ARCHIVED IMM - MAY 11, 2009

292 International Priority Airmail (IPA) Service

292.1 Description

292.11 General

International Priority Airmail™ (IPA®) service is available for volume mailings of all First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages (small packets). The sender must prepare mailpieces in accordance with the shape-based requirements of First-Class Mail International service (see 240) and the requirements of this subchapter. Separate prices are provided for International Service Center (ISC) drop shipments, presorted mail, and worldwide nonpresort mail. Volume incentives are available through customized agreements.

292.12 Mail Sealed Against Inspection

With the exception of M-bags (see 261.23), IPA mailpieces are sealed against inspection.

292.13 IPA M-bags

IPA M-bags (direct sacks of printed matter to one addressee) may be entered in conjunction with an IPA mailing, are subject to the provisions of 260, and may be sent to all destination countries that are referenced in Exhibit 292.452. When using this method of mail preparation, the sender must complete PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, and PS Tag 158, Mbag Addressee Tag. Tags must be securely attached to the neck of the sack.

292.2 Eligibility

292.21 Qualifying Mailpieces

To qualify for IPA service, a mailpiece must meet the First-Class Mail International characteristics as defined in 141.5. Mailpieces do not have to be of the same size and weight to qualify. Any item sent with IPA service must conform to the weight and size limits for First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages (small packets) as described in 240.

292.22 Availability

IPA service is available to all the foreign countries that are as listed in Exhibit 292.452, which shows the price group assigned to each country.

292.23 Minimum Quantity Requirements
292.231 Minimum Quantity

All mailings must meet a minimum weight quantity of 50 pounds. To achieve the 50-pound minimum, mailings may include a combination of presort mail, worldwide nonpresort mail, or M-bags.

292.232 Presort Eligibility — Full Service

Only a direct country sack containing a minimum of 5 pounds qualifies for the presort price. All remaining mail must be prepared and paid at the worldwide nonpresort price.

292.233 Presort Eligibility — ISC Drop Shipment

Only a direct country sack containing a minimum of 5 pounds or a mixed country sack containing a minimum of 5 pounds qualifies for the presort price. All remaining mail must be prepared and paid at the worldwide nonpresort price.

292.24 Dutiable Items

Dutiable items may be sent in accordance with the applicable rules in this subchapter for each respective category of mail. Priority Mail International items, either ordinary or insured, may not be mailed with IPA service.

292.25 Customs Forms Requirements

See 123 for customs forms requirements.

292.26 Extra Services

Extra services are not available for items sent with IPA service.

292.3 Prices and Postage Payment Methods

292.31 Prices

IPA service has two price options: a presort price with 15 price groups (Exhibit 292.31a), and a worldwide nonpresort price (Exhibit 292.31b). Both options offer full service prices (Exhibit 292.31c) for mail deposited at offices other than the drop shipment offices listed in 292.532, and drop shipment prices (Exhibit 292.31d) for mail deposited at one of the drop shipment offices. The per-piece price and per-pound price are shown in Exhibit 292.31a and Exhibit 292.31b. The per-piece price applies to each piece regardless of its weight. The per-pound price applies to the net weight (gross weight minus tare weight of sack or tray) of the mail for the specific price group. Fractions of a pound are rounded to the next whole pound for postage calculation.

Exhibit 292.31a

IPA Prices — Direct Country Sacks and Mixed Country Sacks

 

Price
Group

Direct Country Sacks

Mixed Country Sacks

Per Piece

Full
Service
Per Lb.

ISC Drop Shipment
Per Lb.

Per Piece

Full
Service
Per Lb.

ISC Drop Shipment
Per Lb.

1

$0.43

$7.12

$4.62

2

0.15

6.69

4.19

3

0.42

9.07

6.57

4

0.45

9.52

7.02

5

0.43

9.26

6.76

6

0.44

9.26

6.76

7

0.42

9.00

6.50

8

0.41

9.00

6.50

9

0.33

9.97

7.47

10

0.41

9.20

6.70

11

0.40

9.00

6.50

$0.42

$6.83

12

0.15

8.00

5.50

0.16

5.78

13

0.16

7.35

4.85

0.17

5.10

14

0.15

9.00

6.50

0.16

6.83

15

0.12

9.50

7.00

0.13

7.35

 

Exhibit 292.31b

IPA Prices — Worldwide Nonpresort Sacks

 

Price Group

Per Piece

Full Service
Per Lb.

