Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System (2024)

FAQs

Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System? ›

Almost all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service

Almost all men who are 18-25 years old and live in the United States must register for Selective Service. This includes: U.S. citizens (U.S. born, dual citizens, and naturalized) U.S. citizens who live outside of the country.

Since a foreign born male who enters the U.S. as a student attending school on a full-time basis is not required to register with Selective Service, verification of the individual's F1 Student Visa status when he was between the ages of 18-26 would be sufficient.

Virtually all men living in the U.S., including non-citizens, are required to register with Selective Service at www.sss.gov when they turn 18 years old. This includes undocumented immigrants, legal permanent residents, those seeking asylum, and refugees.

Failure to register is a felony and non-registrants may be denied the following benefits for life: State-based student loans and grant programs in 31 states. Federal job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (formerly Workforce Investment Act) Federal (and many state and local) jobs.

The requirements for exemption are: If a man is placed in a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility, or mental institution on or before his 18^th birthday, had no breaks of institutionalization of 30 days or longer, and remained institutionalized until his 26^th birthday, he is not required to register.

However, the Selective Service System now accepts early submission of registration information by 17 year old men. The Agency holds their registration information and automatically enters their data into the system when they turn 18.

USCIS will deny a naturalization application when the applicant refuses to register with Selective Service or has knowingly and willfully failed to register during the statutory period.

That said, men are required to register for the Selective Service after they turn 18, regardless of their college plans. But if you're worried about getting drafted, keep in mind that the last draft happened during the Vietnam War in 1973.

Every man who is registered with the Selective Service System will receive a registration acknowledgement letter with a registration card in the mail from Selective Service within 90 days of registering. This is proof of your registration and can be used when applying for: state-based aid in 31 states. federal jobs.

What automatically register you for Selective Service? ›

States with automatic DLL process a man's application for a state learner's permit, driver's license or renewal, or I.D. card as consent to have his information automatically transferred to Selective Service for registration if he is between the ages of 18-25.

Although the United States currently has no draft and hasn't had one in a long time, all males are required by law to register with the Selective Service when they reach the age of eighteen. And yes, even undocumented individuals.

Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office. Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft. Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.

Almost all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service.

In 1971, the Military Selective Service Act was further amended to make registration compulsory; all men had to register within a period 30 days before and 29 days after their 18th birthdays.

Selective Service regulations previously required each registrant to have his card in his possession at all times. This requirement was removed from the regulations in late 1974, shortly before registration was suspended, and it has not been re-instituted.

Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office. Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft. Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.

As of January 2016, there has been no decision to require females to register with Selective Service, or be subject to a future military draft. Selective Service continues to register only men, ages 18 through 25.

Men turning 21 in the year of the draft would be second priority, men turning 22 would be third, and so on until a man turns 26, at which time he is over the age of liability.