Federal law requires nearly all听 18 through 25 years old, to register with Selective Service. While registration is no longer required for Federal Student Aid, registration is still required to receive Virginia state financial aid such as the Commonwealth Grant or the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Grant.
Who Has to Register for Selective Service?
Almost all men who are 18-25 years old and live in the United States must register for Selective Service. This includes:
- U.S. citizens (U.S. born, dual citizens, and naturalized)
- U.S. citizens who live outside of the country
- Immigrants (legal permanent residents and undocumented immigrants)
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Transgender people who were assigned male gender at birth
- People with disabilities
To see a full list of who is required to register and FAQs about Selective Service, please .
What If I Failed to Register?
If you are 26 years old or older and were required to register, you may to the Financial Aid Office regarding your eligibility for Virginia state aid if your failure to register with the Selective Service was not knowing and willful.
The Code of Virginia says the following: Individuals who have failed to meet the federal requirement to register for the Selective Service are not eligible to receive grants. However, an individual who has failed to register for the Selective Service shall not be denied a right, privilege, or benefit under this section if (i) the requirement to so register has terminated or become inapplicable to the individual and (ii) the individual shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the failure to register was not a knowing and willful failure to register.听
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