Ship International Mail Online and Get a Head Start on the Holidays

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Nov 03, 2010, 09:00 ET

Recommended Dates for International Holiday Mail

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Shipping packages to friends and family around the world in time for the holiday season can be as simple as taking a short trip to your computer with the tools, tips and transactions available at usps.com. Whether ordering shipping supplies, printing postage, getting information about mailing guidelines, filling out required customs forms or requesting free package pickup, the U.S. Postal Service is ready to help international shippers get a head start on the holidays.

"Shipping packages around the world can often be done without leaving your home," said Pranab Shah, managing director and vice president, Global Business. "Customers have a virtual Post Office available 24 hours a day to get their shipments prepared, paid and picked up."

Shah said customers going online can save on postage and order free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available in four sizes, with shipping prices starting as low as $11.45 to Mexico and Canada, or $13.45 to most other countries. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are also available free at any Post Office. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship. Information on free package pickup is available online at usps.com/pickup.

The Postal Service recommends the following deadlines for international delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25.

International Mail Addressed To	Global Express Guaranteed (GXG)1	Express Mail® International (EMS)2	Priority Mail® International (PMI)3	First-Class Mail
Africa	Dec. 17	Dec. 11	Dec. 3	Dec. 3
Asia/Pacific Rim	Dec. 17	Dec. 16	Dec. 10	Dec. 10
Australia/New Zealand	Dec. 17	Dec. 16	Dec. 10	Dec. 10
Canada	Dec. 21	Dec. 17	Dec. 13	Dec. 10
Caribbean	Dec. 20	Dec. 16	Dec. 13	Dec. 10
Central & South America	Dec. 20	Dec. 11	Dec. 3	Dec. 3
Mexico	Dec. 21	Dec. 16	Dec. 10	Dec. 10
Europe	Dec. 20	Dec. 16	Dec. 13	Dec. 10
Middle East	Dec. 17	Dec. 16	Dec. 13	Dec. 10

1. GXG is available to more than 190 countries via an alliance with Federal Express. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries and money-back guarantee details, or go to http://pe.usps.com, and click International Rates and Fees, then Country Listing. Some restrictions apply. Free shipping supplies are available. Purchase postage online and receive 10% discount.

2. EMS is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in 3 to 5 average business days. Guaranteed, money-back service is available to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea (Republic of South). Flat-rate shipping options and free packaging are available. Purchase postage online and receive an 8% discount.

3. PMI is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in 6 to 10 average business days. Flat-rate shipping options and free packaging are available. Purchase postage online and receive a 5% discount.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world's mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service