U.S. Postal Service

When preparing Air Mail for processing by the Mail Service Center, please remember to separate and band from other outgoing mail.

Air Mail Endorsement:

If you are sending mail overseas, it is important that it is marked "Air Mail" or "Par Avion". Without the endorsement, the mail pieces end up in the domestic mailstream, causing delays. Place the endorsement on both the front and back of the mail piece.

Customs Forms:

If you are sending anything overseas other than a letter then a custom form is required. This must be prepared by the sender for each international package. This is an online form that can be found here.

Certified Mail - $3.30 Fee (All fees are in addition to postage.)

• Certified Mail provides proof of mailing and delivery of mail. The sender receives a mailing receipt at the time of mailing and a record of delivery is maintained by the Postal Service. A return receipt can also be purchased for an additional fee to provide the sender with proof of delivery. Certified Mail service is only available for First-Class Mail or Priority Mail.  See below for more information about return receipts. An example of a Certified Mail Receipt is shown below.

Return Receipt - $2.70 Fee (add an additional $5.05 for Restricted Delivery)

• Choose Return Receipt when you want hard copy proof of delivery automatically returned to you. The Return Receipt shows the recipient’s signature and the date and time that your mail piece was delivered. This is commonly used with Certified Mail. It can also be used for registered mail, insured mail and express items. An example of how to fill out the return receipt is below.

Registered Mail - $11.95 Fee w/o Insurance (all fees are in paddition to postage)

• Items you send with Registered Mail are placed under tight security from the point of mailing to the point of delivery, and insured up to $25,000 against loss or damage. And you can verify the date and time of delivery and the delivery attempts online. When you’re sending valuable or irreplaceable items through the mail, protect them with Registered Mail. This can also be combined with the Return Receipt. An example of the Registered Mail sticker.

• Return Receipt - $2.70 Fee (add an additional $5.05 for Restricted Delivery)
  • Choose Return Receipt when you want hard copy proof of delivery automatically returned to you. The Return Receipt shows the recipient’s signature and the date and time that your mailpiece was delivered. This is commonly used with Certified Mail. It can also be used for registered mail, insured mail and express items. An example of how to fill out the return receipt is below.

When filling out the Postal Express Mail Airbill, refer to the sample below. Be sure to fill in the boxes numbered 1-3. Postal Express is best used for delivery to post office boxes or Saturday delivery. Please check here to compare prices.

Ancillary service endorsements are used to request an addressee's new address and to provide the postal service with instructions on how to handle undeliverable-as-addressed pieces. The endorsements are the same for all classes of mail, but the treatment and cost differ by the class of mail.

Acceptable Locations:

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• 1. Directly below the return address with 1/4" clear space around all sides.
  2. Directly above the delivery address area with 1/4" clear space around all sides.
  3. Directly to the left of the postage area with 1/4" clear space around all sides.
  4. Directly below the postage area with 1/4" clear space around all sides.