Yesterday I finished enrolling for classes this Fall and FINALLY picked a major, it's Histotechnology. That's someone who dissects tissue and prepares slides for a Pathologist. Yeah, it wasn't my first or even my second choice but the other paths didn't pay worth a poo. I'm not going to school to still struggle for the rest of my life. I've got a house to buy and SRS to pay for, know what I mean?

Anywho, a few weeks ago I did my fafsa ahead of time and received a call from the Financial Aid office at the College because there was an issue. I had put male on my fafsa (as I do with everything anyways) and they needed proof I had registered for the Selective Service (for those of you not in the States, that is in case there is ever a draft during war times). I put off contacting them about this for about two weeks, lol. Just not in the mood to deal with trans problems.

I emailed and called the financial aid office to no avail so sucked it up and went in person yesterday. Just told them that I needed to speak with someone in private about an issue with my fafsa. They obliged and I went into the lady's office. Told her what was going on but as usual when I say "I'm transgender" they take it as I'm going the opposite direction. Explained that I was FAAB and then the light bulb went off (seriously, I seen it...little light above her head said "bing"). She called in one of the higher ups at the College and this is what I was told:

They said I have to change my fasfa to female. I can register with admissions and every other thing in the College as male with no problems, but good ol' Uncle Sam only cares about what sex you were assigned to at birth. I told them I am having my second SRS procedure next Summer/Fall and at that point I can take my two letters from my surgeons and get my birth certificate amended to male. They told me that even after that procedure it would probably just be easier to do my fafsa next year as female as well. They said anytime I put male it is going to throw up a red flag and I will encounter further questioning. If I put female it will effect nothing but the fafsa, I can be registered with the College as male, and never hear anything about it again.

I'm kinda caught in a conundrum about this. Not with the College at all. They were completely accommodating and polite about everything. It's not their fault...it's just the way the Government has set up the fafsa to protect against fraud. I'm stuck between forgetting about it but then I wonder if I do if it could affect me in the future. Once I get legal male status I plan on proposing and marrying my gf. We've been together almost a decade now and it's something I look forward to. Could me being registered as female under a Government sponsored program put a block in that?

Someone on here told me that there is a way that someone can contact the Selective Service and get a letter saying they're not eligible to be enlisted in the Selective Service. As soon as I am able to change my birth certificate in court after surgery I do plan on going that route. Yeah, I know that will put me back into the office explaining to them what is going on but at least then I will have surgeon letters, a new birth certificate, and a letter from the Government stating I am not eligible for the draft. If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.

Holy wow...that's kind of upsetting (but good to know). One of the trans guys in my support group ran into this too recently. I think he got around it by just registering for the selective service, figuring that in the remote chance he gets called up, he'll explain things then.

As far as worrying about marriage down the line, I'm pretty sure they only look at birth certificates to determine your sex...so if you end up getting it changed there you'll probably be good to go (that was my experience when I got married anyway).

I Don't Think Registering As Female For Financial Aid Will Effect You In The Future, No One Really Looks At That Crap. For Marriage, Like Ford Said, They Just look At Your Birth Certificate.

For a trans man between the ages of 18 and 25, whether or not he registers will largely have to do with whether or not the government considers him male. There is no "official" policy as to the registration process for transsexuals. With regard to Selective Service, the government appears to deal primarily with the sex markers that appear on their own official documents (such as on your Social Security records, driver's license, or passport), and the law states that "males... between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to register with Selective Service."

If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and you are considered male by any government entity (such as on your Social Security records, driver's license, or passport), then it would be wise to register with Selective Service (especially if you plan on receiving federal financial aid or hope to become a U.S. citizen). Some states automatically register males of eligible age when they apply for a driver's license. Should a draft arise, you would most likely be exempted from military service as a transsexual. This is similar to the situation of men who have certain physical disabilities-- even if their disabilities may eventually disqualify them from serving, they still must register between the ages of 18 and 25, and would then be exempted later should a draft arise.

If your government-issued documentation lists you as female (such as your Social Security records, driver's license, or passport), then you do not have to register.

For a trans man who was born after December 31, 1959, is 26 years of age or older, and is considered male by a government entity (such as your Social Security records, driver's license, or passport, as explained above), he can no longer register with Selective Service, but he can obtain a letter explaining that he was exempt from having registered. In order to get this letter, you must get a form from Selective Service called the "Status Information Letter" or "SIL." This letter can be obtained from the Selective Service web site (www.sss.gov) or by calling 847-688-6888 (TTY: 847-688-2567). There is a section on the form that deals specifically with transsexual status.

Once you have submitted this form and any necessary documentation, you'll get a letter from Selective Service that states you are were not required to be registered. This letter will not refer to your transsexual status; it will simply state that you are exempt from registration. Keep this letter in your files should any indicent arise where your lack of registration status might become an issue.

Source

Wow that sucks. I'm just going to sign up for SS anyway and then take care of it later if there ever is a draft.

From what I understand the gender you should put on the FAFSA is whatever Social Security currently has you down as, and doing otherwise will flag the FAFSA in the same way that putting down a name that isn't the one on your SS card will. For Selective Service purposes, they supposedly go by what's on your birth certificate (it's unclear whether changing the designation on your birth certificate changes your registration requirement, but for anyone whose gender designation on the BC hasn't or can't be changed your requirement is strictly determined by your birth gender). This means that for any transgender person there could be mismatches in cases like this. My recommendation is once the SSA has you down as male, register with the SSS if you can (even if you're not technically required to) and you're still under 26 (if you're too old to register you can instead get a letter as another member described that mentions you're exempt). (The situation is much less ambiguous for MTFs; unless they can have SRS before they're 18 they'd generally be required to be registered in any case, even if the SSA has them down as female and the registration is not ultimately checked.)

