N-400, interview & Selective Service question

[bdglen 37]

I'm looking for helpful advice. My Husband just received his appointment for naturalization (August 1, 2025). We've only been preparing for his interview the past few days as the notice just came, it was delivered to a address a few blocks away from our home by mistake.  I'm genuinely freaking out however because of an error I made.

 

For background, he arrived in the US on June 4, 2019, he was 25 years old at the time. We were married on July 17, 2019 I knew it was my responsibility to register him with the Selective Service, but never did so.  On August 5, 2019 shortly after our honeymoon, my Mother died and to make things worse my husband thought he killed her.  He cooked dinner for her the day before her death and he was wracked with guilt.  By the time things settled down from our marriage, honeymoon and my mothers unexpected death, my husband turned 26. (December 14, 2019)  Covid 19 was upon us and registering for the Selective Service was the last thing on my mind.  (It was a crazy time)

 

I'm really afraid that my error is going to cause problems for him during his interview.  On the N-400 application,

 

Question # 22a states: Are You are a male who lived in the United States for anytime between your 18th and 26th birthday  I  answered (YES)

 

Question # 22b states:  If you answered Yes to question 22a, did you register for the Selective Service?   I answered (NO)    Both answers to 22a & 22b are truthful. 

 

The instructions for N-400 further state:  If you answered No to 22b and you are: 

31 years of age or above (or 29 years of age or above if you are applying based on being the spouse of a U.S. citizen) 

My husband is now 31 and applying for citizenship based on his marriage to me a US citizen.

 

N-400 instructions state:  Then, you do not need to provide a statement explaining why you did not register or a status information letter from the Selective Service.

 

As I read the letter of the law, it would seem we are ok with having mistakenly not registered with the Selective Service and further do not need to explain why.  But, I am really worried all things considered that this may present a problem for my husband.  Any thoughts, ideas, reassurances or suggestions would truly be appreciated.

Edited July 10 by bdglen
grammatical error

[Crazy Cat 44,619]

How old was he when he received his Green Card?  Sounds like you are fine to me .

Edited July 10 by Crazy Cat

[bdglen 37]

9 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

How old was he when he received his Green Card?

His first (Conditional two year) Green card he was 27.  His second 10 year green card he was 31

Edited July 10 by bdglen

[bdglen 37]

On 7/10/2025 at 9:46 AM, bdglen said:

I'm looking for helpful advice. My Husband just received his appointment for naturalization (August 1, 2025). We've only been preparing for his interview the past few days as the notice just came, it was delivered to a address a few blocks away from our home by mistake.  I'm genuinely freaking out however because of an error I made.

 

For background, he arrived in the US on June 4, 2019, he was 25 years old at the time. We were married on July 17, 2019 I knew it was my responsibility to register him with the Selective Service, but never did so.  On August 5, 2019 shortly after our honeymoon, my Mother died and to make things worse my husband thought he killed her.  He cooked dinner for her the day before her death and he was wracked with guilt.  By the time things settled down from our marriage, honeymoon and my mothers unexpected death, my husband turned 26. (December 14, 2019)  Covid 19 was upon us and registering for the Selective Service was the last thing on my mind.  (It was a crazy time)

 

I'm really afraid that my error is going to cause problems for him during his interview.  On the N-400 application,

 

Question # 22a states: Are You are a male who lived in the United States for anytime between your 18th and 26th birthday  I  answered (YES)

 

Question # 22b states:  If you answered Yes to question 22a, did you register for the Selective Service?   I answered (NO)    Both answers to 22a & 22b are truthful. 

 

The instructions for N-400 further state:  If you answered No to 22b and you are: 

31 years of age or above (or 29 years of age or above if you are applying based on being the spouse of a U.S. citizen) 

My husband is now 31 and applying for citizenship based on his marriage to me a US citizen.

 

N-400 instructions state:  Then, you do not need to provide a statement explaining why you did not register or a status information letter from the Selective Service.

 

As I read the letter of the law, it would seem we are ok with having mistakenly not registered with the Selective Service and further do not need to explain why.  But, I am really worried all things considered that this may present a problem for my husband.  Any thoughts, ideas, reassurances or suggestions would truly be appreciated.

I need to update this request. I'm an idiot. I stated my husband was 25 when he came to the US in 2019 and turned 26 in December of 2019.  I was WRONG! He was 24 when he arrived and turned 25 in December of 2019.  He was 26 years abd three months old when he got his first Green card. His appointment is tomorrow morning and I'm freaking out, Any advice?

Edited Thursday at 09:11 PM by bdglen

[OldUser 10,071]

42 minutes ago, bdglen said:

I need to update this request. I'm an idiot. I stated my husband was 25 when he came to the US in 2019 and turned 26 in December of 2019.  I was WRONG! He was 24 when he arrived and turned 25 in December of 2019.  He was 26 years abd three months old when he got his first Green card. His appointment is tomorrow morning and I'm freaking out, Any advice?

He was 26 already when he received GC, so he didn't need to register. It's all good 

[Crazy Cat 44,619]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

He was 26 already when he received GC, so he didn't need to register. It's all good 

That's how I see it, too.

[bdglen 37]

3 minutes ago, OldUser said:

He was 26 already when he received GC, so he didn't need to register. It's all good 

 

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

That's how I see it, too.

Thank you guys so much.  You've managed to calm me down a bit.  I'll update everyone tomorrow after the interview.

[bdglen 37]

August 1, 2025 San Francisco.  Interview successful! Oath of Allegiance administered, repeated and accepted.  Today there is one more grateful new American Citizen.😁

[OldUser 10,071]

13 minutes ago, bdglen said:

August 1, 2025 San Francisco.  Interview successful! Oath of Allegiance administered, repeated and accepted.  Today there is one more grateful new American Citizen.😁

Congratulations!!!

 

Make sure to update citizenship status with SSA and register to vote.

Edited 16 hours ago by OldUser

[TBoneTX 47,556]

2 hours ago, bdglen said:

August 1, 2025 San Francisco.  Interview successful! Oath of Allegiance administered, repeated and accepted.  Today there is one more grateful new American Citizen.😁

There's nothing quite as satisfying as updating the VJ timeline for the last time, right?