ISC Drop Shipment
Per Lb.

WW

$0.47

$10.98

$8.09

Exhibit 292.31c

IPA M-bag Prices — Full Service

 

Price Group

Full Service
Per Lb.

1

$4.60

2

5.20

3

6.10

4

6.10

5

6.10

6

6.10

7

6.10

8

6.10

9

8.10

10

7.65

11

6.10

12

6.90

13

6.70

14

7.45

15

7.35

Note: IPA full service M-bags are subject to the minimum price for 11 pounds.

Exhibit 292.31d

IPA M-bag Prices — ISC Drop Shipment

 

Price Group

5 lbs.

6 lbs.

7 lbs.

8 lbs.

9 lbs.

10 lbs.

11 lbs.

Each Additional Pound

1

$19.30

$19.75

$20.20

$20.65

$21.10

$21.55

$22.00

$2.00

2

25.00

25.60

26.20

26.80

27.40

28.00

28.60

2.60

3

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

4

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

5

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

6

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

7

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

8

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

9

47.75

49.60

51.45

53.30

55.15

57.00

58.85

5.35

10

44.50

46.25

48.00

49.75

51.50

53.25

55.00

5.00

11

30.85

31.85

32.85

33.85

34.85

35.85

36.85

3.35

12

38.75

39.90

41.05

42.20

43.35

44.50

45.65

4.15

13

38.65

39.45

40.25

41.05

41.85

42.65

43.45

3.95

14

44.80

45.95

47.10

48.25

49.40

50.55

51.70

4.70

15

42.50

43.85

45.20

46.55

47.90

49.25

50.60

4.60

Note: IPA ISC drop shipment M-bags are subject to the minimum price for 5 pounds.

292.32 Computation of Postage

Postage is computed on PS Form 3700, Postage Statement International Mail.

292.321 Computing Worldwide Nonpresort Prices

Compute postage at the worldwide nonpresort price as follows:

  1. Multiply the number of pieces in the mailing by the applicable per-piece price.
  2. Multiply the net weight (in whole pounds) of the entire mailing by the applicable per-pound price.
  3. Add together the two totals in steps 1 and 2.
292.322 Computing Presort Prices

Compute postage at the presorted price as follows:

  1. Multiply the number of pieces in the mailing destined for countries in a specific price group by the appropriate per-piece price.
  2. Multiply the net weight (in whole pounds) of those pieces by the corresponding per-pound price.
  3. Add together the two totals in steps 1 and 2.
292.33 Postage Payment Methods
292.331 General

Postage must be paid by postage meter, permit imprint, or precanceled stamps (see DMM 604).

292.332 Postage Meter

Payments made by postage meter are subject to the following standards:

  1. Piece Price. The applicable per-piece postage shown in Exhibit 292.31a or Exhibit 292.31b must be affixed to each mailpiece when paying with a meter. A mailer who has an ICM agreement must affix the applicable per-piece postage as set forth in the ICM agreement.
  2. Pound Price. Postage for the pound price portion must be paid either by meter stamp(s) attached to the postage statement or from the mailer’s authorized permit imprint advance deposit account.
  3. Postage Endorsement. Each piece must be legibly endorsed with the words “INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY AIRMAIL.”
  4. Specifications for Endorsement. The endorsement required in 292.332c must appear on the address side of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp, or other similar printing device. It must be printed either above the name of the addressee and to the left or below the postage, or adjacent to the meter stamp in either the postal inscription slug area or ad plate area. If the postal endorsement appears in the ad plate area, no other information may be printed in the ad plate. The endorsement may not be typewritten or hand-drawn. The endorsement is not considered adequate if it is included as part of a decorative design or advertisement.
  5. Unmarked Pieces. Unmarked pieces lacking the postage endorsement are subject to the First-Class Mail International single-piece price.
  6. Drop Shipment of Metered Mail. A mailer who wants to enter metered IPA mail at a Post Office facility other than where the meter is licensed must obtain a drop shipment authorization. To obtain an authorization, the mailer must submit a written request to the postmaster at the office where the mail will be entered (see DMM 705).
292.333 Precanceled Stamps

Payments made by precanceled stamps are subject to the following standards:

