I've been playing online for awhile now, and I wanted to start playing in some OTB events. How do I sign up to get an official rating? Do I need to do anything else before I play in OTB tournaments? Thanks!

http://main.uschess.org/docs/forms/MembershipForm.pdf

I was wondering about this too. I have never participated in any OTB events but I would love to try! Is it really as easy as going to USCF's website and signing up? Once I sign up, can I just register to a local tournament and go there?

Grakovsky asked, "Once I sign up, I can just register to a local tournament and go there?" Yes. If you join the USCF, you get an ID number, card, and a magazine that has your ID number. You need your to show your number to a tournament director. If you are a member and forget your number, it can be looked up. It is also possible to pay for membership upon entering a rated tournament. The director will pay the USCF for you.

The benefits of membership are great!

And also you have to pay a little State Fee, like on SCCF /South California Chess Federation/.

If you will find a local Chess Club, it can be another Fees, as well!

Greg

Thanks. I'm just signing up now because there's a tourney in about two weeks I want to participate in. Do I just need to fill out the signup sheet with money and send it to USCF? The address on the bottom of the sheet?

You can pay online! ...www.chess.com...

 Nail on the head. I'm a construction worker in some grim times, and I gotta say, rejoining the uscf doesn't seem entirely shut down. But facing sccf fees on top just makes me want to continue hiding on the internet 

    only way to avoid the chesstax

Where on this site?