Effective January 4, 2010, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) sections 123.5, 123.712, 215.2, 225.1, 235.1, and part 245 to codify the authorized deposit methods for outbound international mail.
Consistent with the Federal Register final rule (74 FR 52144–52147) published October 9, 2009, these changes require that all international outbound mailpieces weighing more than 13 ounces and bearing only postage stamps be presented to an employee at a retail service counter in a Post Office™ facility. Comprehensive revisions are made to the IMM sections discussing mail entry and deposit for Global Express Guaranteed®, Express Mail International®, Priority Mail International®, and First-Class Mail International® services. These revisions identify the authorized places to deposit international mailpieces based on their classification, weight, postage payment method, and customs declarations requirements.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
1 International Mail Services
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120 Preparation for Mailing
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123 Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels
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123.5 Place of Mailing
[Revise 123.5 to read as follows:]
Mailpieces bearing customs declarations have specific deposit requirements based on mail category, shape, and weight. Refer to the specific IMM part below for determination:
a. Global Express Guaranteed mailpieces — see 215.
b. Express Mail International mailpieces — see 225.
c. Priority Mail International mailpieces — see 235.
d. First-Class Mail International mailpieces — see 245.
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123.7 Completing Customs Forms
123.71 PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration (green label)
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123.712 Postal Service Employee’s Acceptance of PS Form 2976
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[Delete the Note at the end of 123.712.]
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2 Conditions for Mailing
210 Global Express Guaranteed
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215 Mail Entry and Deposit
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[Revise title and text of 215.2 to read as follows:]
215.2 Place of Mailing
215.21 Payment Methods Other Than Postage Stamps
Global Express Guaranteed shipments paid with online postage, postage meters, or information-based indicia (IBI) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a retail counter of any participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office facility.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 215.3).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 215.4).
d. In a collection box served by a participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office facility.
215.22 Items Weighing 13 Ounces or Less and Paid With Postage Stamps
Global Express Guaranteed shipments weighing 13 ounces or less and bearing only postage stamps may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a retail counter of any participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office facility.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 215.3).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 215.4).
d. In a collection box served by a participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office facility.
215.23 Items Weighing More Than 13 Ounces and Paid With Postage Stamps
A customer may not deposit a Global Express Guaranteed item weighing more than 13 ounces and bearing only postage stamps into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 215.3 and Carrier Pickup service under 215.4. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
215.24 Acceptance of Shipments
For purposes of computing the delivery guarantee, Postal Service acceptance of a Global Express Guaranteed shipment occurs when it is received and scanned at a participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office facility. Collection box deposit and Carrier Pickup service do not constitute Postal Service acceptance of a Global Express Guaranteed shipment. Acceptance occurs when the shipment is brought back to the Post Office facility and the acceptance office performs a retail system scan and verifies the weight, dimensions, and postage of the shipment. For items paid with Click-N-Ship service, the customer will receive an e-mail verification of the acceptance date, time, and weight, as well as a verification of the amount of postage applicable for the shipment.
Note: Customers paying postage online must enter their shipment via any of the authorized methods outlined in 215.21 within 24 hours of the time when the label is printed, or the transaction will be void.
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220 Express Mail International
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225 Mail Entry and Deposit
225.1 Place of Mailing
[Revise 225.1 to read as follows:]
225.11 Items Requiring a Completed Customs Declaration
Except as provided in 225.12, a mailer may not deposit an Express Mail International item that requires a completed customs form into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location.
In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 225.2 and Carrier Pickup service under 225.3. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
225.12 Exceptional Items Requiring a Completed Customs Declaration
Express Mail International items paid through an Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA), or items that have the mailing label, customs form (including an electronic round stamp), and postage prepared and paid online through Click-N-Ship service on usps.com, the eBay integrated shipping solution, or an authorized PC Postage vendor Web site, may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 225.2).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 225.3).
d. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
e. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. In a customer mailbox.
