If you're a male U.S. permanent resident and failed to register for Selective Service, you're not alone. But this oversight can have serious consequences, especially when applying for U.S. citizenship.
Understanding what Selective Service is, who must register, and how it affects naturalization is key. In this article, we’ll explain what you can do if you didn’t register and how to improve your chances of becoming a U.S. citizen.
What Is Selective Service and Who Must Register?
Why Registering is Important for All Men
Why Failing to Register for Selective Service Matters for Citizenship
How to Check If You Registered
What to Do If You Failed to Register
What Happens to Someone Who Failed to Register for Selective Service
Seeking Legal Advice After a Failure to Register for Selective Service
Selective Service FAQs
How CitizenPath Can Help
What Is Selective Service and Who Must Register?
Th Selective Service System is the U.S. government's system for keeping a list of potential military draftees. Although there is no active military draft today, federal law still requires most men living in the U.S. to register. Therefore, registering for Selective Service does not mean you are joining the military.
Who Must Register?
You are required to register if you are:
- Male
- Living in the United States
- Between the ages of 18 and 25
- A U.S. citizen or male immigrant (regardless of legal status)
This includes permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, DACA recipients, and even undocumented immigrants. Visit their website for a detailed look at Who Must Register.
Who Is Exempt?
Women never need to register. Men are generally not required to register if they are:
- Age 26 or older
- On a valid nonimmigrant visa (e.g., student or tourist)
- In institutional care (e.g., mental health facility)
- Confined due to incarceration or hospitalization
Where to Register for Selective Service
Individuals may register for Selective Service at their local post office, return a Selective Service registration card received by mail, or online at the Selective Service System website. Confirmation of registration may be obtained by calling 1-847-688-6888 or going online to sss.gov.
Associate Director for Public & Intergovernmental Affairs
Why Registering is Important for All Men
As a resident of the United States, registering is a legal obligation. Failure to register as required is grounds for denying:
- An application for U.S. citizenship
- Federal student loans and grant programs
- Federal job training under the Workforce Investment Act
- Federal jobs or security clearance as a contractor
- Potential path to legal status through future legislation (such as DREAM Act or Comprehensive Immigration Reform)
Why Failing to Register for Selective Service Matters for Citizenship
To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, you must demonstrate “good moral character” for the required period before applying — usually five years (or three if married to a U.S. citizen).
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sees failure to register for Selective Service as a potential violation of this requirement, especially if it seems intentional or you don’t provide a valid explanation.
Where is the Requirement Based?
According to Chapter 7 of the USCIS Policy Manual, “An applicant for naturalization must show that he or she has been and continues to be a person attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during the statutorily prescribed period.”
Further, the manual makes it clear that "an applicant who refused to or knowingly and willfully failed to register for Selective Service negates his disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States, attachment to the principles of the Constitution, good moral character, and willingness to bear arms on behalf of the United States."
What USCIS Looks at During Naturalization
USCIS will consider:
- Whether you were required to register
- Your age when applying for naturalization
- Whether the failure to register was willful
- If you made an effort to correct the issue
- Your overall record and behavior
The most critical period is when you're applying for naturalization and between the ages of 18 and 26. If you're filing Form N-400 after age 31, this issue may not be as significant (explained further below).
How to Check If You Registered
Not sure if you registered? You can check online.
- Visit the official website: www.sss.gov
- Click on “Check Registration”
- Enter your Social Security number and date of birth
If you’re registered, you’ll receive a confirmation number. If not, it will indicate “no record found.”
What to Do If You Failed to Register
If you’re still under age 26, register immediately. Late registration is better than no registration.
If you're over 26 and failed to register, you can no longer register, but you should still take steps to show that your failure was not intentional.
Steps to Take:
- Request a Status Information Letter (SIL):This is a letter from Selective Service that explains your registration status.
- Apply at www.sss.gov
- Choose “Request a Status Information Letter”
- Submit any documents proving why you didn’t register (e.g., visa copies, school enrollment, incarceration records)
- Prepare a Personal Declaration:Write a letter explaining why you failed to register. Be honest and include:
- Your immigration status during ages 18–25
- Whether you were aware of the requirement
- Any efforts you made to register or find out how
- Gather Supporting Documents:Provide evidence that supports your explanation, such as:
- Copies of your immigration records
- School or employment documents
- Proof of living outside the U.S.
What Happens to Someone Who Failed to Register for Selective Service
For permanent resident men, failure to register for Selective Service becomes most problematic when it's time to apply for naturalization. As mentioned, it can be a barrier to obtaining U.S. citizenship. If you did not register as required, there different ways to approach the issue when filing Form N-400.
Applicants Under the Age of 26
If you're under 26 and don’t register for Selective Service, USCIS will likely deny your Form N‑400. Failing to register is seen as a willful refusal to follow the law, which can hurt your moral character evaluation.
If you’re between ages 18 and 25, it’s not too late. You can register online in just minutes at www.sss.gov. You can also create an instant Official Letter of Verification to prove you’ve registered. Taking this step now helps avoid problems later.
Applicants Between 26 and 31 Years of Age
If you’re between 26 and 31 and didn’t register, you may be ineligible for citizenship, especially if USCIS believes you knowingly avoided registration.
However, USCIS gives you a chance to explain. If you didn’t know you had to register, or weren’t required to, you can still apply. However, many immigration attorneys recommend their clients wait until age 31 (or 29 if married to a U.S. citizen) so your five-year good moral character period falls completely after age 26.
If you don’t want to wait, you must show your failure to register was not intentional. Include these three items with your Form N‑400:
- Status Information Letter from Selective Service
Proves you’re over 26 and no longer required to register. Request this at www.sss.gov. - Sworn Declaration from You
A personal letter explaining why you didn’t register and why it wasn’t a willful act. - Sworn Statement from Someone Who Knows You
Ideally from someone in a position of trust (like a teacher or pastor), supporting your explanation.
Many applicants have been approved after explaining their situation honestly. For best results, speak with an immigration attorney.
- Status Information Letter from Selective Service
Applicants Age 31 and Over
If you're 31 or older, failing to register will not prevent you from becoming a U.S. citizen. That’s because the five-year period for proving good moral character starts after you turned 26.
Even if you knowingly failed to register, you’re still eligible — as long as you apply after turning 31. (To be safe, you must be 31 on the day you mail your Form N‑400.)
USCIS usually won’t ask older applicants for a Status Information Letter. But if they do, you can submit the letter from Selective Service to explain your status.
Seeking Legal Advice After a Failure to Register for Selective Service
Failing to register for Selective Service can be grounds for USCIS to deny Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Many immigration attorneys will recommend that their clients wait until age 31 to apply to ensure five years of good moral character.
Applicants between 26 and 31 years of age should contact an immigration attorney before filing Form N-400. Although the applicant may prepare sworn declarations on his own, the guidance from an experienced attorney will generally produce the best results for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Navigating the U.S. immigration system can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. CitizenPath provides affordable, step-by-step help to prepare a variety of USCIS forms.
For naturalization applicants, we check for common problem areas like failure to register for Selective Service. It's one of many built-in safeguards to help ensure your Form N-400 is accurate and complete — so you can apply with confidence. Learn more how we can simplify the application process with the Naturalization Package.
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