New Users Pending Activation

Hello and good day.

I would like to allow new users (who have paid for one of my other services outside of the plugin) to register themselves as a member.

But I want to disallow anyone else from accessing the protected content.

I have enabled protected content on all the pages I want to give those new members access to.

Is there a way to allow those new users (who have paid for services outside of SWP Membership) to access the member’s system while disallowing everyone else?

I see there is a way to enable free memberships.

Can free memberships be pending until validated? I don’t want these free members to get access to the content until I have validated them. Then I can upgrade them to paid member status in the plug-in.

Thanks