database of men in the United States in case a draft is required.
Not only are you required to register, but you also must do this within a certain timeframe. For U.S. immigrants who aren’t yet 18 years old, you must register at least 30 days after your 18th birthday. If you are already between the ages of 18 and 25, you need to register within 30 days of entering the United States.
Dual nationals also need to register with the selective service system, regardless of whether they live in or out of the United States. Also, U.S. territory residence will need to register if they are habitual residents in the U.S. or have resided in the U.S. for a minimum of one year.
Those holding non-immigrant visas can be exempt from this requirement as long as their visa is valid until their 26th birthday. There are also some additional exemptions that include men who have been incarcerated, hospitalized, or who are disabled.
Consequences of Failing to Register
It isn’t uncommon for immigrants to not understand the importance of registering for selective service, especially if their end goal is citizenship. However, failing to register for selective service can have very real consequences, impacting your immigration options.
First of all, if it’s discovered that you failed to register for selective service, this will generate good moral character concerns. To obtain citizenship, you have to prove that you are of good moral character. Failing to follow the registration law damages this, putting your chance of obtaining citizenship at risk.
In severe cases, failing to register can even result in the denial of citizenship. Also, depending on the circumstances, sometimes this comes with a bar to citizenship that requires you to accumulate five years of documented good moral character before you can apply for citizenship.
Keep in mind that even undocumented immigrants in the United States should register. Doing so can help them later on by showing that they have followed the registration law, even if they have technically been in the U.S. illegally.
When you register, even as an undocumented immigrant, this doesn’t usually come with any negative ramifications. Although the United States will now have your information, it won’t use this to check your immigration status.
What If You Didn’t Know You Had to Register?
U.S. immigration laws are notoriously complex, so it isn’t necessarily uncommon for male immigrants to not know about the selective service requirement. If this is the case and you didn’t know that you had to register, the USCIS may be more lenient with your case.
If you are still between the ages of 18 and 25, the best course of action is to simply register with the selective service right away. Although this means that you have already bypassed the deadline, it shows that you are at least trying to be compliant.
Those who are over the age of 25 who want to apply for citizenship, may be able to prove that they did not intentionally fail to register. To prove this, you can file form N-400 with a status information letter from the selective service system. The status information letter acknowledges that you are over the age of 25 and no longer need to register,
You will also need to provide a declaration under oath acknowledging the reason why you failed to register. And the USCIS has the discretion to decide whether or not the reason for failing to register is valid.
In cases where you fail to register, it’s essential that you seek the help of an immigration attorney. An attorney will be up-to-date with the registration requirements, and it can help you provide proof that this mistake was not willful.
How to Register For Selective Service
The process of registering for selective service is incredibly straightforward, so you shouldn’t delay getting this taken care of. The fastest and easiest way of doing this is to register online at the www.sss.gov website. Additionally, you can print out the form from the website, manually fill it out, and mail it in instead.
The entire registration process takes around one to two months, and when it’s done, you will receive a selective service registration card. You should keep this card in a safe place in case you need to provide it as proof in the future.
Hire an Immigration Attorney Today
Are you confused about the male green card registration requirement? Contact us today at U.S. Immigration Law Counsel at 800-666-4996 to speak with an immigration attorney about your situation. We will deal with the government, so you don’t have to!
FAQ Section
Do I need to register if I am over 26 now?
No, you can no longer register for selective service if you are over the age of 25.
Does registration mean I will be drafted?
Registration does not have any immediate effect, such as inducting you into the military. However, it does mean that it is possible that you could be drafted in the future if there is a crisis.
Can failing to register permanently bar citizenship?
This will depend on whether or not the failure to register was intentional. In some cases, this may also result in a five-year ban until you can prove good moral character.
