Grand Rapids — It’s not too early to think about mailing those holiday packages overseas or to military personnel. To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by December 25 to military APO/FPO/DPO and international addresses overseas, the U.S. Postal Service suggest that mail be entered by the recommended mailing dates listed below. Beat the last-minute rush and take your mail to your Post Office™ by these suggested dates. And don’t forget you can print postage, labels, and customs forms online 24/7 using Click-N-Ship service at www.usps.com/clicknship.
Remember, all mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas are subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation, and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. To see a table of active APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes and associated mailing restrictions, go to http://pe.usps.com and click Postal Bulletins, or go to the current issue and see the article “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.
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2012 Holiday Shipping Cut Off Dates |
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Domestic Mail Class/Product |
Cut Off Date |
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First Class Mail |
Dec-20 |
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Priority Mail |
Dec-21 |
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Express Mail* |
Dec-22 |
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Parcel Post |
Dec-14 |
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DNDC Drop Ship |
Dec-19 |
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DDU Drop Ship |
Dec-21 |
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*Express Mail postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed Dec 22–25. See additional information below
| Military Mail Addressed To | Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/ | First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards | Priority Mail® | Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/ | Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ | Parcel Post® |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 |
Dec-17 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-3 |
Nov-26 |
Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 |
N/A |
Dec-3 |
Dec-3 |
Nov-30 |
Nov-26 |
Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 |
Dec-17 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-3 |
Nov-26 |
Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AA ZIP 340 |
Dec-17 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-3 |
Nov-26 |
Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 |
Dec-17 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-10 |
Dec-3 |
Nov-26 |
Nov-13 |
| International Mail Addressed To | Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG)*** | Express Mail® International (EMS) | Priority Mail® International (PMI) | First-Class Mail® |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Dec-19 | Dec-11 | Dec-3 | Dec-3 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Dec-18 | Dec-15 | Dec-10 | Dec-10 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Dec-18 | Dec-15 | Dec-10 | Dec-10 |
| Canada | Dec-20 | Dec-17 | Dec-13 | Dec-10 |
| Caribbean | Dec-19 | Dec-15 | Dec-13 | Dec-10 |
| Central & South America | Dec-19 | Dec-11 | Dec-3 | Dec-3 |
| Mexico | Dec-20 | Dec-15 | Dec-10 | Dec-10 |
| Europe | Dec-19 | Dec-15 | Dec-13 | Dec-10 |
| Middle East | Dec-19 | Dec-15 | Dec-13 | Dec-10 |
1/ EMMS: is available to selected military /diplomatic post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if
this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.
2/ PAL: is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel
Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee
must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
3/ SAM: parcels are paid at Parcel Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds
and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to
overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.
***GXG Notes: 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance. 2) Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities. 3) Last day to ship to Afghanistan is Dec 18 and Iraq is Dec 17.
2012 Holiday Season Import Dates*
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SURFACE |
AIR |
EMS |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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LC/AO |
CP |
LC/AO |
CP |
|
|
Dec-10 |
Dec-4 |
Dec-17 |
Dec-15 |
Dec-18 |
*Provides mailing guidelines for foreign postal partners in order to meet December 25 delivery.
2012 Holiday Season Import Dates
December 4 Last day to send parcel post packages via surface transportation
December 10 Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via surface transportation
December 15 Last day to send priority packages via air transportation
December 17 Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via air transportation
December 18 Last day to send Express Mail Service items (any shape)
Mail class by code:
LC = Letters, aerogramme's (USPS no longer offers outbound aerogramme's), cards and letter package
AO = Newspapers, magazines, matter for the blind, printed matter, small package
CP = Packages - Parcel Post (Surface), Priority (Air)
# # #
For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, go to http://about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
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