Postal Explorer > International Mail Manual - Issue 32 > 4 Treatment of Outbound Mail > 430 Improperly Prepared Mail

430 Improperly Prepared Mail

431 Insufficient Address

If an item is improperly addressed, but the country of destination is legibly written, dispatch it to the exchange office. The exchange office will determine whether the address is sufficient.

Note: Due to heightened security, many foreign postal administrations require complete sender and addressee information in roman letters and arabic numerals on postal items.

432 Oversized or Undersized Items

Post Office facilities must return to the sender any item that is more than the prescribed maximum size or is less than the prescribed minimum size. If the sender is not known, the item must be dispatched to the mail recovery center.

433 Oversized Cards

Return oversized cards (those exceeding 9-1/4 x 4-3/4) to the sender. If the sender is unknown, dispatch cards to the exchange office.

434 Reply-Paid Cards

a. Reply-paid cards, except International Business Reply items, are not accepted as international mail.

b. Any outbound reply-paid cards bearing foreign postage (foreign reply-paid cards) must be returned to the sender for proper U.S. postage to be affixed. If there is no return address, send cards to mail recovery center.

435 Detached Customs Declaration Forms

When a detached customs declaration form is found, attempt to locate the related package and attach the form to it. If the package cannot be located, dispose of the customs declaration form as waste.