Except as provided in 235.12, a mailer may not deposit a Priority Mail International item that requires a completed customs form into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 235.2 and Carrier Pickup service under 235.3. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
Priority Mail International items that have the mailing label, customs form (including an electronic round stamp), and postage prepared and paid online through Click-N-Ship service on usps.com, the eBay integrated shipping solution, or an authorized PC Postage vendor Web site may be deposited by one of the following methods:
- At a Postal Service retail counter.
- Through Pickup on Demand service (see 235.2).
- Through Carrier Pickup service (see 235.3).
- Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
- Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
- In a collection box.
- In a customer mailbox.
A Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope meeting the conditions in 123.6 is the only Priority Mail International item that can be mailed without a customs label. See 235.132 through 235.134 for specific conditions.
A Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope weighing 13 ounces or less, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
- At a Postal Service retail counter.
- Through Pickup on Demand service (see 235.2).
- Through Carrier Pickup service (see 235.3).
- Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
- Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
- In a collection box.
- In a customer mailbox.
A customer may not deposit a Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope weighing more than 13 ounces, bearing only postage stamps, and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) into a collection box, Postal Service lobby drop, Automated Postal Center (APC) drop, or customer mailbox, or at a Postal Service dock or other unattended location. In addition, these mailpieces are precluded from Pickup on Demand service under 235.2 and Carrier Pickup service under 235.3. Customers must present such items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
A Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope paid with online postage, postage meters, or information-based indicia (IBI) weighing less than 16 ounces and not requiring a customs declaration (see 123.6) may be deposited by one of the following methods:
- At a Postal Service retail counter.
- Through Pickup on Demand service (see 235.2).
- Through Carrier Pickup service (see 235.3).
- Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
- Into an Automated Postal Center (APC) drop.
- In a collection box.
- In a customer mailbox.
Subject to the standards in 235.1, Pickup On Demand service is available for Priority Mail International items. The charge for Pickup On Demand service is $15.30, regardless of the number of items scheduled for pickup. A pickup can include any or all of the following items:
- Global Express Guaranteed items.
- Express Mail International items.
- Priority Mail International items.
- Express Mail items.
- Priority Mail items.
- Package Services items.
No pickup fee will be charged when a Priority Mail International item or items are picked up during a letter carrier’s regular delivery stop or during a scheduled stop made to collect other mail not subject to a pickup fee. Pickup service is provided in accordance with the information in DMM 507.6; for more information, also visit the online site at usps.com/pickup.
