The Selective Service System (SSS) is an independent agency of the United States government that maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription (i.e. the draft) and carries out contingency planning and preparations for two types of draft: a general draft based on registration lists of men aged 18-25, and a special-skills draft based on professional licensing lists of workers in specified health care occupations.
If you are a male and between the ages of 18 and 25, you may receive a notice in the mail: it says "Enclosed in Your Official Registration Acknowledgment Card" from Selective Service System.
Non-immigrant men living in the United States on a valid visa are not required to register for as long as they remain on a valid visa up until they turn 26. If you have received a letter from us requesting that you register, please send SSS copies of supporting documentation to show you are exempt.
A complete list of acceptable documentation may be found at https://www.sss.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/DocumentationList.pdf.
You should mail the form and COPIES of the supporting documentation to the address listed in the mail.
Please also keep a copy of what you mail to SSS for your own records.
Non-immigrant men living in the United States on a valid visa are not required to register for as long as they remain on a valid visa up until they turn 26. The document to prove you are exempt is your immigration documents, including but not limited to:
What is Selective Service?
Selective Service is required by law as the first part of a fair and equitable system that, if authorized by the President and the Congress, would rapidly provide personnel to the Department of Defense while at the same time providing for an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors. By registering, a young man remains eligible for jobs, Federal Student Aid, State-based student aid in 31 states, Federally-funded job training, and U.S. citizenship for immigrant men.If you are a male and between the ages of 18 and 25, you may receive a notice in the mail: it says "Enclosed in Your Official Registration Acknowledgment Card" from Selective Service System.
Who must register?
Usually, only U.S. citizens and U.S. Permanent residents are required to register. Please check the U.S. government's Selective Service System (SSS)'s webpage for more information.Non-immigrant men living in the United States on a valid visa are not required to register for as long as they remain on a valid visa up until they turn 26. If you have received a letter from us requesting that you register, please send SSS copies of supporting documentation to show you are exempt.
I am an International Student. Should I respond to them?
You should respond to SSS according to the instructions mentioned in the mail. It has a paragraph that states: "For Non-Immigrants: If you are on a valid visa and believe that you were registered in error, send this form and proof of your immigration status to ADDRESS:"A complete list of acceptable documentation may be found at https://www.sss.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/DocumentationList.pdf.
You should mail the form and COPIES of the supporting documentation to the address listed in the mail.
Please also keep a copy of what you mail to SSS for your own records.
I have a scholarship. How should I fill the form?
Non-immigrant men living in the United States on a valid visa are not required to register for as long as they remain on a valid visa up until they turn 26. The document to prove you are exempt is your immigration documents, including but not limited to:- I-20 or DS-2019
- Passport
- Visa
- I-94 with travel history