225.13 Items Not Requiring a Customs Declaration
225.131 Items Weighing 13 Ounces or Less and Paid With Postage Stamps
An Express Mail International item weighing 13 ounces or less, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see the applicable Individual Country Listing) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 225.2).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 225.3).
d. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
e. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. In a customer mailbox.
225.132 Items Weighing More Than 13 Ounces and Paid With Postage Stamps
A customer may not deposit an Express Mail International item weighing more than 13 ounces, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see the applicable Individual Country Listing) into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 225.2 and Carrier Pickup service under 225.3. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
225.133 Payment Methods Other Than Postage Stamps
An Express Mail International item paid with online postage, postage meters, or information-based indicia (IBI) and not requiring a customs declaration (see the applicable Individual Country Listing) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 225.2).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 225.3).
d. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
e. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. In a customer mailbox.
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230 Priority Mail International
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235 Mail Entry and Deposit
235.1 Place of Mailing
[Revise 235.1 to read as follows:]
235.11 Items Requiring a Completed Customs Declaration
Except as provided in 235.12, a mailer may not deposit a Priority Mail International item that requires a completed customs form into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 235.2 and Carrier Pickup service under 235.3. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
235.12 Items Bearing a Completed Customs Declaration With an Electronic Round Date
Priority Mail International items that have the mailing label, customs form (including an electronic round stamp), and postage prepared and paid online through Click-N-Ship service on usps.com, the eBay integrated shipping solution, or an authorized PC Postage vendor Web site may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 235.2).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 235.3).
d. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
e. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. In a customer mailbox.
235.13 Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes Not Requiring a Customs Declaration
235.131 General
A Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope meeting the conditions in 123.6 is the only Priority Mail International item that can be mailed without a customs label. See 235.132 through 235.134 for specific conditions.
235.132 Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes Weighing 13 Ounces or Less and Paid With Postage Stamps
A Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope weighing 13 ounces or less, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 235.2).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 235.3).
d. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
e. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. In a customer mailbox.
235.133 Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes Weighing More Than 13 Ounces and Paid With Postage Stamps
A customer may not deposit a Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope weighing more than 13 ounces, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 235.2 and Carrier Pickup service under 235.3. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
235.134 Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes Using Payment Methods Other Than Postage Stamps
A Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope paid with online postage, postage meters, or information-based indicia (IBI) weighing less than 16 ounces and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service (see 235.2).
c. Through Carrier Pickup service (see 235.3).
d. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
e. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. In a customer mailbox.
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240 First-Class Mail International
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245 Mail Entry and Deposit — Place of Mailing
[Revise 245 to read as follows:]
245.1 Items Requiring a Completed Customs Declaration
Except as provided in 245.2, a mailer may not deposit a First-Class Mail International item that requires a completed customs declaration form into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
245.2 Items Bearing a Completed Customs Declaration With an Electronic Round Date
First-Class Mail International items that have the mailing label, customs form (including an electronic round stamp), and postage prepared and paid online through the eBay integrated shipping solution or an authorized PC Postage vendor Web site may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
c. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
d. In a collection box.
e. In a customer mailbox.
245.3 Items Not Requiring a Customs Declaration
245.31 Items Weighing 13 Ounces or Less and Paid With Postage Stamps
A First-Class Mail International letter-size or flat-size item weighing 13 ounces or less, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
c. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
d. In a collection box.
e. In a customer mailbox.
245.32 Items Weighing More Than 13 Ounces — Paid With Postage Stamps
A customer may not deposit a First-Class Mail International letter-size or flat-size item weighing more than 13 ounces, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
245.4 Payment Methods Other Than Postage Stamps
First-Class Mail International letter-size or flat-size items paid with online postage, postage meters, or information-based indicia (IBI) weighing less than 16 ounces and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. At a Postal Service retail counter.
b. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
c. Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
d. In a collection box.
e. In a customer mailbox.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the IMM and into the monthly update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards, Pricing, 12-3-09
