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richie894
If you have moved to the USA and going through the green card process make sure you register for selective service. When I moved across a couple of years ago I remembered reading on a form that I was automatically entered into selective service. So I did not do anything. This is not the case. If you are under 26 years old, you have to go register. www.sss.gov has the info or go to a local post office.

If you don't do this, you will be unable to apply for US citizenship. Fortuanately I was looking through the citizenship forms a few weeks before my 26th birthday and noticed. So I managed to mail in a form and get registered just in time. In fact it was processed on my 26th birthday. So I got the confirmation number and was on selective service for less than a day. As you are removed the day after your 26th birthday.

It is nothing to worry about as no one on selective service has been called up since Vietnam.
Arazia
QUOTE(richie894 @ Jun 8 2007, 03:54 PM) *
If you have moved to the USA and going through the green card process make sure you register for selective service. When I moved across a couple of years ago I remembered reading on a form that I was automatically entered into selective service. So I did not do anything. This is not the case. If you are under 26 years old, you have to go register. www.sss.gov has the info or go to a local post office.

If you don't do this, you will be unable to apply for US citizenship. Fortuanately I was looking through the citizenship forms a few weeks before my 26th birthday and noticed. So I managed to mail in a form and get registered just in time. In fact it was processed on my 26th birthday. So I got the confirmation number and was on selective service for less than a day. As you are removed the day after your 26th birthday.

It is nothing to worry about as no one on selective service has been called up since Vietnam.


Actually, my husband was automatically registered through his AOS. I don't know if this is common for other people, but he just received his conformation today, and I verified it by checking the sss.gov website. Of course, if you don't get the confirmation, you should certainly make sure you register on your own.

I also don't believe you are removed from selective service when you turn 26. You just cannot register after you turn 26. Selective service is used to determine if you are eligible for federal loans, certain government jobs, and other such things.
Jenn!
Here's the site where you can check whether you're registered:
https://www4.sss.gov/regver/verification_nc.asp

We never received any written confirmation, but I just located my husband in the system.
featherB
QUOTE(Arazia @ Jun 8 2007, 04:57 PM) *
QUOTE(richie894 @ Jun 8 2007, 03:54 PM) *
If you have moved to the USA and going through the green card process make sure you register for selective service. When I moved across a couple of years ago I remembered reading on a form that I was automatically entered into selective service. So I did not do anything. This is not the case. If you are under 26 years old, you have to go register. www.sss.gov has the info or go to a local post office.

If you don't do this, you will be unable to apply for US citizenship. Fortuanately I was looking through the citizenship forms a few weeks before my 26th birthday and noticed. So I managed to mail in a form and get registered just in time. In fact it was processed on my 26th birthday. So I got the confirmation number and was on selective service for less than a day. As you are removed the day after your 26th birthday.

It is nothing to worry about as no one on selective service has been called up since Vietnam.


Actually, my husband was automatically registered through his AOS. I don't know if this is common for other people, but he just received his conformation today, and I verified it by checking the sss.gov website. Of course, if you don't get the confirmation, you should certainly make sure you register on your own.


I was just in the BMV (what Ohio calls the DMV) and they had signs up saying that any males under 26 (or 'between 18 and 26' or whatever it is) applying for a licence or state ID, etc etc etc, would automatically be registered - so that's another way it could happen. But I agree, definitely best to make sure!
Arazia
QUOTE(featherB @ Jun 8 2007, 04:01 PM) *
I was just in the BMV (what Ohio calls the DMV) and they had signs up saying that any males under 26 (or 'between 18 and 26' or whatever it is) applying for a licence or state ID, etc etc etc, would automatically be registered - so that's another way it could happen. But I agree, definitely best to make sure!


Ahh, we did get a State ID for my husband as well, so maybe it came through there instead. I just remember something on the AOS saying that they will contact selective services so that you can register or something like that. It's in the instructions but I forget the exact wording.
Nanusia & Lukaszek
QUOTE(Arazia @ Jun 8 2007, 04:04 PM) *
QUOTE(featherB @ Jun 8 2007, 04:01 PM) *
I was just in the BMV (what Ohio calls the DMV) and they had signs up saying that any males under 26 (or 'between 18 and 26' or whatever it is) applying for a licence or state ID, etc etc etc, would automatically be registered - so that's another way it could happen. But I agree, definitely best to make sure!