Personally, I would just go and register with ss.... either it will go through or it wont.  Then you can show the school you are registered with the school. 

Quote from: Robert Scott on May 03, 2013, 12:04:14 PM
Personally, I would just go and register with ss.... either it will go through or it wont.  Then you can show the school you are registered with the school.

Not sure if the registration would go through before my financial aid deadline. I just went ahead yesterday and edited my fasfa info. Took all of two minutes. I need to make sure my aid goes through for my loans. That's money so I can get another car, a part time job, and my surgeries.

To be honest, I'm not stressing about it. Like the guys on here said, it's not going to affect anything in the future so whatever. I'm not embarrassed of being trans. If it comes up in the future again I'll deal with it. I'm stealth in the sense that I don't discuss it with non trans people simply because it's not their business. If I am approached (as I have been in the past) and the person is respectful I have no issues with admitting it. I know a lot of trans people would be mortified but eh...I just don't care anymore.

I was curious if it could cause issues in the future but looks like it won't. Thanks to those that replied on that. The main reason I posted this though is because I had talked with another mod who thought it would be good info for other guys.

Quote from: Simon on May 02, 2013, 03:47:57 PM
Yesterday I finished enrolling for classes this Fall and FINALLY picked a major, it's Histotechnology. That's someone who dissects tissue and prepares slides for a Pathologist. Yeah, it wasn't my first or even my second choice but the other paths didn't pay worth a poo. I'm not going to school to still struggle for the rest of my life. I've got a house to buy and SRS to pay for, know what I mean?

Anywho, a few weeks ago I did my fafsa ahead of time and received a call from the Financial Aid office at the College because there was an issue. I had put male on my fafsa (as I do with everything anyways) and they needed proof I had registered for the Selective Service (for those of you not in the States, that is in case there is ever a draft during war times). I put off contacting them about this for about two weeks, lol. Just not in the mood to deal with trans problems.

I emailed and called the financial aid office to no avail so sucked it up and went in person yesterday. Just told them that I needed to speak with someone in private about an issue with my fafsa. They obliged and I went into the lady's office. Told her what was going on but as usual when I say "I'm transgender" they take it as I'm going the opposite direction. Explained that I was FAAB and then the light bulb went off (seriously, I seen it...little light above her head said "bing"). She called in one of the higher ups at the College and this is what I was told:

They said I have to change my fasfa to female. I can register with admissions and every other thing in the College as male with no problems, but good ol' Uncle Sam only cares about what sex you were assigned to at birth. I told them I am having my second SRS procedure next Summer/Fall and at that point I can take my two letters from my surgeons and get my birth certificate amended to male. They told me that even after that procedure it would probably just be easier to do my fafsa next year as female as well. They said anytime I put male it is going to throw up a red flag and I will encounter further questioning. If I put female it will effect nothing but the fafsa, I can be registered with the College as male, and never hear anything about it again.

I'm kinda caught in a conundrum about this. Not with the College at all. They were completely accommodating and polite about everything. It's not their fault...it's just the way the Government has set up the fafsa to protect against fraud. I'm stuck between forgetting about it but then I wonder if I do if it could affect me in the future. Once I get legal male status I plan on proposing and marrying my gf. We've been together almost a decade now and it's something I look forward to. Could me being registered as female under a Government sponsored program put a block in that?

Someone on here told me that there is a way that someone can contact the Selective Service and get a letter saying they're not eligible to be enlisted in the Selective Service. As soon as I am able to change my birth certificate in court after surgery I do plan on going that route. Yeah, I know that will put me back into the office explaining to them what is going on but at least then I will have surgeon letters, a new birth certificate, and a letter from the Government stating I am not eligible for the draft. If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.

You got bad information from your school.  Contact the Selective Service and apply for a "status information letter."

http://www.usu.edu/finaid/forms/pdf/SelectiveServiceAppeal.pdf

Your female birth certificate is sufficient to qualify.  For the purpose of the FAFSA, you will be an exempted male.  Period.

Here is an example from one college, on what to do (see page 2):

http://www.usuniversity.edu/forms12/SelectiveServiceForm.pdf

If you are legally female with the federal government, then I understand that you need to classify yourself as female on the FAFSA.

Once you change your sex with the feds--that is, with the Social Security Administration--you'll get a red flag if you put your sex as F on the FAFSA, not if you put it down (properly) as male. Your school does not seem to have a handle on how things work.

Trans men can change their sex with the SSA after top surgery or bottom surgery. If you have already had any kind of surgery that irrevocably changes primary or secondary sexual characteristics--specifically your chest, your internal sex organs, or your genitals--you ought to be able to get a letter stating so. With that letter, you can change your sex with the feds. You will need to make sure that the letter has all the right information, but TLC and other organizations have info about that.

If you have already changed your name legally, then you can apply for a Status Information Letter right now, explain that you are trans, and see what happens. But I'm not sure how the Selective Service System handles men who haven't changed their sex to male with the SSA.

Jamie is correct.

My name is legally changed through social security, but no surgery yet so I'm still technically female as far as the SSA is concerned. Anyway, on my FAFSA this past spring, I registered as male. The school emailed me saying there was no record of me registering for SS. I had to fill out the request for letter of exemption found on the SS website and send it to SS with a copy of my original birth certificate. A couple of weeks later they sent me back a letter saying that I was exempt from having to register....it doesn't list the specific reason on it at all. I then sent a copy of the letter to my school and that was all taken care of. A little tedious, but pretty painless and there were no complications.