  1. Piece Price. The same denomination of stamp must be affixed to every piece in the mailing.
  2. Pound Price. Additional postage is paid at the time of mailing by advance deposit account or meter stamp affixed to the back of the accompanying postage statement.
  3. Postage Endorsement. Each piece must be legibly endorsed with the words “INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY AIRMAIL.”
  4. Specifications for Endorsement. The endorsement required in 292.333c must appear on the address side of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp, or other similar printing device. It must be printed either above the name of the addressee and to the left or below the postage, or adjacent to the precanceled stamp. The endorsement may not be typewritten or hand-drawn. The endorsement is not considered adequate if it is included as part of a decorative design or advertisement.
  5. Unmarked Pieces. Unmarked pieces lacking the postage endorsement are subject to the First-Class Mail International single-piece price.
292.334 Permit Imprint

Mailers may use a permit imprint for mailings that contain identical weight pieces. Any of the permit imprint formats shown in Exhibit 152.44 is acceptable but must include the “INTL PRIORITY AIRMAIL” rate marking. Postage is calculated as described in 292.32 and is deducted from the mailer’s advance deposit account. Permit imprints must not denote bulk mail, nonprofit, or other domestic or special mail. Mailers may use permit imprint with nonidentical weight pieces only if authorized to use postage mailing systems under DMM 705.

292.4 Mail Preparation

292.41 Addressing

IPA service is subject to the addressing requirements contained in 122.

  1. Exception Canada: IPA items destined for Canada must have the applicable alphanumeric postcode included in the delivery address. See 122.1k for the address formatting requirements that generally apply to mailpieces sent to Canada.
  2. Exception Direct Country Sacks: IPA items in direct country sacks (see 292.461) are not subject to the interline addressing requirement that is specified in 122.1d. At the sender’s risk, the English translation of the destination post office or city name may be omitted from an address that is printed in Russian, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Japanese, or Chinese characters. An English translation of the country name (for example, Japan) is still required on the individual mailpieces.
292.42 Marking
292.421 Letter-Size and Flat-Size Mailpieces

The sender should mark “PAR AVION” or “AIR MAIL” on the address side of each piece. Alternatively, the user may use a bordered airmail envelope that contains an “AIR MAIL” endorsement.

292.422 Packages (Small Packets)

Items that might be mistaken for another class of mail because of their size, weight, or appearance should be marked “LETTER-POST” on the address side.

292.43 Sealing

Mail that is sent via IPA service may be sealed at the sender’s option. See 244.4 for the packaging methods that are applicable to all First-Class Mail International items.

Exception: For direct country sacks only, First-Class Mail International folded mailpieces, without envelopes, are admissible provided one of the following methods is used:

  1. All of the open sides are secured with tape, tabs, or wafer seals of sufficient quantity and strength to prevent the mailpieces from opening or being damaged during postal handling.
  2. The mailpieces meet the physical standards and tabbing requirements in DMM 201.3.
292.44 Physical Characteristics and Requirements for All Bundles

The following standards apply:

  1. Thickness. Bundles of letter-size mail should be no thicker than approximately a handful of mail (4 to 6 inches thick). Bundles of flat-size mail may be thicker than 6 inches but must not weigh more than 11 pounds.
  2. Securing Bundles. Each bundle must be securely tied to withstand normal transit. Placing rubber bands around the length and then the girth is the preferred method of securing bundles of letter-size mail. Plastic strapping placed around the length and then the girth is the preferred method of securing bundles of flat-size mail.
  3. Separation of Bundles. Letter-size and flat-size mail must be bundled separately.
  4. Facing of Pieces. All pieces in bundles must be faced in the same direction.
292.45 Sortation
292.451 Presort Mailings — General

Follow these steps when preparing IPA presort mail:

  1. Full Service. For presort mailings, all mail that is addressed to an individual country and that contains 5 pounds or more must be sorted into direct country bundles and sacked in direct country sacks. Mail that cannot be made up into direct country sacks must be prepared and entered at the worldwide nonpresort price.
  2. ISC Drop Shipment. For presort mailings, all mail that is addressed to an individual country and that contains 5 pounds or more must be sorted into direct country bundles and sacked in direct country sacks. All mail that is addressed to individual countries within a single price group and that contains 5 pounds or more must be bundled separately and sacked in mixed country sacks. Mail that ultimately cannot be made up into direct country sacks or mixed country sacks must be prepared and entered at the worldwide nonpresort price.
  3. Note: There are separate preparation requirements for mail to Canada. See 292.47.

