Is Signing Up For Selective Service Mandatory

Registering for the Selective Service

Themes/Topics: Law & Policy

Geography: National

Audition: Undocumented Youth

What is the Selective Service and exercise I need to register?

The Selective Service System (SSS) allows the federal government to keep a list of all men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB) who would be available to serve as soldiers in the U.S. Armed forces in the consequence that a mandatory draft became necessary. Co-ordinate to federal law, all men permanently living in the U.S., regardless of clearing status, between the ages of 18 and 26, must register for the Selective Service and should register within thirty days of their 18th birthday. A Social Security Number is non required to register.

Preview of Selective Service registration form

It is important to annals for the Selective Service even if you are undocumented considering it could affect your future application for citizenship. To learn more about how and why failure to register could negatively impact your citizenship awarding, meet this ILRC practice advisory.

Are in that location any risks in registering for Selective Service?

Registering for the SS does provide the federal government with your proper name and address, and then the government can contact you lot in the event of a mandatory draft. However, there has not been any type of mandatory draft since the 1970s. This means that the SSS has never used those names to force people to fight with the U.Due south. Armed Forces. All the same, all men or AMAB people within that age range are still required to register.

In regards to sharing someone'southward clearing status, the SSS states:

They have not now, nor in the past collected or shared any information which would indicate a human's immigration status, either documented or undocumented. The selective service organisation has no authorisation to collect such information, has no use for it, and it is irrelevant to the registration requirement. Consequently, there is no clearing data to share with anyone.

How do I register?

Every bit an undocumented male or AMAB person, you must register for Selective Service by mail. You should not try to register online at the sss.gov website. Follow these steps instead:

Print and fill out this printable postcard and mail it to the SSS. This postcard is available at your local U.S. Post Offices and at sss.gov. Exist sure to adhere appropriate postage. When you mail service the postcard, get a "proof of mailing" from the Post Part. That way, even if your card gets lost or non properly added to the SSS, you tin prove in a futurity citizenship application that y'all complied with the registration requirement. This will serve as proof that you sent in your Selective Service registration.

How long does the process take?

Selective Service registration processing takes 1 to ii months. It's important to brainstorm the process every bit soon every bit possible afterward turning 18. In one case you have been successfully registered, the government will mail service you a Selective Service Registration Carte. If you do not receive a carte within that fourth dimension frame, contact the SSS. Be certain to go along a copy of this card because y'all might be required to show it afterward on.

Sample image showing registration acknowledgement of Selective Service registration. — Sample of Selective Service registration acknowledgement letter.

How do I provide proof that I registered for Selective Service?

You can verify that you successfully registered for the Selective Service by providing a copy of your Selective Service Registration Card.

If I register for Selective Service, does that mean I'm eligible to serve in the U.South. Armed Forces?

The SSS does non determine whether a person is eligible to get a U.S. Armed Forces service member. See: usa.gov/join-military for details. Generally, only U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (people with dark-green cards) are allowed to serve in the U.S. military machine. There have been limited exceptions to this rule, such every bit the MAVNI program which is not currently active. And then even if there were a future draft from the SSS, there would have to exist another change in law or policy to allow undocumented people to serve.

Registrants 26 and Older

The SSS cannot accept a registration from anyone who has already reached their 26th altogether. Therefore, if you are a male or AMAB person who is 26 or older but did not register for the Selective Service, you are considered a "not-registrant." For more than data, go to sss.gov, select "Registration," then select " Men 26 and Older."

Registrants Under 18

The SSS cannot accept a registration from anyone who is under eighteen years old. Therefore, students tin wait until 30 days before their 18th birthday and postal service in the Selective Service Registration Carte du jour.

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