N-400 and selective service question

[Matt19019 0]

Hey wondering if anyone can offer me any advice I’m in the process of filling out my n-400 for naturalisation based on the 3 year rule of being married to a US citizen (I came over to the USA on a k-1 fiancée visa) I am currently 29 years old (and 1.5 months old) born September 5th 1996 and the N-400 is asking about selective service I checked and I wasn’t enrolled however I went back and looked at my I-485 and it states that signing that form I agree to be enrolled automatically however I wasn’t possibly be due to my birthday and the cutoff time of enrolling and my paperwork being handed over and I fell into a gap. 
 

anyway the N-400 says

Selective Service Requirements on Form N-400 (Naturalization)

 

If you answer “No” to Item 22.b. (about registering for the Selective Service) and you are:

 

Under 26 years old

You must register before you apply for naturalization.

Then answer Item 22.b. and 22.c. on the form.

 

26–31 years old
(or 26–29 years old or older if you are applying as the spouse of a U.S. citizen)

You must explain why you did not register in Part 14 (Additional Information).

You must also provide a Status Information Letter (SIL) from the Selective Service.

 

31 years old or above
(or 29 years old or above if you are applying as the spouse of a U.S. citizen)

You do not need to provide a statement explaining why you did not register.

You also do not need a Status Information Letter.

 

I turned 29 on September 5 so I’ve been 29 for over a month now so do I need to provide a SIL or no? Can I just select that I didn’t enroll in selective service?

 

thanks 

 

 

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Matt19019
SIL

[OldUser 10,663]

Hi @Matt19019

 

16 minutes ago, Matt19019 said:

Hey wondering if anyone can offer me any advice I’m in the process of filling out my n-400 for naturalisation based on the 3 year rule of being married to a US citizen

Hopefully, naturalization. Naturalisation is for folks seeking British or Australian citizenship.

 

16 minutes ago, Matt19019 said:

 born September 5th 1996 and the N-400 is asking about selective service I checked and I wasn’t enrolled however I went back and looked at my I-485 and it states that signing that form I agree to be enrolled automatically however I wasn’t possibly be due to my birthday and the cutoff time of enrolling and my paperwork being handed over and I fell into a gap. 

 

Check the Resident Since date on your green card. If you were 26 or older on this date, then you never needed to register for selective service.

So if you were 26 or older on the Resident Since date, then answer for 22.a is NO and this means questions 22.b, 22.c don't apply, e.g. can be skipped.

 

On the other hand, if you were 25 on Resident Since date, then you need to explain why you didn't register (if you didn't).

 

Edited 5 hours ago by OldUser

[Matt19019 0]

7 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Hi @Matt19019

 

Hopefully, naturalization. Naturalisation is for folks seeking British or Australian citizenship.

 

 

Check the Resident Since date on your green card. If you were 26 or older on this date, then you never needed to register for selective service.

So if you were 26 or older on the Resident Since date, then answer for 22.a is NO and this means questions 22.b, 22.c don't apply, e.g. can be skipped.

 

On the other hand, if you were 25 on Resident Since date, then you need to explain why you didn't register (if you didn't).

 

I was 25 when it was approved (3 months before my 26th birthday). I did not register because I was under the impression that USCIS would automatically register me- seeing as on the I-485 I signed a box saying they would. 

[Matt19019 0]

Just to clarify 

Legal permanent residency was granted June 2022 (3 months before my 26th birthday).

I did not self register in the selective service because on my I-485 I signed a box stating that USCIS would automatically register me upon approving my green card.

My biggest confusion is with the fact that I fit into the “29 and above” category for the 2nd and 3rd category on the requirements (the 2nd stating that I should include a SIL and explanation, and the 3rd stating that I do not need to provide any further information)

 

 

[Boiler 48,076]

5 years of good moral character which includes registering for selective service so you have a bit of a wait before you can naturalise.

[Matt19019 0]

Just now, Boiler said:

5 years of good moral character which includes registering for selective service so you have a bit of a wait before you can naturalise.

I thought it was 3 years of good moral character when married to a US citizen or am I mistaken 

[OldUser 10,663]

1 hour ago, Matt19019 said:

I was 25 when it was approved (3 months before my 26th birthday). I did not register because I was under the impression that USCIS would automatically register me- seeing as on the I-485 I signed a box saying they would. 

Right, so you were required to register.

Supposedly, this should have been handled by check box on I-485.

 

Can you check your registration on https://www.sss.gov/verify/ ?

 

When you enter your details, what does it say?

 

If it comes back saying you're not registered, I have a suggestion. But please come back with result of check here.

Edited 4 hours ago by OldUser

[Matt19019 0]

12 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Right, so you were required to register.

Supposedly, this should have been handled by check box on I-485.

 

Can you check your registration on https://www.sss.gov/verify/ ?

 

When you enter your details, what does it say?

 

If it comes back saying you're not registered, I have a suggestion. But please come back with result of check here.