292.452 Presorted Mail — Direct Country Bundle Label

A label (facing slip) for direct country bundles prepared for mixed county sacks must be completed and placed on the address side of the top piece of each bundle in such a manner that it will not become separated from the bundle. Bundle labels that are addressed to IPA foreign exchange offices (see Exhibit 292.452) must contain the following:

Line 1: Foreign Exchange Office.
Line 2: Country of Destination.
Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location.

Example:

1150 VIENNA FLUG
AUSTRIA
RBA COMPANY WASHINGTON DC

Note: The pressure-sensitive labels and optional endorsement lines used domestically for presort mail are prohibited for IPA service.

Exhibit 292.452 

IPA Country Price Groups and Foreign Exchange Offices

 

Country

Exchange Office Name

Destination Code

Price
Group

Afghanistan

Kabul

KBL

15

Albania

Tirana

TIA

12

Algeria

Algiers

ALG

15

Andorra 1

 

 

11

Angola

Luanda

LAD

15

Anguilla

The Valley

AXA

13

Antigua and Barbuda

St. John’s

ANU

13

Argentina

Buenos Aires Avion

BUE

13

Armenia

Yerevan

EVN

15

Aruba

Oranjestad

AUA

13

Ascension 1

 

 

12

Australia 2

Sydney

SYD

9

Austria

1000 Wien

VIE

11

Azerbaijan

Baku

BAK

15

Azores 1

 

 

11

Bahamas

Nassau

NAS

13

Bahrain

Bahrain

BAH

15

Bangladesh

Dhaka Apt

DAC

15

Barbados

Bridgetown

BGI

13

Belarus

Minsk PI 2

MSQ

12

Belgium

Brussels EMC

BRU

11

Belize

Belize City

BZE

13

Benin

Cotonou

COO

15

Bermuda

Hamilton

BDA

13

Bhutan 1

 

 

15

Bolivia

La Paz

LPB

13

Bonaire 1, 3

 

 

13

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo

SJJ

12

Botswana

Gabrone

GBE

15

Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

RIO

13

British Virgin Islands

Roadtown

RAD

13

Brunei Darussalam

Bandar Seri Begawan

BWN

14

Bulgaria

Sofia

SOF

12

Burkina Faso

Ouagadougou

OUA

15

Burma (Myanmar)

Rangoon

RGN

15

Burundi

Bujumbura

BJM

15

Cambodia

Phnom Penh

PNH

14

Cameroon

Douala

DLA

15

Canada

See 292.47
Canadian Labeling Information

 

1

Cape Verde

Praia

RAI

15

Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman

GCM

13

Central African Republic

Bangui

BGF

15

Chad

N’Djamena

NDJ

15

Chile

Santiago Avion

SCL

13

China

Beijing

BJS

14

Colombia

Bogota Aeropuerto

BOG

13

Comoros Islands 1

 

 

15

Congo, Dem. Rep. of the

Kinshasa CTT

FIH

15

Congo, Rep. of the

Brazzaville

BZV

15

Cook Islands

Rarotonga

RAR

11

Corsica 1

 

 

5

Costa Rica

San Jose

SJO

13

Cote d’Ivoire

Abidjan

ABJ

15

Croatia

Zagreb

ZAG

12

Cuba

Havana Avion

HAV

13

Curacao 3

Willemstad

CUR

13

Cyprus

Nicosia

NIC

15

Czech Republic

Prague 120

PRG

12

Denmark

Copenhagen INC

CPH

11

Djibouti

Djibouti

JIB

15

Dominica

Roseau

DOM

13

Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo

SDQ

13

Ecuador

Quito

UIO

13

Egypt

Cairo Int’l Airport

CAI

15

El Salvador

San Salvador

SAL

13

Equatorial Guinea

Malbo

SSG

15

Eritrea

Asmara

ASM

15

Estonia

Tallinn

TLL

12

Ethiopia

Addis Ababa

ADD

15

Falkland Islands 1

 

 

13

Faroe Islands 1

 

 

