United States when required, USCIS also
considers the following three things when
I hereby declare, on oath,
determining if you are truly willing to
that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all
serve the United States:
allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince,
potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I
(1) Selective Service — If you are male,
have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
you generally need to register with the
Selective Service System before applying
that I will support and defend the Constitution and
for naturalization. If you are male and lived
laws of the United States of America against all
in the United States (in any status other
enemies, foreign and domestic;
than as a lawful nonimmigrant) during ages
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
18 through 25, you must be registered with
the Selective Service System. If you are
that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States
male and entered the United States after
when required by the law;
you turned 26 years old, you do not have
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed
to register with the Selective Service.
Forces of the United States when required by the
law;
that I will perform work of national importance under
civilian direction when required by the law; and
that I take this obligation freely without any
mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help
me God.
28
If you were required to register, you will
(2) Alien Discharge from the U.S. Armed
need to provide your Selective Service
Forces — If you ever received an
number to USCIS when you apply. You
exemption or discharge from the U.S.
may get your Selective Service number by
Armed Forces because you are an alien,
calling 1-847-688-6888. For men born prior you may not be eligible for naturalization.
to 1960, this information can be obtained
by writing the Selective Service, Records
(3) Desertion from the U.S. Armed
Division at:
Forces — If you were ever convicted of
desertion from the U.S. Armed Forces, you
Selective Service System
are not eligible for naturalization. Desertion
National Headquarters
means that you left military service before
Arlington, VA 22209-2425
you were discharged.
If you have not registered, you must
register at a United States Post Office or
on the Selective Service System’s Internet
site to receive a Selective Service number.
The Selective Service System Internet site
can be reached at www.sss.gov or through
the USCIS Internet site at www.uscis.gov.
You must have a Social Security number to
register on the Internet.
If you were required to register, but did not
register before you turned 26, you must do
the following:
• Call 1-847-688-6888 or register
online at www.sss.gov and complete
the Selective Service System’s
Questionnaire Form. Note that
registering online may speed up the
process;
• Receive a “status information” letter
from the Selective Service; and
• Send the “status information” letter
with your application.
A Guide to Naturalization
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