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Postal Explorer > International Mail Manual - Issue 32 > 3 Special Services > 330 Registered Mail
331 Description
Customers may use registered mail service for additional protection and
security in dispatch and conveyance in the United States. For each registered
item a mailing receipt is issued by the office of mailing and a record of
delivery is maintained at the office of destination. Indemnity limits are much
lower for registered mail than for insured mail and do not extend uniformly to
damage or rifling of contents. In the United States registered mail items are
handled separately from all other mail and are kept in a secure area with
restricted access. In destination countries registered mail items are handled
according to their own internal procedures.
332 Availability
Customers can purchase registered mail service when they send letter-post
postcards and postal cards and matter for the blind. Registered mail service
is not available in combination with parcel post or M-bags to one addressee.
See Individual Country Listings for country-specific prohibitions and
restrictions on registered mail service usage.
333 Fees and Indemnity Limits
The registry fee for all countries is $7.90.
Regardless of the declared value of a registered item the maximum amount
of indemnity payable for loss damage or rifling is $44.86.
334 Processing Requests
334.1 Mailing Receipt and Registration Number
A receipt is issued for registered mail when it is accepted. For individual
transactions PS Form 3806 Receipt for Registered Mail is used. When an
average of three or more items are presented for registration at one time PS
Form 3877 Firm Mailing Book for Accountable Mail may be used (see
DMM 503). The registered number is determined by Label 200 Registered
Mail a preprinted self-adhesive label with a number series of nine digits
preceded by a Service Type Code of two alpha characters and followed by
the Country Code of two alpha characters "US." Only labels printed by the
Postal Service may be used on international registered mail.
334.12 Sender's Responsibility
Sender must:
a. Enter the name and address of addressee on the mailing receipt before
presenting the item for registration.
b. Declare the full value of mail presented for registration.
c. The sender should retain the receipt and must submit it if he or she
subsequently wishes to make an inquiry about or file a claim for the
registered item (see Chapter 9).
334.13 Accepting Clerk's Responsibility
Accepting clerk must:
a. Affix a Label 200 Registered Mail to the item in the lower left corner of
the address side and enter the number in ink on the mailing receipt.
b. If requested by the sender show on the mailing receipt and on the Post
Office record the time the item was accepted for mailing.
c. Enter the registration fee and postage plus the return receipt and the
restricted delivery fee if applicable on the receipt.
d. Endorse mailing receipt "OFFICIAL PAID" or "OFF. PD." when federal
government official mail is registered pursuant to 143.1.
Items bearing an address in pencil or any other erasable format are not
acceptable for registered mail service.
The accepting clerk must enter the following endorsements and special
markings on each registered item:
a. Affix Label 200 as noted above. All registered mail of U.S. origin must
bear a Label 200.
b. Place airmail Label 19-A or Label 19-B or the words "PAR AVION" on
registered items prepaid for air if the sender has failed to do this.
c. Endorse the item for special services requested by the sender.
334.3 Postmarking
Postmark registered items twice on the back on the crossing of the upper and
lower flaps. If return receipts are used postmark partially on the receipt and
partially on the flaps of the letter. Items sealed on the address side must be
postmarked on the address side.
334.32 Registered Matter for the Blind
Postmark registered matter for the blind on the address side.
334.41 Sender's Responsibility
Senders must securely seal letter-post items presented for registration. Wax
or paper seals on envelopes must bear a distinctive mark of the sender and
must be affixed in such a way as to allow sufficient space at the intersections
of the flaps for postmarking. Self-sealing envelopes and items that appear to
have been opened and resealed may not be registered.
334.42 Registered Matter for the Blind
Registered matter for the blind must not be sealed.
Return receipts and restricted delivery can be purchased for registered items
to most countries. (See 340 and 350 and Individual Country Listings.)
335 Indemnity Claims and Payments
The sender must submit a mailing receipt to make an inquiry or file a claim
(see chapter 9). Indemnity is provided for loss damage or rifling. If a
registered article has been delivered to the addressee payment for damage
and missing contents is paid to the addressee unless the addressee waives
payment in writing in favor of the sender.
336 Preparation
Items bearing an address in pencil or any other erasable format are not
acceptable for registered mail service.
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