After I-551, sign up for Selective Service ?

[pnanda16]

Hi Friends,

I got my I-551 stamp on the passport this July 24th.
I was 26 years and 2 months old at that time.

I found a clause that mentions "permanent resident male alients between the age of 18 and 26 must register with Selective Services".

Does anyone know anything about it ?
Is it the age when I get the stamp that matters or when I started my GC processing ( Priority Date) ?

any lead will be of great help.
thanks
PN, SJ, CA

[abu lafya]

Not legal advise:
I would guess when GC became official, i.e. POE date or I485 approval date.
This is important if you wish to stay in the US. What it means, is that you may be drafted for war effort.
If you will not do this, you may be deported (if you avoided being drafted) or your application for citizenship rejected.

[JoeF]

The age at the time you became a PR matters. People who do AOS become PRs with the date of the I-485 approval notice, people who do CP become PRs at the time of entry.
You are required by law to register for Selective Services if you are male and between 18 and 26. Note that you do not need to register (and in fact can not) if you are 26 or older.
People registered for Selective Services can be drafted in case of war.
Also, there is a question about registering for Selective Services on the citizenship application. Again, not a problem for people 26 or older at the time of getting the GC, but people who neglected to register may have their citizenship application denied.
Also, note that according to the Selective Services website (www.sss.gov/) illegal aliens are also required to register. This doesn't make much sense, but it is the law. So if you ever were illegal, you may run into problems as well.
People on non-immigrant visas, e.g. F-1, H-1B, etc. are excempt from registering for Selective Services.

-JoeF