Also, does anyone have any idea if there is a time limit for the 8610-2?
I got my 8610-2 signed almost 2 years ago, but am planning to sit for the exam only next year (it's a long story how this happened...)
My 8610-2 was signed in 2003 and I finally got round to the writtens and O+P in April 2011.
Even the FAA district office which signed my 8610-2 no longer existed .... but form went thru no problems.
One advantage of going thru a school maybe is that if there are problems with the form they know the right people to correct it
The only time limit is once you have started the exam process - you have 2 years to complete all items