Current "As is" Process (Larry)

Applicants wishing to apply for a permit they do not currently own must obtain the proper paper application form. Depending on the fishery or fisheries in which the applicant would like to fish and in some instances the location where the applicant would like to fish, the applicant may need several forms. Therefore, applicants need to visit the appropriate NMFS region's or regions' web site to find the required forms. After obtaining the necessary forms, applicants then need to complete them and sign the ones that require a signature. This signature is used to confirm the identity of the applicant and to affirm the information placed on the form is true, accurate, and complete at the time of signing. Each form then needs to be sent via postal mail to the appropriate regional office with any associated processing fees and required documentation. Once the application package has arrived, processors must then enter the information found on the application form into a regional system and then process the information. If after the processing phase a processor has determined that the applicant may receive a permit, a permit certificate is printed and a copy is usually made. The original permit is mailed to the applicant while the copy and the application form are filed for future reference.
Applicants that need to renew a permit, in most cases, will receive renewal letter from the region that processes the permit. This letter will remind the applicant that their permit needs to be renewed and contain instructions for the renewal process. Applicants will also typically receive a partially completed renewal application form. The application form will contain the information that was entered on the form the last time it was submitted. Applicants are then able to update any information that has changed since the last time they submitted the form. Once done updating the form, applicants can then sign it and submit it back to the regional office with any associated processing fees and required documentation for processing. Once the application reaches the regional office, processors can update the information and determine if the applicant's permit can be renewed. If the renewal request is approved, a new permit certificate is created and a copy is made to be filed along with the application form.