12

Fiji

Nadi

NAN

14

Finland

Helsinki

HEL

11

France

Roissy CI

CDG

5

French Guiana

Cayenne

CAY

13

French Polynesia

PPT Centre Traitement Courier Air

FAA

14

Gabon

Libreville

LBV

15

Gambia

Banjul

BJL

15

Georgia, Republic of

Tbilisi

TBS

15

Germany

Frankfurt/M

FRA

4

Ghana

Accra

ACC

15

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

GIB

11

Great Britain (includes
England, Scotland,
Wales, Northern Ireland,
Guernsey, Jersey,
Alderney, Sark, and The
Isle of Man

Great Britain

LON

3

Greece

Athens

ATH

11

Greenland 1

 

 

11

Grenada

St. George’s

GND

13

Guadeloupe

Pointe-a-Pitre

PTP

13

Guatemala

Guatemala

GUA

13

Guinea

Conakry

CKY

15

Guinea-Bissau

Bissau

OXB

15

Guyana

Georgetown

GEO

13

Haiti

Port-au-Prince

PAP

13

Honduras

Tegucigalpa

TGU

13

Hong Kong

Victoria

HKG

14

Hungary

Budapest 1005

BUD

12

Iceland

Reykjavik

REK

11

India

Delhi Air

DEL

15

Indonesia

Jakarta Soekarnohatta

JKT

14

Iran

Tehran

THR

15

Iraq

Baghdad

BGW

15

Ireland

Dublin

DUB

11

Israel

Tel Aviv-Yafo

TLV

11

Italy

Milan

MIL

7

Jamaica

Kingston

KIN

13

Japan

Narita AP A

NRT

10

Jordan

Amman

AMM

15

Kazakhstan

Almaty PCI-5

ALA

15

Kenya

Nairobi

NBO

15

Kiribati

Tarawa

TRW

14

Korea, Democratic People’s
Republic of (North) 1

 

 

14

Korea, Republic of (South)

Seoul IPO

SEL

14

Kuwait

Kuwait MSC

KWI

15

Kyrgyzstan

Bichkek PI-1

FRU

12

Laos

Vientiane

VTE

14

Latvia

Riga OE Letters

RIX

12

Lebanon

Beirut

BEY

15

Lesotho

Maseru

MSU

15

Liberia

Monrovia

MLW

15

Libya

Tripoli

TIP

15

Liechtenstein 1

 

 

11

Lithuania

Vilnius

VNO

12

Luxembourg

Luxembourg Ville

LUX

11

Macao

Macau

MFM

12

Macedonia

1003 SKOP JEB

SKP

12

Madagascar

Antananarivo TRI

TNR

15

Madeira Islands 1

 

 

11

Malawi

Limbe

LBE

15

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

KUL

14

Maldives

Male

MLE

15

Mali

Bamako

BKO

15

Malta

Valletta

MAR

15

Martinique

Fort de France

FDF

13

Mauritania

Nouakchott

NKC

15

Mauritius

Port Louis SSR

MRU

15

Mexico

Mexico Aereo DF

MEX

2

Moldova

Kishinev

KIV

15

Monaco

Monte Carlo

MCM

11

Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar CPO

ULN

14

Montenegro

Montenegro Post

TGD

13

Montserrat

Plymouth

MNI

15

Morocco

Casablanca CCI

CAS

15

Mozambique

CPI Maputo

MPM

15

Namibia

Windhoek

WDH

15

Nauru

Nauru

INU

14

Nepal

Kathmandu

KTM

14

Netherlands

Amsterdam EXP

AMS

8

Netherlands Antilles 1, 3

 

 

13

New Caledonia

Noumea CTC

NOU

14

New Zealand 4

Auckland

AKL

11

Nicaragua

Managua

MGA

13

Niger

Niamey CNTLC

NIM

15

Nigeria

Lagos

LOS

15

Norway

Oslo Letter Centre

OSL

11

Oman

Muscat

MCT

15

Pakistan

Islamabad IM

ISB

15

Panama

Panama City

PTY

13

Papua New Guinea

Boroko

BOR

14

Paraguay

Asuncion

ASU

13

Peru

Lima Transito

LIM

13

Philippines

Manila

MNL

14

Pitcairn Island 1

 

 

14

Poland

Warsaw Wer

WAW

12

Portugal

Lisbon Province

LIS

11

Qatar

Doha

DOH

15

Reunion

St. Denis

RUN

15

Romania

Bucuresti C

BUH

12

Russia

Moscow PCI-1

MOW

12

Rwanda

Kigali

KGL

15

Saba 1, 3

 

 

