USCF rating is your rating in the United States Chess federation, the rest goes along with that. you have to join the USCF to enter a lot of OTB tournaments.
a 1/2 bye is a round where you get put through without actually playing and they give you 1/2 point as if you had drawn a game.
Do I have to pay all this stuff just to play a chess tournament?
NO, you can still play for fun, but it won't be official.
I'm sure there are tournaments where that's the case Ron, but not the one StarKnight wants to enter. So yes, you do have to belong to both the USCF and the state association in order to enter:
The entry fee for either section is $35 if mailed in and POSTMARKED by 10 March, and you must have current memberships to USCF and MSCA, or submit membership payment, along with your entry fee. All fees due must accompany your pre-registration, or you will be paying the on-site registration fee of $40. Registration on-site is from 8 to 9 AM on Saturday, on-site entry fee is $45. Sorry, but no phone in or e-mail registrations are accepted. Late registrations (after 9 am) on Saturday will receive a ½ point BYE for the first round.
I stand corrected. Listen to baddogno OP. He's allways been smarter than me.
What is a USCF rating,ID,Membership I'm entering my first tournament and they said I need all that also what is a 1/2 bye? Here is a link to the registration https://onlineregistration.cc/tournaments/index.php?txn=y9Dg4A==&view=zt7g2Q==&tid=nKWg&act=ven