Ahh, we did get a State ID for my husband as well, so maybe it came through there instead. I just remember something on the AOS saying that they will contact selective services so that you can register or something like that. It's in the instructions but I forget the exact wording.


Yes, it probably was the State ID that got him registered for Selective Service. My husband got the letter form SSS like 3 weeks after he got his drivers license... and we haven't done AOS yet.
richie894
I went through EAD, AOS, got drivers license etc and never got registered. So it is best to check.
Dr_LHA
Please note that not every male under 26 has to register. For example if you came here on a J-1 you don't have to. In fact the SS website states the following people are not required to register for SS:

QUOTE
Lawful non-immigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with unexpired Form I-94, or Border Crossing Document DSP-150)


So basically anyone who came here on a non-immigrant visa is OK. The reason I state this is because I was under 26 when I first entered the USA and had never even heard of SS until I did my AOS application and it caused me to enter a mild panic attack when I thought I should have registered when I first came to the USA.

Note that if you're under 26 and male, applying for AOS automatically registers you for SS. Actually that's not true, they just pre-register you with SS.
athena_ny
QUOTE(Dr_LHA @ Jun 8 2007, 05:20 PM) *
Please note that not every male under 26 has to register. For example if you came here on a J-1 you don't have to. In fact the SS website states the following people are not required to register for SS:

QUOTE
Lawful non-immigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with unexpired Form I-94, or Border Crossing Document DSP-150)


So basically anyone who came here on a non-immigrant visa is OK. The reason I state this is because I was under 26 when I first entered the USA and had never even heard of SS until I did my AOS application and it caused me to enter a mild panic attack when I thought I should have registered when I first came to the USA.

Note that if you're under 26 and male, applying for AOS automatically registers you for SS. Actually that's not true, they just pre-register you with SS.


That's what I thought...because some people don't even have an SS# at AOS...

We tried registering my husband online last night but it said his SS number doesn't exist and we have to do the paper one and mail it O.o
bora bora
I just verified on-line that my husband is enrolled too. I remember that question on the AOS paperwork - and then soon after we received the NOA he received a letter from them.
Geist
What about if you've been in the military of your home country? Doesn't the US have certain agreements that if you've served in the military of your home country, you won't be forced to serve again in the US military?
Dr_LHA
QUOTE(Geist @ Jun 9 2007, 03:00 PM) *
What about if you've been in the military of your home country? Doesn't the US have certain agreements that if you've served in the military of your home country, you won't be forced to serve again in the US military?

I doubt it. However I wouldn't worry about it, I don't see a military draft in the near future.
zyggy
QUOTE(Geist @ Jun 9 2007, 03:00 PM) *
What about if you've been in the military of your home country? Doesn't the US have certain agreements that if you've served in the military of your home country, you won't be forced to serve again in the US military?



That is one of the considerations for a Selective Service Board to give alternative service in lieu of military service. But that doesn't take away the responsibility for registering with Selective Service.

flames9
The draft idea comes up every now and thenhere in the DC news,and gets shot down pretty quickly!! Sort of political suicide if one brings it up, as its not that popular with the voters!! But if that changed, you bet they would vote it in,lol which is unlikely!
mawilson
Can I register if I'm over 26? I really really want to go to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt!
clloyd
QUOTE(mawilson @ Jun 11 2007, 03:09 PM) *
Can I register if I'm over 26? I really really want to go to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt!


Registering with Selective Services is not the same as enlisting in the armed forces. You can enlist as long as you meet the requirements.

Males over the age of 26 do not need to register, however, a leter from selective services stating that you were not required to register is a helpful thing to have.
fla_guy06
QUOTE(mawilson @ Jun 11 2007, 04:09 PM) *
Can I register if I'm over 26? I really really want to go to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt!



Just because you cannot register for selective service does not mean you cannot join the military if you really "want to go to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt"

I actually received a post card reminder about selective service while I was in boot camp, which I thought was mildly funny. rolleyes.gif
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