13

Saint Christopher (St. Kitts)
and Nevis

Basseterre

SKB

13

Saint Eustatius 1, 3

 

 

13

Saint Helena 1

 

 

13

Saint Lucia

Castries

SLU

13

Saint Maarten 3

Philipsburg

SXM

13

Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1

 

 

13

Saint Vincent and The
Grenadines

Kingstown

KTN

13

San Marino 1

 

 

11

Sao Tome and Principe 1

 

 

12

Saudi Arabia

Dammam Central Post

DMM

15

Senegal

Dakar Centre de Tri Postal

DKR

15

Serbia, Republic of

Belgrad C 11003 Letters

BEG

12

Seychelles

Victoria Seychelles Post Office

SEZ

15

Sierra Leone

Freetown

FNA

15

Singapore

Singapore

SIN

14

Slovak Republic (Slovakia)

Bratislava 090

BTS

12

Slovenia

Ljubljana 1003

LJU

12

Solomon Islands

Honiara

HIR

14

Somalia

Mogadishu

MGQ

15

South Africa

Johannesburg

JNB

15

Spain

Madrid Airport

MAD

11

Sri Lanka

Colombo

CMB

15

Sudan

Khartoum

KRT

15

Suriname

Paramaribo

PBM

13

Swaziland

Manzini

MTS

15

Sweden

Stockholm Flug

STO

11

Switzerland

Zurich 1

ZRH

6

Syria

Damascus

DAM

15

Taiwan

Taipei

TPE

14

Tajikistan

Dushanbe

DYU

15

Tanzania

Dar es Salaam

DAR

15

Thailand

Suvarnabhumi Mail Centre

BKK

14

Togo

Lome

LFW

15

Tonga

Nukualofa

TBU

14

Trinidad and Tobago

Port of Spain

POS

13

Tristan da Cunha 1

 

 

15

Tunisia

Tunis

TUN

15

Turkey

Istanbul Uluslararasi Posta Isleme

IST

12

Turkmenistan

Achgabat PI-1

ASB

12

Turks and Caicos Islands

Grand Turk

GDT

13

Tuvalu 1

 

 

14

Uganda

Kampala

KLA

15

Ukraine

Kiev PI-1

IEV

15

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

DXB

15

Uruguay

Montevideo

MVD

13

Uzbekistan

Tashkent

TAS

15

Vanuatu

Port Vila

VLI

14

Vatican City

Vatican City

VAT

11

Venezuela

Caracas

CCS

13

Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Ville

SGN

14

Wallis and Futuna Islands 1

 

 

14

Western Samoa

Apia

APW

14

Yemen

Sanaa

SAH

15

Zambia

Lusaka Airmail

LUN

15

Zimbabwe

Harare CSO

HRE

15

1 Direct country sacks are not made to these destinations. Prepare direct country packages and include in mixed direct country sacks labeled to the assigned U.S. Exchange Office listed in Exhibit 292.462.

2 At the mailer’s option, a finer sortation for IPA items addressed to Australia may be used. If this option is chosen, items addressed with postal codes beginning with 0, 1, 2, 4, and 9 and uncoded mail should be sorted and packaged to Sydney. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Sydney as well. Both the three-letter exchange office code (“SYD”) and the country name (“Australia”) should be entered in the "TO" block of PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white). Items addressed with postal codes beginning with 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 should be sorted and packaged to Melbourne. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Melbourne as well. Both the three-letter exchange office code ("MEL") and the country name ("Australia") should be entered in the "TO" block of PS Tag 178.

3 Netherlands Antilles includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.

4 For all destinations to New Zealand other than Cook Islands. For Cook Islands, see the entry for Cook Islands in this exhibit.

 

292.453 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail — Bundles

IPA mail paid at the worldwide nonpresort price must be made into bundles as defined in 292.44. Letters and flats must be bundled separately, although nonidentical pieces may be commingled within each of these categories. Pieces that cannot be bundled because of their physical characteristics must be placed loose in the sack and do not require labeling (facing slips).

