ORIGINAL: J_R
The AMA no longer issues instant memberships because of an incident that happened about a year ago. It normally takes about a week or so to get your card.
The only exception is when you sign up at a sanctioned event and buy a membership from the Contest Director (CD).
JR-
The incident wasn't the proximate cause of the change in policy. Dave Brown's (and no one else's) knee-jerk reaction to it was.
Abel