Selective Services question

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User Name

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

I got my GreenCard April 2000.
At that time, I was 31 years old. I'm now 34.
I never did anything for selective services because I understood that as long as I was older than 26 yrs old when I get my green card, I didn't have to register with selective services.

Tonight, I finished reading the M476 (A Guide to Naturalization).
In there on "Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet" section it said that:

10. One of the following is true:
(a) I am female, OR
(b) I am a male registered with the Selective Service, OR
(c) I am a male who did not enter the United States under any status until after my 26th birthday,
OR(d) I am a male who was in the United States between the ages of 18 and 26 but who did not register with the Selective Service, and I will send a "Status Information Letter" from the Selective Service explaining why with my application.​

My understanding regarding this 26 yrs and older was from a document I read and my Lawyer never told me to go register with selective services (though the subject didn't come up). So did I have to register with selective services when I got my green card or when I had my H1B?

Other info:

Entered US: 1985
1985 - 1993 : Student Visa
1993 - 2000 : H1B visa
2000 - Now : Green Card through employment

And been married to a US Citizen since 1999.
I have not filed papers for my Citizenship yet. But plan to do so in next few months.

Thanks,
Norm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for the info. I was just worried that I had to apply when I was in H1B status. I have been legal from day 1.

It makes me kinda mad because If I had come in illegally to US in 1985, I would have qualified for US citizenship in 1996. But stupid me, I did everything legally and here I'm 20 years later, legal and without citizenship. And I figured I have paid about $20,000 to my lawyer over the past 13 years.

Thanks,
Norm
 
User Name said:
It makes me kinda mad because If I had come in illegally to US in 1985, I would have qualified for US citizenship in 1996. But stupid me, I did everything legally and here I'm 20 years later, legal and without citizenship. And I figured I have paid about $20,000 to my lawyer over the past 13 years.

Thanks,
Norm
Click to expand...

Wohhh, Whats that all about? The confessions session does not start until Sunday.

You did everything legal? Great. Well done.

You spent $20,000 to your lawyer? Not many legal people on H1 and GC spend that much money on lawyers. I am guessing you had some legal complication, and needed help.

Are you glorifying illegals? If you are, then shame on you.


----------------------------
Vote Bush '04
 
Never glorify illegal immigration. Laws are there for the benefit of every one. If the system is overloaded with excessive illegals, that denies benefits and speedy processing for legals.




----------------------------
Vote Bush '04
 
LOL

You spent $20,000 to your lawyer? Not many legal people on H1 and GC spend that much money on lawyers. I am guessing you had some legal complication, and needed help.
Click to expand...

Well, I had to update my INS papers when I graduated from HighSchool and moved to University. That's when I hired a lawyer. She was very good and I have no complaints. Over the years, she updated my student visa, got or updated 4 H1Bs and finally my green card ($8000). She was good, she knew it and she charged appropriately. I wanted the best and I suck it up and paid for it.


Are you glorifying illegals? If you are, then shame on you.
Click to expand...

No, I'm just not happy that US gives illegals oppertunity to get greencard and citizenship while people who did everything legally have to go through much more hassle to get the same document.
JoeF explained how tha worked. I just remember reading it and not feeling very good about it. I have always wanted to bring it up and talk to someone about it. Well I did and it's off my chest. I feel much better now. :D

--Norm
 
User Name said:
No, I'm just not happy that US gives illegals oppertunity to get greencard and citizenship while people who did everything legally have to go through much more hassle to get the same document.
Click to expand...

I could not agree with you more.

User Name said:
JoeF explained how tha worked. I just remember reading it and not feeling very good about it. I have always wanted to bring it up and talk to someone about it. Well I did and it's off my chest. I feel much better now. :D

--Norm
Click to expand...

I tend to ignore JoeF's words because of the volume of misinformation and nonsense he has posted in the past few days. Most of his nonsense has been deleted, possibly by the moderator. What remains is some flipping and flopping. If you know what I mean.. ;)


----------------------------
Vote Bush '04
 
Selective service and L1/H1

I am still not very clear after reading the sss.gov website whether this registration also applies fro H1/L1 holders.
in one part it says not applicable to non immigrants, but then in another part it says that it's very broad in who it applies to and says iot doesn't apply for students and political visas, but it doesn't say it DOESN'T apply to L1 H1 folks.
 
Sekkie ..
selcetive services is not for anyone on a valid non-immigrant visa. H1's and L1's are not required to register. What you should do is get some proof of your visa status from 18 to 26 years of age if you were in the US during those times.
e.g. If you were ever on F1, you'd get copies of all your I-20 forms you used.
If you are working on H1, get a copy of all the approval notices (notice they'll show new 1-94s at the bottom of your H1 approval notices).
For L1, get some proof, maybe from your sponsor/employer/ or even the USCIS.
Include a copy of your passport showing the Visa stamps, if any, and notarize all these things.

Fill out a 'request of status' letter (downloadable at http://www.sss.gov/instructions.html ), and send it along with all the above things to :

Selective Service System
ATTN: SIL
P.O. Box 94638
Palatine, IL 60094-4638


Try to include a short cover letter stating you are requesting a letter stating you were not required to register with selective services, based on the proof submitted.

you should get a letter in 2-3 weeks. If they need you to subimit more proff for anything, they'll let you know by mail.
 
dimmsimm said:
Sekkie ..
Try to include a short cover letter stating you are requesting a letter stating you were not required to register with selective services, based on the proof submitted.

you should get a letter in 2-3 weeks. If they need you to subimit more proff for anything, they'll let you know by mail.
Click to expand...

It took me a week to get the status letter from the Selective Services. I have included copies of all my non-immigrant visa status (in my case starting with a copy of my I-20, practical training permit, H1B visa(s) and finally the copy of the US Resident card). I have also made a table for the non-immigrant status as well as the age at each stage and plugged it in the cover letter.

BTW...the status letter will be useful, if you ever apply for any federal government jobs or benefits once you become a U.S. Citizen.

Good luck.
 
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