Selective Service Letter Problem Please Help

[CJack]

Hi guys: here is my problem I called ss regarding sending me a letter that I was not registered some 5 months ago. While talking to the officer on the phone, please note like many of us I have an accent, I told him my last name and spelled it twice to be sure. When I got the letter my last name was repeated twice in one word with errors in the fist part. I called them today to correct the mistake. The officer became abusive why I waited this long to call. Made me feel like a criminal. I explained that I worked graveyard shift which is a very tiring work, so when they are open I was sleeping and that I was sorry. He said "unbelievable" told me to send a copy of my green card a copy of the letter and request for change of name. I am really scared that I did an illegal thing eventhough the mistake was an honest misunderstanding the first time. Have I commited a crime in not calling them sooner? Thanks guys for any help.

 

[baikal3]

Hi guys: here is my problem I called ss regarding sending me a letter that I was not registered some 5 months ago. While talking to the officer on the phone, please note like many of us I have an accent, I told him my last name and spelled it twice to be sure. When I got the letter my last name was repeated twice in one word with errors in the fist part. I called them today to correct the mistake. The officer became abusive why I waited this long to call. Made me feel like a criminal. I explained that I worked graveyard shift so when they are open I was sleeping and that I was sorry. He said "unbelievable" told me to send a copy of my green card a copy of the letter and request for change of name. I am really scared that I did an illegal thing eventhough the mistake was an honest misunderstanding the first time. Have I commited a crime in not calling them sooner? Thanks guys for any help.

First, calm down, you certainly did not commit any crimes here.

What you did commit was an act of stupidity - you should not have asked them for a status information letter over the phone. Doing that creates a miriad possibilities for them making a mistake - from misspelling your name to making a mistake in your address. No wonder you got screwed.
If you needed to request a status information letter, you should have followed the standard procedure and filed such a request in writing. See
http://www.sss.gov/PDFs/PrinterFriendly/status.pdf
for a link to the form that needs to be filled out and send to Selective Service in order to request a status information letter.
Even now, it is better if you simply submit this form as a new request rather than try to make them correct the letter that they sent you earlier.

However, your post was pretty unclear on why and if you needed a status information letter in the first place.
What is your age now? At what age did you receive your green card?

 

[CJack]

Baikal thanks for replying: You are right regarding writing them instead of calling. As to your questions I am over 40 and was here and out of status when I was 25. So I should have registered but did not know about it. I already sent my app.
By the way: We all commit acts of stupidity at one time or another including you. Enough said.

 

[Jackolantern]

You're over 31, so the lack of Selective Service registration won't be a problem for naturalization. You don't need that letter.

 

[baikal3]

Baikal thanks for replying: You are right regarding writing them instead of calling. As to your questions I am over 40 and was here and out of status when I was 25. So I should have registered but did not know about it. I already sent my app.
By the way: We all commit acts of stupidity at one time or another including you. Enough said.

Since you are over 31 now, the fact that you failed to register with Selective Service when you were 25 does not affect your eligibility for naturalization.

However, technically, the N-400 document checklist still requires you to provide a status information letter:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=11616c854523d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD

I suggest that you submit N-400 now (assuming you are eligible) without the status information letter but that you try to get that letter by the time of the interview, just in case. IOs are primarily bureaucrats and they like going over various checklists and counting various pieces of paper; so it is not a bad idea to have a status information letter in case you get a particularly literal minded IO. If you do request a status information letter, I suggest that you simply submit a new paper request form from the link in my previous post rather than try to have them correct the previous letter.

 

[CJack]

Thanks guys for the advise. My company moving me to CA for work. So I will wait to send n-400. That gives me amble time to send and receive a status letter.

 

[BigJoe5]

Thanks guys for the advise. My company moving me to CA for work. So I will wait to send n-400. That gives me amble time to send and receive a status letter.

If you file an N-400 BEFORE you make a major move (out of state), you can simple submit the change of address (online) and the case will be transferred to the new jurisdiction.

IF you wait until you move, you are required to wait 3 months in the new state (new jurisdiction).

The 3 months in the new place is a holdover from the past. Prior to instantaneous computer transfers of info and electronic scanning for biometrics checks etc... (back when everything was by snail mail), it allowed for things to catch up to you for a more complete background check.

The 3 month wait is STATUTORY and would require an act of Congress to change it.


Selective Service is now a moot point and completely irrelevant. Failure to file when obligated to do so, is a GMC issue and once you are 31 it is outside your 5-year statutory period (29 for the 3-year period).