Men 26 and Older

Men cannot register for the Selective Service after reaching age 26.  Review the exemptions below to determine if you were exempt from registering with the Selective Service.  If you were exempt, submit the items requested to OTC. If you were not exempt, you may submit an appeal.

Exemptions

Currently in the armed services and on active duty:

Armed Services and Active Duty

Submit a copy of your DD214.

This exemption does not apply to members of the Reserve and National Guard who are not on active duty.

Served on active duty in the armed forces and separated but did not register before turning 26:

Active but Unregistered Before 26

Submit a copy of your DD214 with a character of service other than dishonorable showing military service in the armed forces other than Reserve forces, the Delayed Entry Program, and the National Guard.

Citizens of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Federate States of Micronesia:

Palau, Marshall Islands or Micronesia

Submit your Selective Service Status Information Letter. Review the letter for any other documents you may need to submit with the letter.
A citizen or national of one of these countries who lives in the U.S. for more than one year for any reason except as a student or employee of the government of his homeland must register.

Noncitizens who first entered the U.S. after they turned 26:

Noncitizens Entering the U.S. after 26

Submit a letter from the USCIS indicating your entry date or Selective Service Status Information Letter stating they were not required to register. Review the Selective Service Status Information Letter for any other documents you may need to submit with the letter.

Noncitizens who entered the U.S. as lawful nonimmigrants on a valid visa and remained in the U.S. on the terms of that visa until after they turned 26:

Noncitizens who Entered as Lawful Nonimmigrants

Submit your Selective Service Status Information Letter. Review the letter for any other documents you may need to submit with the letter.

Transgender males who were assigned the sex of female at birth:

Transgender Males

Submit a copy of your birth certificate or medical documentation.

Males born before 1960:

Males Born before 1960

Submit a copy of your birth certificate

Hospitalized, incarcerated or institutionalized the entire time from age 18 through 25, and you were required to register for selective service:

Hospitalized, incarcerated or institutionalized

Submit a letter from the institution, on letterhead, confirming continuously confined from your 18th birthday through age 25.

You were commissioned Public Health Service officers on active duty or members of the Reserve of the Public Health Service on specified active duty the entire time, age 18 through 25, and you were required to register for selective service:

Commissioned Public Health Service Officers

Submit a letter from the federal agency, on letterhead, confirming you served on active duty from your 18th birthday through age 25.

If the exemption requires a status information letter, you may request your Selective Service Status Information Letter at sss.gov,

Appeal Instructions

If you didn’t meet one of the exceptions above and would like to file an appeal, complete the steps below.

Step 1:  Request a Status Information Letter from the Selective Service at sss.gov.  Click on Men 26 and older and refer to heading “How to Get A Status Information Letter.”  Complete the form and mail it to the address provided on the form.

Step 2:  Gather your documentation.

Step 3:  Complete the Selective Service Appeal online form.

You must demonstrate you did not knowingly and willfully fail to register with the Selective Service.  In your appeal, the government requires you to provide a detailed description of the circumstances which led to your failure to register with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Items to include:

  • How and when you first became aware of the requirement to register for the SSS
  • Any attempts to register with SSS – when and where (submit supporting documentation)
  • Where you were living during the period of time when you should have registered (age 18 through 25)
  • Incarceration and/or institutional date (submit supporting documentation)
  • Any attempts to enlist in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Include what branch, when, why you were rejected and how you were notified (submit supporting documentation)
  • Any additional information which supports your claim

Step 4:  Submit a copy of your Selective Service Status Information Letter and documentation to OTC.

Your Selective Service appeal will only be sent to the committee for review if we have all 3 items:

  1. Selective Service Status Information Letter
  2. Documentation for your appeal circumstance
  3. Online Selective Service appeal form