 

unfortunately this is what that site says with all my information 

 

Sorry.

Based on the information you submitted (information listed below), a registration record cannot be found for this individual.

If you made a mistake when entering data, please try a New Search. If you entered the data correctly, there are several reasons why the registration may not be verifiable at this time. Please dial 1-847-688-3117 for further information. (08/10/2025 20:58:04)

 

 

I even called the selective service awhile back and they had no record of me but they did send me a SIL.

 

I’m wondering if I just provide an explanation and my SIL and just explain my circumstances as to why I’m not registered if I would be looked upon more favourably by an immigration officer not sure how to proceed with it without getting an RFE 

 

thanks for the help

Edited 4 hours ago by Matt19019

[OldUser 10,663]

41 minutes ago, Matt19019 said:

 

unfortunately this is what that site says with all my information 

 

Sorry.

Based on the information you submitted (information listed below), a registration record cannot be found for this individual.

If you made a mistake when entering data, please try a New Search. If you entered the data correctly, there are several reasons why the registration may not be verifiable at this time. Please dial 1-847-688-3117 for further information. (08/10/2025 20:58:04)

 

 

I even called the selective service awhile back and they had no record of me but they did send me a SIL.

 

I’m wondering if I just provide an explanation and my SIL and just explain my circumstances as to why I’m not registered if I would be looked upon more favourably by an immigration officer not sure how to proceed with it without getting an RFE 

 

thanks for the help

Follow the instructions in N-400. Your plan sounds good, submit explanation saying you checked the relevant box on I-485 etc. Say if you knew it didn't register you, you would have done it since you are ready to bear arms and defend the US if needed (as per oath) etc. Include SIL. Include evidence of good moral character. And hopefully officer will understand and let you naturalize. Keep us posted.

Edited 3 hours ago by OldUser

[JeanneAdil 7,277]

45 minutes ago, Matt19019 said:

 

unfortunately this is what that site says with all my information 

 

Sorry.

Based on the information you submitted (information listed below), a registration record cannot be found for this individual.

If you made a mistake when entering data, please try a New Search. If you entered the data correctly, there are several reasons why the registration may not be verifiable at this time. Please dial 1-847-688-3117 for further information. (08/10/2025 20:58:04)

 

 

I even called the selective service awhile back and they had no record of me but they did send me a SIL.

 

I’m wondering if I just provide an explanation and my SIL and just explain my circumstances as to why I’m not registered if I would be looked upon more favourably by an immigration officer not sure how to proceed with it without getting an RFE 

 

thanks for the help

Refer to Chapter 7 under Selective Service 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-7#:~:text=USCIS will deny a naturalization,may be ineligible for naturalizatio

 

USCIS assists with the registration process by transmitting the appropriate data to the Selective Service System (SSS) for male applicants between the ages of 18 and 26 who apply for adjustment of status. After registering the eligible male, Selective Service will send an acknowledgement to the applicant that can be used as his official proof of Selective Service registration.

 

You should understand that the reqirement to register was as follows 30 days after entering the US on the K1 visa which expires the day u enter so it is up to u to comply 

 

https://www.sss.gov/register/who-needs-to-register/#p1

Immigrants
U.S. immigrants are required by law to register with the Selective Service System 30 days after their 18th birthday or 30 days after entry into the United States if they are between the ages of 18 and 25. This includes U.S. born and naturalized citizens, parolees, undocumented immigrants, legal permanent residents, asylum seekers, refugees, and all males with visas of any kind which expired more than 30 days ago.

[rbv_shard 20]

50 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

You should understand that the reqirement to register was as follows 30 days after entering the US on the K1 visa which expires the day u enter so it is up to u to comply 

 

https://www.sss.gov/register/who-needs-to-register/#p1

Immigrants
U.S. immigrants are required by law to register with the Selective Service System 30 days after their 18th birthday or 30 days after entry into the United States if they are between the ages of 18 and 25. This includes U.S. born and naturalized citizens, parolees, undocumented immigrants, legal permanent residents, asylum seekers, refugees, and all males with visas of any kind which expired more than 30 days ago.

That summary is inaccurate.  The actual Military Selective Service Act section on registration (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3802) says

> The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to any alien lawfully admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 1101(a)(15) of title 8, for so long as he continues to maintain a lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States.

So the entry on K-1 ( which is precisely section 1101(a)(15)(K)(1) ) doesn't trigger the registration requirement.  It's about "status", not "visa expiration", so remaining in the US after the 90-day I-94 entry period (with or without filing for AOS) does trigger the requirement.  (The summary also is wrong in another respect, in that it mentions males only in connection to the visa expiration, when in fact the whole registration is only for male persons)

OP submitted his registration (by checking a box on the I-485) before his lawful nonimmigrant status expired and thereby complied with the law.

Explaining that he checked the box for Selective Service Registration on the I-485 is probably a good idea.

Edited 2 hours ago by rbv_shard