292.46 Sacking Requirements
292.461 Direct Country Sack (5 Pounds or More)

The following standards apply:

  1. General. When there are 5 pounds or more of mail addressed to the same country, the mail must be enclosed in a direct country sack. All types of mail, including letter-size bundles, flat-size bundles, and loose items, can be commingled in the same sack for each destination and counted toward the 5-pound minimum. The maximum weight of the sack and contents must not exceed 66 pounds.
  2. Direct Country Sack Tags. Direct country sacks must be labeled with PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8), and PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, as follows:
    1. PS Tag 178 is a white tag designed to route the sack to a specific country and airport of destination. The mailer must complete the “To” block showing the destination country. Postal Service personnel — not the mailer — must complete the blocks for date, weight, and dispatch information.
    2. PS Tag 115 is a pink tag that identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. The mailer must specify the price group on the back of PS Tag 115.
  3. Direct Country Sack Label. The sack label must be completed as follows (see Exhibit 292.462 for the list of U.S. Exchange Offices):
  4. Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
    Line 2: Contents — DRX COUNTRY
    Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

    Example:

    ISC NEW YORK NY 003
    ipa — DRX country
    ABC STORE ALBANY NY

292.462 Mixed Country Sacks (5 Pounds or More — ISC Drop Shipment Only)

The following standards apply:

  1. General. When mail is prepared under the ISC drop shipment option, direct country bundles destined to a specific country that cannot be made up in direct country sacks must be prepared in a mixed country sack. A mixed country sack must be prepared for each price group. Only countries in price groups 11 through 15 are eligible for this price. The maximum weight of the sack and the contents must not exceed 66 pounds.
  2. Mixed Country Sack Tags. Mixed country sacks must be labeled with PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. The mailer must specify the price group on the back of PS Tag 115.
  3. Mixed Country Sack Label. The sack label must be completed as follows (see Exhibit 292.462 for the list of U.S. Exchange Offices):
  4. Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
    Line 2: Contents — DRX MIXED
    Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

    Example:

    ISC NEW YORK NY 003
    ipa — DRX country
    ABC STORE ALBANY NY

Exhibit 292.462 

Labeling of IPA Mail to Postal Service Exchange Offices

 

IPA Acceptance Office
3–Digit ZIP Code Prefix

U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code for Line 1

004–005, 010–089, 100–268, 270–297, 400–418, 420–427, 470–471, 476–477

ISC NEW YORK NY 003

006–009, 298–339, 341–342, 344, 346–347, 349–397, 399

ISC MIAMI FL 33112

424, 430–469, 478–516, 520–528, 530–531, 534–535, 537–567, 570–588, 600–620, 622–631, 633–641, 644–658, 660–662, 664–681, 683–693, 700–708, 710–799, 885

ISC CHICAGO IL 60290

590–599, 821, 832–838, 970–986, 970–999

AMC SEATTLE WA 980

800–816, 820, 822–831, 840–847, 893–898, 937–961

ISC SAN FRANCISCO CA 94013

850, 852–853, 855–857, 859–860, 863–865, 870–875, 877–884, 889–891, 900–908, 910–928, 930–936

ISC LOS ANGELES CA 900

967–969

P&DC HONOLULU HI 967

292.463 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sacks

The following standards apply:

  1. General. The working bundles of mixed country mail and loose items must be enclosed in sacks unless other equipment is specified by the acceptance office. Nonpresorted letter-size mail may be presented in trays if authorized by the acceptance office. The maximum weight of the sack and the contents must not exceed 66 pounds.
  2. Note: Working bundles of mixed country mail cannot be enclosed in mixed country sacks.

  3. Worldwide Nonpresort Sack Tags. Sack tags for worldwide nonpresort sacks must be labeled with PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. The mailer must specify "WW" (for "worldwide") on the back of PS Tag 115.
  4. Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack Label. The sack label must be completed as follows (see Exhibit 292.462 for the list of U.S. Exchange Offices):
  5. Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
    Line 2: Contents WKG
    Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

    Example:  

    ISC MIAMI FL 33112
    IPA — WKG
    ABC COMPANY MIAMI FL

292.47 Mail Preparation for Canada

For letter-size, flat-size, and package-size items destined to Canada, mail must be prepared in separate containers. To qualify for the presort price, the same eligibility requirements apply as for full service (see 293.232) or ISC drop shipment (see 293.233). If the total mailing contains less than 5 pounds of mail for Canada, then the mail qualifies only for the worldwide nonpresort price but may be included with mail for other countries. Mailings that contain only worldwide nonpresort mail for Canada (50-pound minimum) are prepared under 292.453 and 292.463. The preparation requirements of presorted mail to Canada are as follows:

