Published by Mei in Resources | Updated on February 25, 2024
The Selective Service System (SSS) is the United States government agency responsible for maintaining a list of males between the ages of 18 and 25 who are citizens or male immigrants (permanent legal residents) of the United States. In case of a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of the US Armed Forces they will draw from this list of names of men in order to protect and secure the USA. This list is known as the Selective Service Registration System. The SSS is tasked with registering and classifying eligible men.
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What is Selective Service?
The Selective Service System is a government agency that collects and updates the data in case a draft is called for by Presidential order for the Department of Defense.
Who Is Required To Register For Selective Service?
All males currently in the United States, which includes both citizens and immigrants, are required to register for Selective Service once they turn 18 years old.
Here’s a list of all males required to register for Selective Service:
- US-born citizens
- Naturalized citizens
- Permanent residents
- Undocumented immigrants
- Parolees
- Refugees
- Asylum seekers
- Any male with a US immigrant visa
Can you be Exempt From Registering?
Institutionalized disabled males are exempt from registering.
If you have a disability that would normally disqualify you from serving, you are still required to register as the SSS isn’t allowed to classify anyone as disabled.
If you are a disabled male and get drafted, your disability will be checked and you should be excused from serving.
Non-citizen First-timers to the US over of 26
If it’s a male over the age of 26’s first time to visit the USA, they’re exempted from registering.
Show valid ID and passport showing the entry stamp. The SSS can request a letter from the USCIS that mentions the date you first entered the country. Green cards cannot be used as proof.
If you entered the US illegally you must be able to prove that you never were in the USA between the ages of 18 to 25 years old.
Non-citizen with a valid non-immigrant visa
A male currently living in the US with a non-immigrant visa eg. O1, tourist visa or an F1 student visa, is not required to register for Selective Service, even if they stayed until after their 26th birthday.
You should have documents proving that you were in the US on a student visa and that you were a full-time student. Similarly if on temporary work or business visa. Submit documents proving that you were in the US solely for that temporary work or business travel.
Veterans
If you already served in the military in any capacity or length of time you are not required to register, Also, anyone on active duty is excluded.
Show military ID card, active duty order, or any other paperwork proving this.
Males born prior to 1960
Any male born before 1960 is exempted from registering.
Women Exempt From Registering With The Selective Service, Why?
Current state laws have differing regulations regarding drafting women and there is no cohesion and so women are currently left exempt.
The laws may change in the future to align with many other countries around the globe.
How to Register with The Selective Service
The Selective Service needs you to provide them with your basic information, including your contact details and your addresses. Form here.
You might not be required to register directly. Most states link their government programs, benefits, and services to the SSS registration e.g. applying for a driver’s license may automatically register you for the Selective Service. (USCIS) registers you with with Selective Service as a condition of citizenship if first arrived in the U.S. before your 26th birthday.
On your USCIS filing forms it might state immigrants must register within 30 days of entering the United States, or else, face penalties.
If you believe you are already registered you can Verify. Verifying is a very simple process. If they discover you are not registered they should use that information to get you registered.
If You Fail to Register SSS, What Happens?
If you fail to register with the Selective Service System expect penalties, including fine of $250,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment as well as potentially permanently denied use of government programs, including educational programs (no access to government grants, student loans, denied government work even security clearance as a contractor and job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act). You may also be denied a chance to become a citizen.
There are different penalties at a state level eg denial of certain state-funded benefits, as well as at a territorial level.
Also, anyone aids, or abets you in failing to comply with the registration requirement is subject to the same penalties fine of $250,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment.
This list is only called upon if anyone threatens national security eg war, drafting will be done using the names of all the men who registered.
Don’t be concerned. Registering doesn’t mean that you’re automatically joining the military, need to go on tours or help with military efforts. The last draft was in 1973. This is set up as the government wants a fair draft if ever needed.
If you’re an immigrant who intends to get valid US citizenship in the future, joining the military is one way you can do it. [See our article here]
Understanding the Selective Service System: Final Thoughts
Signing up may go against your belief system or religion and may be something you need to seriously consider as a barrier to applying to be a resident or citizen of the USA.
We hope we have allayed your fears in this article.
Sign up here: Selective Service registration, please visit the SSS website at www.sss.gov or contact the SSS at 1-888-655-4571.
Read More
- What is Biometric Screening?
- Common US Border Entry Questions?
- Attorney Guide for US Extraordinary Visas
- 10 Lessons from a USCIS Officer
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All articles are written from our experiences and the experiences of our colleagues. These are fantastic visas and we wish to empower others in applying. This information is for general guidance only and shouldn’t be considered legal advice.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues that we have left out let us know – it is important that others are aware. Email here!