NEVER TOO EARLY TO MAIL
OVERSEAS HOLIDAY MAILING DATES SET
It’s
never too early to begin planning for overseas holiday mailings. And with
thousands of American troops and civilians stationed around the world, the
coming weeks will be a busy time for mailing international and military
parcels, cards and packages.
To ensure delivery of
holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas,
the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be sent no later
than the military mailing deadlines. For example, the recommended mailing date
for the most economical postage to overseas military installations, including
Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 13.
MILITARY MAILING DEADLINES
Military Mail Addressed To:
| Express Mail Military Service (EMMS) note1
| First-Class Mail Letters and Cards
| Priority Mail
| Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) note 2
| Space Available Mail (SAM) note 3
| Parcel Post
| APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092
| Dec-18
| Dec-11
| Dec-11 | Dec-4
| Nov-28
| Nov-13
| APO/FPO AE ZIP 093
| N/A
| Dec-4
| Dec-4
| Dec-1
| Nov-21
| Nov-13
| APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098
| Dec-18
| Dec-11
| Dec-11 | Dec-4
| Nov-28
| Nov-13
| APO/FPO AA ZIP 340
| Dec-18
| Dec-11
| Dec-11 | Dec-4
| Nov-28
| Nov-13
| APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966
| Dec-18
| Dec-11
| Dec-11 | Dec-4
| Nov-28
| Nov-13
|
note
1: EMMS: Express Mail Military Service is available to selected
military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine
if this service is available to your APO/FPO of address.
| note
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 rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL
service.
| note 3: SAM
parcels are paid at the Parcel Post postage rate 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.
|
“Mailing
holiday gifts to service members early will help ensure that a piece of home
arrives in plenty of time to make the celebration complete,” said Pranab Shah,
vice president and managing director, Global Business.
To help the families
and friends of U.S. military personnel, the Postal Service offers a discount on
its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box. And flat-rate boxes are free at any
Post Office, or can be ordered online at The Postal Store. Postage, labels, and customs forms can
be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship.
USPS also continues
to show support to those serving in the armed forces by offering free Military
Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages
overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734
and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” large
Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, four medium-sized Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes,
six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape, and six customs forms
with envelopes.
Mail addressed to
military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions
regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally
require customs forms.
|