I tried registering for a .us domain at godaddy but it seems there are some rules for this extension ?

There is a question havnig 2 options
Question is Select one that best describes you:
1. I am a citizen of the US
2. I am a permanent resident of the US

I know if I just set some option, I can still but the name - but is it legal ? How can non-us people buy .us domains ?

Thanks

The full rules for .us are here:

http://www.neustar.us/policies/docs/ustld_nexus_requirements.pdf

In a nutshell, you need to have a bona fide presence in the USA.

"Bona fide" is a bit woolly - and I believe people have got away with using friends' or relatives' addresses in the USA to register .us domains.

If you run US business you should be allowed to register one.

Hello,

Yes, if you do business in the US and you are able to proove it, you may buy a .us domain name.
E.g.: We bought the atoxx.us domain name, because we have business operations in the States.

Loads of European registrars nowadays offer .us without requiring American presence. Usually they have their own address in the US and let customers use it.

Or, if you don't care about a small extra fee, you can register any domain you wish regardless of the policies. If the country requires local presence, just buy a PO Box in the country and use it as correspondance address, then ask the postal services of the country to forward all post to your address in your own country.

I wouldn't recommend the .us tld, anyways. There is no whois protection of any kind on them, even if your registrar says that they sell whois progection, or if it comes 'free' with the domain name.