Selective Service for immigrants: who must register and why it matters for citizenship
Selective Service is the U.S. system that keeps a list of men who could be called up if Congress ever brought back a military draft. Registering is required by law for most men aged 18 to 25 who live in the U.S., and that includes most immigrants. There is no draft today, and registering does not mean you join the military.
General information only, not legal advice. If you are close to 26, or already older and did not register, talk to an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative before you apply for citizenship.
Who must register
- Men aged 18 through 25 who live in the U.S., including green card holders, refugees, asylees and undocumented immigrants.
- Men who move to the U.S. between 18 and 25 should register soon after they arrive.
Who does not register
- Men in the U.S. on a valid nonimmigrant visa, such as F-1 students or H-1B workers, while they keep that status.
- Women (under current law).
- Men aged 26 or older: registration is no longer possible after your 26th birthday.
How to register
Online at sss.gov in a few minutes, or at a post office. Keep your registration number or confirmation.
Coming change: a 2025 law (the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026) makes registration automatic, using federal records. Selective Service plans to start it by December 2026. Until it starts, men still need to register themselves. Check sss.gov for the current status. You can also see what the rules say for you with the Selective Service checker.
Why it matters for citizenship
- The citizenship application (Form N-400) asks about it. Not registering when you were required to can delay or complicate your case.
- If you are past 26 and did not register, Selective Service can send you a status information letter explaining your situation, which applicants often bring to USCIS.
- USCIS looks at whether the failure to register was knowing and willful, and at the period before you applied. The rules are detailed, so get legal advice if this applies to you.
Need help organizing your documents?
One Path Finder can help you gather and organize documents where permitted by law. We are not a law firm and can’t tell you what applies to your case. Contact us to start a conversation. For legal advice, ask us for a referral to our partner law firm.