  1. Letter-Size and Flat-Size Mail. Letter-size items are prepared in letter trays, either 1-foot or 2-foot, depending on volume. Flat-size items are prepared in flat trays. All items must be faced in the same direction, and all trays must be full enough to keep the mail from mixing during transportation. Do not prepare the content of the tray in bundles. Letter-size and flat-size trays must be sleeved or covered and secured with strapping. The mailer must identify each tray label to show the destination in Canada, the content, and the dispatching U.S. exchange office in the following format (see Exhibit 292.47 for Canadian labeling information):
  2. Line 1: Canadian Destination, U.S. Exchange Office Code
    Line 2: Contents
    Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

    Example:  

    MONTREAL QC FWD 003
    IPA
    ABC COMPANY NEW YORK NY

    In addition, the mailer must complete PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail. Write “Canada” on the reverse and tape the tag to the tray sleeve. All trays must be banded.

  3. Packages. Items that cannot be prepared in trays because of their size or shape must be placed loose in sacks. Mailers must complete PS Tag 115. Write "Canada" on the reverse side of the tag. In addition, mailers must attach a completed PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white).

Exhibit 292.47 

Canadian Labeling Information

 

Origin ZIP Code

Exchange Office

Canadian Destination

U.S. Exchange Office Code

004–005, 010–089, 100–268, 270–297, 400–418, 420–427, 470–471, 476–477

JFK

MONTREAL QC FWD

003

298–339, 341–342, 344, 346–347, 349–397, 399, 723

MIA

MONTREAL QC FWD

33112

430–469, 472–475, 478–516, 520–528, 530–567, 570–588, 600–631, 633–641, 644–658, 660–662, 664–681, 683–693, 700–708, 710–722, 724–816, 822–831, 840–847, 870–885, 893, 898

ORD

TORONTO ON FWD

60290

590–599, 821, 832–838, 970–999

SEA

VANCOUVER BC FWD

98158

820, 894—895, 937—961

SFO

VANCOUVER BC FWD

94013

850, 852–853, 855–857, 859–860, 863–865, 889–891, 900–908, 910–928, 930–936

LAX

VANCOUVER BC FWD

90899

967–969

HNL

VANCOUVER BC FWD

96820

292.5 Enter and Deposit

292.51 Separation by Price Group

The mailer must specify the price group on the back of PS Tag 115 (for example, with “1” for Canada or “WW” for worldwide nonpresort) and must physically separate the sacks by price group at the time of mailing.

292.52 Full Service

Mailings must be deposited at a Post Office facility where bulk mail is accepted and where the mailer holds an advance deposit account or postage meter license.

292.53 Drop Shipment
292.531 General

To qualify for the drop shipment price, mailers must present the mail to one of the locations in 292.532. The mailer must pay postage at the drop shipment location either through an advance deposit account or postage meter license at the serving Post Office facility. As an alternative, mailers who are participating in the plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS) program may have the mail verified, accepted, and paid for at the mailer’s plant or at the origin Post Office facility serving the mailer’s plant if authorized under DMM 705. PVDS mail must be transported by the mailer to the drop shipment location, and the mail must be accompanied by PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance.

292.532 Drop Shipment Locations

Drop shipments are available through the following offices:

New York:

JOHN F KENNEDY AIRPORT MAIL CTR
US POSTAL SERVICE
JOHN F KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BLDG 250
JAMAICA NY 11430-9998

Florida:

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CTR*
US POSTAL SERVICE
11698 NW 25TH ST
MIAMI FL 33112-9997

MIAMI PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION CTR
US POSTAL SERVICE
2200 NW 72ND AVE
MIAMI FL 33152-9997

Texas:

north texas p&dc
us postal service
951 w bethel rd
coppell tx 75099-8811

Illinois:

JT WEEKER INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CENTER
US POSTAL SERVICE
OHARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
514 EXPRESS CENTER DR
CHICAGO IL 60688-9998

California:

LOS ANGELES ISC
US POSTAL SERVICE
5800 w century blvd
los angeles ca 90009-9998

SAN FRANCISCO ISC
US POSTAL SERVICE
2650 BAYSHORE BLVD
DALY CITY CA 94013-1631

*Only plant-verified mail is transported to this facility by the mailer.




ARCHIVED IMM - MAY 11, 2009
ARCHIVED IMM - MAY 11, 2009