Selective Services and N-400

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wireless1

Registered Users (C)
I am 42 yrs old, got my GC at age 37.Before that from 1996 I was on H1B visa. Between the age of 18 -26 I was on F-1 visa but left the country after
Graduation. Never applied for Selective Service.

I send the N-400 application and check the box NO for SS, since I was in a nonimmigrant visa at the age 18-26.

Do i need to get the status letter from SS or INS wont bother to ask me.
I am already 42, get my first immigrant status at age 37.
I need to find my old passport with the F-1 visa and entry stamp that was in 1982. :confused:

Thanks.
 
JoeF,

I was not required to register since I was on F-1 Visa. At that time i dont even
know what is SS. I think why get a letter since I was not supposed to register.
Folks who had immigrant status during 18-26 age should register and should get a letter.
 
JoeF,
Thanks for your explanation.
When you went for your interview. Did they ever ask you about SS question. Or did you show them your letter.
 
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i was in the similar situation as yours. i was not asked for the letter, and the officer did not seem go thru that specific question
 
Got the letter back from SS that they need more info and asking for following. :mad:

1)like I was a full time student during my stay.
I was, and I send them copies of my degree, graduation letter and I-94 (D/S).
2) I-20 copies
I dont have them now its been ~23 yrs.
3) immigration letter
I dont know what that is.
4) letter from University stating that I was a full time student.
I can get that but will take time.

Their is no record to proof when i left since they took the I-94 and no stamp on passport either.

Is their any other easy way to proof all these. If they dont issue me a letter what will be my options.
 
If you don't get that letter in time, I don't think you need to be concerned at all.

Your birth certificate/passport and GC can prove what age you were when you got immigrant visa. I was asked if I had served in military and how old I was when entered the country first time. I replied that I was much older than 26 when I got the PR and didn't qualify for SS. Just my opinion.
 
DesiImmi

when I enter the country first time I was 18 but always stay legal during
my F-1 studies. (2 colleges and 1 University). the problem I will have in proving will be when I left the country (at age 24). Their is no stamp on the passport, and I even dont have that passport with me anymore. But i did came back in 1996 and can prove that.
Were you 18-26 wen you enter 1st time.
 
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my question is what if i did not register for selective services when i was inbetween ages 18-26 and had a gc back then...
are they not going to approve my n400 application..

i got my gc when i was 15 and trust me no one ever told me about ss till the day i had 1 month to my 26th birthday..luckily i made it ..but what about the unfortunate ppl who did not know about ss???
 
wireless1 said:
when I enter the country first time I was 18 but always stay legal during
my F-1 studies. (2 colleges and 1 University). the problem I will have in proving will be when I left the country (at age 24). Their is no stamp on the passport, and I even dont have that passport with me anymore. But i did came back in 1996 and can prove that.
Were you 18-26 wen you enter 1st time.
Click to expand...

Yes, I was, but on F1 visa.
 
query11 said:
my question is what if i did not register for selective services when i was inbetween ages 18-26 and had a gc back then...
are they not going to approve my n400 application..

=>Who knows, it is upto the discretion of the officer.

i got my gc when i was 15 and trust me no one ever told me about ss till the day i had 1 month to my 26th birthday..luckily i made it ..but what about the unfortunate ppl who did not know about ss???
Click to expand...


==>If you can think from the other side, they will expect YOU to know about additional responsibilities that come with a PR or a USC. But I don't think they will be so hard on that SS as long as someone can show a valid reason for not registering.
 
JoeF said:
It is considered a sign of "lack of moral character." For naturalization, you need to have good moral character the last 5 years before filing the N-400. So, if you are older than 31, it shouldn't matter anymore.
Click to expand...


where it says that it has to be 5 yrs, why not more like 10 yrs.
 
I was 25 years when I came to US first time on H1B. I got my GC when I was 30 years. Should I have registered with Selective Services when I was 25 on H1B ? I answered "No" for that particular question on N-400 as I thought it specifically mentioned about "Nonimmigrant Visa"
 
:p After sending aprox 100 more pages to SS they send me the letter that I am not supposed to register for SS during my stay at age 18-25. :D
 
wireless1 said:
:p After sending aprox 100 more pages to SS they send me the letter that I am not supposed to register for SS during my stay at age 18-25. :D
Click to expand...
3 months just to get a confirmation from sss....what's ur bet on citizenship? :D
 
query11. said:
3 months just to get a confirmation from sss....what's ur bet on citizenship? :D
Click to expand...
It took them 2 weeks to send the letter. But it took me a long time to gather all my documents from 2 different colleges and 2 different Universities. One of my old university Councilor told me they are getting these kinds of request a lot from old students who were graduated even up to 20 yrs back. And she was aware of some cases where people were denied citizenship because they were unable to prove their status as F-1. She herself was furious on these SS letters.
 
wireless1 said:
It took them 2 weeks to send the letter. But it took me a long time to gather all my documents from 2 different colleges and 2 different Universities. One of my old university Councilor told me they are getting these kinds of request a lot from old students who were graduated even up to 20 yrs back. And she was aware of some cases where people were denied citizenship because they were unable to prove their status as F-1. She herself was furious on these SS letters.
Click to expand...

It is very true, a lot of cases have been denied for not registering with sss.It is definitely a major issue unlike traffic tickets.
So hopefully everyone pursues sss for a confirmation and not ignore it only to be surprised at the time of the interview.
 
Thats why they put this on the interview letter to bring the ss letter. A friend of mine who is from india went to interview 2 months back. He is in mid 40,s and was here for a long time but never applied for citizenship but decided to do now. He was here at that age 18-25 as a PR but never register. He thought it will be a slam dunk and will told them he dont need a letter. His IO officer was from Indian Origin too and he told me she give him real hard time on this issue and they end up arguing and even opening the books of what the law really is. She some how let him go later and he already took the oath now. But he was all shaken up since he thought it will be a walk in the park. He convinced me to make sure have the letter ready.

They are looking for reason to tell you that u dont belong here. Depending on the IO they can let you go or make your life miserable.
 
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