Dear Dennis, Richard and all, I can share my success in ‘renewing’ my small lot of seed import permit earlier this year. As the time for expiration approached, I studied the APHIS pages and old permit for info about renewal. I could not find exactly what I needed, but they provide a phone number so I called. (Of course,) No one answered, but I left, my name, number and question. I received a return call the next day and was given some really useful information by an actual helpful person. 1. USDA no longer renews permits, but the applicant must submit a new permit application. 2. The fastest and most efficient way to get a new permit is to download the application form from the web and print it out. Fill out the form completely for mailing, but do not mail it. 3. FAX the paper application to the FAX number given on the form. I was assured that faxing had multiple benefits: First it went directly to the correct office, second it arrived ‘immediately’ and went into the pile right away, third conventional mailing might delay receipt for days, a week or more as it went through the postal system and routing through various USDA offices, suites, rooms and other routing systems until it got into the right pile. I had to figure out how to send a fax (when was the last time you actually sent a fax?) and received my new permit and import labels in a couple of weeks. This is about as trouble free as I have had an interaction with the USDA permit folks. Seems like with their efforts at converting to electronic records, renewal should be both simpler and faster. At least this worked. Best and good luck. Jim W. On Nov 7, 2013, at 10:08 AM, Dennis Kramb <dkramb@badbear.com> wrote: > > I'm curious to know if other PBS members chose to let theirs expire, or if > they renewed it anyway "just in case". The renewal process looks like a > big pain. > > Dennis in Cincinnati > James Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd Kansas City, MO 64152-2711 USA Phone 816-746-1949