The various classes and steps for a license are as follows:
Option – An option does not confer membership. However upon the payment of an amount determined by the Board, currently $25,000, the option holder has one year to complete payment of the regular membership initiation fee. During this option period, the WTCA Board will not entertain an application for that same city.
If option holders pay the balance of the membership fee within 6 months, from the date of the option, they get a credit for the $25,000 towards the full membership fee.
Regular Membership – Regular members pay an initiation fee of an amount determined by the Board, currently $200,000, for the license to operate a World Trade Center in a city or economic locality.
Affiliate – For limited trade services by government organizations, trade clubs, and development organizations. The initiation fee is currently $20,000 with annual dues currently set at $5,000. The Affiliate membership status is not promoted anymore.
Satellite – Considered a regular member and sponsored by an existing regular member within the same economic region. Initiation fee for a satellite is 2/3 of the regular initiation fee which would be $133,333 at current rates. The annual dues are the same as that for regular members, currently at $10,000.
Transfer of Regular membership – A transfer occurs when more than 50% of the beneficial ownership of membership is transferred. The Board approves all transfers and the current transfer fee to be paid WTCA is $133,000 due with an application for transfer. The new owner pays the normal annual dues of $10,000 at current rates.
