Stuck with selective service question

[Constantine1234 1]

Hi! In just stuck with he selective service question. I became resident of US when i was 24. Im already 27.. And i didnt know anything about selective service, that i had to register or something. And its asking for a written explanation. Any idea what to put? Thanks!

[jhunjhun 7]

Hi! In just stuck with he selective service question. I became resident of US when i was 24. Im already 27.. And i didnt know anything about selective service, that i had to register or something. And its asking for a written explanation. Any idea what to put? Thanks!

I have no idea what type of explanation you have to put in but what I can tell you is., call the selective service and verify if you have been registered. When I applied for my green card they automatically registered me to selective service. Who knows maybe when you applied for your driver's license you checked a box that says to register you to selective service. Just a thought.

[Constantine1234 1]

Thanks! I tried the online thing to check if you're registered, unfortunately. It says that im not. But im gonna call in the morning to check. Just worried right now. Thanks!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You must convince them that you honestly had no idea of the requirement which is hard to do. Most people end up being denied for lack of good moral character and told to wait until they are 31 to reapply

[Constantine1234 1]

For real? How do u convince them then? I wasnt really aware about that. I just came in the united states on 2010. There's no campaign or whatever about that. And registering to that doesn't necessarily mean that you have a good moral character. I have a clean record, no violations, arrests, etc.

[JimmyHou 613]

For real? How do u convince them then? I wasnt really aware about that. I just came in the united states on 2010. There's no campaign or whatever about that. And registering to that doesn't necessarily mean that you have a good moral character. I have a clean record, no violations, arrests, etc.

Failing to register for selective service is going to be an issue during your interview. It's not something you cannot overcome, but there is a POSSIBILITY that your naturalization may have to be delayed until you are 29 or 31.

I recommend that you read all the posts on this thread, where this issue was recently discussed. There is some helpful information here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/505986-selective-service-issue/

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

At least once in the mess you get with your green card there is a very specific warning about registering for selective service. It is the stupidest thing an immigrant can ignore because the last draft was over 40 years ago so there is basically 0 chance of anything coming out of registering and a lot happens when you don't .

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It tells you about it in the "Welcome to the USA" brochure that you get as a new immigrant. Pays to read the stuff they send you. Good luck.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/M-617.pdf

Edited July 30, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Constantine1234 1]

Omg! Guess what? I called them and they said i did register.lol..i almost died!!

[Darth Vader Q 4]

NigeriaorBust,

It's a bit harsh and considerably unfair to state that failing to register for Selective Service is the "stupidest" thing an immigrant can "ignore" given that many, many immigrants are not aware of this requirement and it is very, very easily overlooked in the plethora of requirements expected of immigrants. The requirement is not highlighted properly enough (indeed, more people are aware of the requirement to inform USCIS of an address change than they are about the need to register for Selective Service) and a great many immigrants are registered not because they paid attention, but because they were fortunate enough to have been registered automatically (without their knowledge) when they signed up for some other government benefit/privilege.

Let's take a step back, shelve the criticism, and put things into perspective for the Original Poster.

Original Poster: your best bet now is to apply anyway with a personal notarised statement stating several ways the requirement to register for the Service escaped your attention with documented examples. In addition, seek out personal references (employment, police certificate of Good Conduct, religious instiitution (if any), educational institution, neighbours) who can testify to their perception of you as one who has a good moral character.

Good luck!

At least once in the mess you get with your green card there is a very specific warning about registering for selective service. It is the stupidest thing an immigrant can ignore because the last draft was over 40 years ago so there is basically 0 chance of anything coming out of registering and a lot happens when you don't .

[Constantine1234 1]

Thank you dart vader! I called them and they said i did register. I was so happy. I really didnt know that i registered..but thank you so much!

[Darth Vader Q 4]

Thank you dart vader! I called them and they said i did register. I was so happy. I really didnt know that i registered..but thank you so much!

Congratulations, looks like you're all set!

lol, yet another immigrant who was automatically registered in the Service without being aware.

[Constantine1234 1]

Not yet! Im still having problems with my tax. I thought we amended our tax for 2011 and 2012. I didnt know my friend forgot to mail the 1040x..lol..do u think i can still amend my 2011 and 2012 tax to change the marital status?

[Darth Vader Q 4]

Not yet! Im still having problems with my tax. I thought we amended our tax for 2011 and 2012. I didnt know my friend forgot to mail the 1040x..lol..do u think i can still amend my 2011 and 2012 tax to change the marital status?

I know tax returns can be ammended retroactively, but I am not sure how far back retroactive amendments are permitted. You should probably google that and/or ask the Internal Revenue Service. It might be three years in which case you'd be lucky!

I also do know that even when your tax returns can be amended, the processing time-frame is considerably lengthy; four months, perhaps more.

Are you in a rush to naturalise? It is my understanding that applicants filing under the three-year rule face considerable scrutiny on the status in which they filed their tax returns along with other documentation of co-mingled finances with the US citizen spouse. Your situation seems to raise red flags and, quite frankly, stating that your friend forgot to mail your 1040x (for two years in a row?) sounds as silly to me as the pupil who claims the dog ate her homework.

[tristanz 0]

So the online system shows you not registered but you called them and they are telling you not registered? Why do they even have that online system then?