I have to agree with Michael. When I applied for my permit, I looked at the website and decided that applying electronically was too much of a bother. I printed the form off, filled it in by hand, and sent it in by US mail. I had my permit within four weeks. I also did this for my renewal and, I believe, my permit to import bulbs. Eugene Zielinski Rapid City, SD USA > [Original Message] > From: Michael Mace <michaelcmace@gmail.com> > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Date: 2/22/2013 6:33:51 PM > Subject: Re: [pbs] US seed import permits > > Jane wrote: > > >> Also, after going through the initial series of steps you can do online, > you have to physically go to a USDA extension office near your home > (fortunately there are plenty of them near mine) and identify the staff > member who is authorized to verify your identity by looking at your photo > ID, and then that person will input the verification into their system > > If you use the option of ordering the permits by mail, you don't have to go > identify yourself to a USDA office. You just send in the form and they mail > you the permits. It's not a huge hassle. > > For some reason I don't understand, the website encourages you to use online > registration for the permit, even though it's a lot more complicated for > everyone involved. > > Mike > San Jose, CA > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/